Where's the sharpness gone?

[sportback]

Firstly hello everyone - my first post even though I've been reading here for a while.

Backgound: Keen amateur for years, bought a couple of Hasselblads in the late 70's and always developed my own films, 35mm and 6x6. Since the late 90's everything has been in a box due to various work/family considerations.

Fast forward to last year when I finally got myself a digital reflex (D700) - great machine but I've always been a medium format kinda person so a few weeks ago I dug out the 'blads and decided to get back into the sadle. After cleaning everything and replacing the light-traps on my A12's I was ready to go. Shot a couple of test rolls to check out the shutters, backs and development technique and I've got a problem.

Based on personal experiences and reviews I got myself an Epson V700. The trouble is, whilst I can see my negs are as sharp as they've always been, I simply can't get that 'punch' in the scanned images.

I've tried everything (I think) I've scanned at hi and low resolution, with and without sharpening, with and without high contrast curves etc. even to the point of putting the negs in upside down in the scanner (Gotta test everything)

Is there anyone out there who's experienced similar problems? My negs were shot at small apertures (11,16,22) on T-Max 100 to minimise the grain, and from what I can (with a hand magnifier) see they're razor sharp - I just don't get this in the scans - it's almost as if there's a mask infront.

The prints I used to make when I had a conventional darkroom (all those years ago) were superb (not the subject matter, the quality) - at the moment I get better results from the Nikon...

Can anyone help please?

Ian

 

[polypal]

Hello Ian,

Welcome here at hasselbladinfo forum!

There are a number of reasons that may be the cause you are not getting what you are looking for.
First of all scanning negatives is not the most optimum method to convert film to digital.
Trannies are easier to scan.
Although the Epson V 700 is quite a decent scanner it is not able to convert all what is in the negatives, or trannies for that matter, into digital files.

Why not take a test film to a professional scanner and let him scan a few frames.
That may help you find out what is the cause.
A friendly scanner may even take some time and look at your files and comment on what is there.

Finally shoot some trannies and scan those with the Epson.
That may well be a step in the right direction.


Paul

 

[sportback]

Thanks polypal - however two small problems come to mind...one is that I live in rural France and we simply don't have the 'facilities' nearby (But I do know where to get really good cheese!) The second is that my prime reason for undusting the Hasselblad was for my love of B&W...

But thanks for your suggestions - appreciate it

Ian

 

[polypal]

In case the Bureau de Poste is too far from your castle I am sure in rural France your "facteur" will gladly collect a parcel destined for an obscure lab where men with strange machines perform wonderful jobs with images.

You will miss personal contact although telephone and email are quite reliable substitutes these days.

A different way of scanning with a higher grade scanner may help you put the finger on the sore spot.

Keep in mind for certain applications film and a conventional darkroom with high grade paper to print are still the way to go.
It is like Cola: Coca Cola is still the reference to judge the others.


Good wine and some cheese can be the ingredients for long nightly conversations about photography and other matters that occupy a mans mind.

 

[sportback]

Coca Cola? What's that? We have red wine on intravenous drip....

You're right, of course, I'll have to try to find a lab that scans film.

Shame that my little V700 doesn't seem to be up to the job (Heaven knows what it'll do to a 35mm neg???)

I'll keep you posted

Ian

 

[sportback]

I've just read a review where the guy talks about using an 'unsharp mask', either when scanning or in post treatment with Photoshop...anyone here know A: what this is, and B: how to find/apply it?

Merci in advance...

 

[jotloob]

I've just read a review where the guy talks about using an 'unsharp mask', either when scanning or in post treatment with Photoshop...anyone here know A: what this is, and B: how to find/apply it?
Merci in advance...

Ian

USM in PHOTOSHOP means unsharp masking .
You could also say SHARPENING .
Sharpening is basically done by increasing the contrast .

I use SILVER FAST Ai as scanner software , and there you can set a basic sharpening which in turn then is applied to all scans .

I think , that is what he means with an "unsharp mask" .

I found , that scans of one and the same negative but scanned on different scanners , also require different sharpening values .

I use an ARTIXSCAN F1 with the setting AUTO SHARPNESS (but the values are unknown to me) and my B/W scans need a final sharpening in PS of just 100-105% at 1-1.3 pixel .

I would like to offer you to do a scan of one of your negatives on my scanner , just as a test .
But I will be away on holiday for three weeks in May , and that would then not help you at all .
I know a professional LAB here in Germany . They scan on IMACON 848 and already made about 50 scans for me .
Very professional .
PM me , if you want the address .

Regards Jürgen

 

[sportback]

Thank you Jürgen - appreciate the response.

I've been playing with Photoshop to see if I can 'recover' the sharpness, and the auto-sharpness 'filter' seems to do it's job pretty well. Here are a before and after example from a tiny (10%) crop of a 6x6 negative.

Original scan - no sharpening during scan.

Same scan but with autosharpening in PS.

This result has calmed me down considerably...sadly the weather is not good today - but as soon as it is, I'll try some more.

Many thanks

Ian

 

[polypal]

Hello Ian,

These images show that different settings in the software will improve the results dramatically.
The Epson is a good scanner that will do quite well for most applications.

I am glad part of the problem is solved thanks to Jürgen.



Paul

 

[TJV]

I have a V700 and Nikon 8000ED (plus an old 35mm only Canoscan 4000US.)
There are two problems with the V700 and 8000ED that will knock you back if you are not careful. One is the standard holders are useless and requre very careful attention to make sure the negs / trannies are flat. If they aren't you'll be disappointed with soft results. The other, on the V700, is you need to do a few tests with the holders and make sure the hight adjustments are set to the optimum for YOUR scanner. Most people report that they should be set to the + position. I find the V700 very good for proofing and moderate size prints with careful sharpening.