Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/03/03

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] Anyone want to help me spend some money on a digital darkroom?
From: Aaron Sandler <aaron.sandler@duke.edu>
Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2004 14:21:50 -0500

OK, here's the deal:  I have unexpectedly gained access to some money which 
can only be spent on new computer equipment.   No MP or digilux2 or Mamiya7 
for me, I'm afraid.

But this does allow me to do something I have been considering but for 
which I lacked the funds: set up a digital darkroom.  I'd like to be able 
to scan negs (color and B&W), photoshop them and store them with reasonable 
ease, and then print both B&W and color nicely on larger than 8.5x11" 
paper.  I'm not talking major production or high volume here.  This is a 
hobby for me, not a profession.

I've read a lot and formulated a plan.  I'd like to run it by y'all in the 
hope that the wiser heads around these parts can tell me if any part of my 
plan is monumentally stupid or even just slightly misguided.

Total Budget: $2200.

1) Computer--the best I can get for around $1000.   I'm thinking of a 
Pentium 4 at around 3GHz with two 120GB hard drives, 1GB of RAM, and CD/DVD 
writer.  (I was planning to build one, but then I discovered that Dell from 
time to time has brief sales in which they drop their prices so much that 
it no longer makes sense to build.  Unfortunately, a sale that would have 
fit the above into the $1000 just ended last weekend, so I may have to wait 
a little bit, but I'm hoping I can find a similar deal.)

2) Monitor--$0.  I've got a decent one.

3) Software--$0.  I've already got PS 7.  :)

4) Scanner--$600. I'm thinking the Nikon Coolscan V.

5) Printer--$600.  Epson 2200.  The 13x19 printing and my longstanding 
preference of matte over glossy make this seem a better choice than the 
HP7960 for me.

6) Monitor calibration--$150.  Spyder with Photocal.

Total price: $2350, which I can stretch to.  Please keep in mind that this 
sum is significantly more than the value of my car, and somewhat more than 
the value of my wife's car, so suggestions that involve increasing this 
amount will not help me very much!

Thanks in advance for any advice you might have,
Aaron


- -------------------------------------
Aaron Sandler
aaron.sandler@duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~ajs2



- --
To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html

Replies: Reply from RUBEN BLĘDEL <ruben@rhodos.dk> (Re: [Leica] Anyone want to help me spend some money on a digital darkroom?)
Reply from Aaron Sandler <aaron.sandler@duke.edu> (RE: [Leica] Anyone want to help me spend some money on a digital darkroom?)
Reply from Aaron Sandler <aaron.sandler@duke.edu> (RE: [Leica] Anyone want to help me spend some money on a digital darkroom?)
Reply from Aaron Sandler <aaron.sandler@duke.edu> (Re: [Leica] Anyone want to help me spend some money on a digital darkroom?)
Reply from Aaron Sandler <aaron.sandler@duke.edu> (Re: [Leica] Re: Anyone want to help me spend some money on a digital darkroom?)
Reply from "Eric" <ericm@pobox.com> ([Leica] Re: Anyone want to help me spend some money on a digital darkroom?)
Reply from Matthew Powell <mlpowell@sbcglobal.net> (Re: [Leica] Anyone want to help me spend some money on a digital darkroom?)