Donning my Nomex fireproof garments I step into the fray.. I have made many 16X20 RA-4 darkroom prints from medium format images on Fuji Crystal Archive paper. I also have scanned some of the same 645 and 6x9 negs and transparencies on an Epson 3200 and printed on epson 1270, 2000, and 9600 printers using various papers as well as lightjet printer on Fuji Crystal Archive, all 16X20.
Framed and hanging on the wall, people don't see a difference other than those improvements made possible by judicious use of PS. Shel can see a difference, but customers don't. I prefer the scanned images over the traditional prints. At The Santa Fe Workshops I took a digital printing class. We had Nikon 4000, Nikon 8000, Epson 4800, and Imacon MF scanners. I scanned 645 transparencies on the Imacon at 3200 dpi and made some nice 30X40 inch prints with the 9600. I tried to do a comparison scan with the Nikon 8000 but the MF negative carrier was so bad we couldn't get a scan. When I returned home I scanned the same image on my Epson 3200. Comparing the Imacon scan with the Epson 3200 I was surprised to see little difference in sharpness between the two. Surely not $7,000 difference! However, shadow detail was better with the Imacon. I have also had Tango drum scans made that are better by far than anything else. I continue to use the 3200. I might upgrade some time to a scanner with ICE. For 35mm I use a Nikon 4000. Bill Lawlor BTW, I believe the Epson 3170 is made in China.
