Viewing negatives...

[ozphoto]

A friend picked up an old xray viewer for about $40, from a listing in a local trade newspaper; good size for viewing an entire roll sleeved in one hit.

- Nanette
www.nanettereid.com

 

[clayne]

This applies equally well to newsprint and Internet journalism, where the story with pictures must be filed by a certain time to make publication, but the image isn't really needed much beyond that. It does not apply though to all photography or even other forms of print journalism. A Magazine with a 6 week lead time, doesn't need fast turn around, but the images are not needed for a terribly long period of time either.

Sad to say this is yet another reason why modern day journalism has taken a crap. Emphasis on disposable approach. I tend to disagree strongly with your statement that the image isn't really needed much beyond that. Some of the most prolific photographs ever made were made by photojournalists on the job.

 

[wogster]

Sad to say this is yet another reason why modern day journalism has taken a crap. Emphasis on disposable approach. I tend to disagree strongly with your statement that the image isn't really needed much beyond that. Some of the most prolific photographs ever made were made by photojournalists on the job.

If Joe Sixpack flips his Pickup truck into the ditch, the local stringers news photos of that event, probably mean little or nothing after the article is published on page 11 of the local rag. There are some news events, where the photos become immortal, like the photos of famous person being killed, but that's what maybe a few dozen a year, world wide.

Where digital imaging will really prove itself failing in the next 25 years, is as a recorder of personal history. An example of a recording of history, on the personal level is a faded, stained, battered print of my Grandfather, who died in WW-I, nearly 50 years before I was born, this is the only clue, I have as to what he looked like. I know that silver based chemical prints will last 100 years, because that photo of my Grandfather, was taken in 1912, so it's 97 years old now, pretty good chance it will still be viewable in 3 years. I wonder about the claims of ink based digital prints lasting 100 years, considering that I have colour negatives from 1977 that have faded considerably since then. Different dies I know, but they probably didn't think colour negatives would fade that much, that quickly either. The B&W negatives from then, are like brand new.

 

[Alan W]

X-ray viewer again.The one I've got measures 14 inches wide by 18 inches long and it holds a full negative page.I screwed it to the wall next to my enlarger and can view it at eye level with a loupe.Perfect!

 

[MattKing]

This might be a bit of overkill:

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/pho/1278127000.html

Matt

P.S. The text of the craigslist listing reads as follows:

Abodia slide storage unit for display and sorting of transparencies. High quality, as new, perfect physical and working condition. Made in Germany.

Main unit holds 8000 transparencies, on movable metal racks, each holding 200 slides, movable in front of fluorescent viewing light for ease of viewing and sorting.
Wooden cabinet 69” wide x 21” deep x 36” high, sits on open steel frame so that slides are at eye-level when seated on chair in front of unit. Weight, with frame, ~590lbs

Secondary base, for horizontal slide viewing and sorting, pull-out light drawer. Fits under main unit. On castors, mobile.
18.5” wide x 21” deep x 28.5” high.

Accessories: extra fluorescent bulbs circular, for this unit. Slide magnification unit.

Was C$12,000 new. Sell all for C$3900 or best offer. Or sell separately.

 

[Wade D]

The Xray light box is a great choice. The one I have is big enough to view 14x17" film with ease and cost nothing. A local lab shut down and gave everything away.

 

[Usagi]

Wirelessly posted (Samsung 2700: SAMSUNG-B2700/XBIB2 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.4 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.0 configuration/CLDC-1.1)

I use light box and loupe for judging sharpness. Ofcourse i also see if theres much wrong with exposure when looking negs at the light box.

For checking tones i use mostly a scanner because it's easier and faster than going to darkroom and making contact sheets (if i would have fully equipment darkroom in my aparthment, i would go only for contacts)

I have made correction curves for skanner so that i will see quite closely how the negatives will print on different paper grades.

 

[ic-racer]

I use a Nuarc light table with a Kenko 8x loupe. Last time I did a contact 'proof' print was in 1986.