Re: [Leica] Epson 870, 1270

[Henry Ambrose <digphoto@nashville.net>]

>And what about quad inks for the 1270?
>

No, not at this time. 
You'll be amazed with the Epson inks anyway and probably won't care about 
others. These new printers/inks/papers really are that good!

>And on a related note: is the Nikon Coolscan LS2000 still the benchmark?
>I've also seen a Nikon Supercoolscan 2000 selling slightly cheaper (from a
>single supplier) than the LS2000. Is this a newer or alternate model?

I think the Polaroid 4000 is the benchmark in the under $1500 range. 
It'll do scans twice the size of the Nikon.

>What can you tells us about the life of the new inks in terms of number of
>prints produced? What would the average cost of an 11x14 print?

I have not counted but it seems the same as the 1200. 
I did about 30 13X19 inch prints with the 1200 recently and used about 
one and a half sets of ink. My favorite size right now is the 13X19 paper 
with a @9X12 image. Maybe $2.00  in consumables.

And to get OT -
These scanners and printers are capable of showing a difference between 
Leica glass and lesser 35mm lenses. Being able to make a 60MB scan and 
print it as a 12X (or more) enlargement starts to show things about your 
technique and the quality of your equipment.

Last week I made a 12X18 image size print from an XP2 negative shot with  
a Nikon 20mm lens. Because of the nature and content, the picture was a 
good one, worth the cost to the client. BUT the difference in that print 
and a similar size print from my 24ASPH is astounding. Rendering of fine 
detail is SOOOOOOO much better. Tones are smoother. Simply amazing!

I bounce back and forth on which between my 35f2ASPH and the 24 ASPH is 
the best 35mm camera lens ever - it seems sometimes its just which one I 
used last.

Is the 19mm R Leica lens as good as the 24 or 21 ASPH M lenses? 

Whats left of my Nikon gear is in great danger.

Henry Ambrose