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I do not have a film scanner capable of scanning 4x5, but I've been wondering about using an updated version of an old technique: Wouldn't copying a 4x5 b/w negative, masked, on a light box, with an 8-megapixel dSLR with macro lens, produce a file good enough for at least moderate sized prints?
After all, Edward Weston copied 4x5 to 8x10 for contact printing by taping the 4x5 to a window with sky behind it and shooting it with his 8x10!
Has anyone tried digital duping?
Only one way to find out: Give it a shot (no pun intended). Of course, with an 8MP DSLR, the image will not have as high a resolution as one printed or scanned from the 4X5 negative, so you should expect some loss of image quality there, especially in larger prints. Still, it would be interesting to see the results of the experiment.
I think I would be tempted to use the Weston window method rather than a lightbox. Just a gut feeling that daylight would produce better results.....
"Only one way to find out: Give it a shot"
Can't argue with that . . . thanks, Bill!
But, out of curiosity, why do you think daylight would be better?
As I said, it's just a gut feeling. I've always preferred natural light to artificial. But, one thing I do know: Assuming nothing (trees, etc.) is blocking the light in the window, the brightness of the light should be consistent across the 4X5 negative. You can't always say that about a light box. Usually, the light will be brighter where the fluorescent tubes are located and fall off on either side. Anyway, there's something else you can experiment with, right?
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