What is the largest print size for a 35mm....

[dsanders]

I know film has gotten alot better over the years as digital has been taking over. But I am wondering if someone can tell me how large of a decent print you can get from 35mm and 6X4.5 medium format film? Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't alot of the print labs nowadays scan the film and then print digitally. Is this a good method of getting good results. I have a F100 sitting in the closet and I am thinking of pulling it out and doing a little playing around.

Does anyone have a website you could direct me to that answers questions like these?

Thanks

[Gordon]

Originally Posted by dsanders

I know film has gotten alot better over the years as digital has been taking over. But I am wondering if someone can tell me how large of a decent print you can get from 35mm and 6X4.5 medium format film? Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't alot of the print labs nowadays scan the film and then print digitally. Is this a good method of getting good results. I have a F100 sitting in the closet and I am thinking of pulling it out and doing a little playing around.

Does anyone have a website you could direct me to that answers questions like these?

Thanks

It is one of those 'how long is a piece of string' kind of questions. I've seen billboards printed from 3Mp digital files which have a whole lot less detail than a great 35mm capture, but that still look fantastic.

It depends on viewing distance, application, how sharp the original capture was, how good your tolerance is for softening, and so on.

20"x30" seems to be the typically quoted falling off point of acceptability for 35mm images, but remember, the movies you watch at the cinema are 'enlargements' of a 35mm frame too.

[dsanders]

Thanks for such a quick response. So poster size, that's not so bad. I'm going to have to try coming up with something that I would want to print that big. I think that will be my hardest challenge.

[ChuckEye]

Increased size generally means increased distance between the viewer and the print. If you're going to be looking at your poster from a couple feet away, 24x36 poster size can be fine from a 35mm original. Of course, larger negs give you more options too. At a recent portfolio review at Houston Center for Photography, I saw a nice stack of, I believe, 16x20s made from 6x6 Hasselblad color negs. Traditional color prints, not digital. Looked gorgeous presented at that size.