3/14/97
For the past 15 or so years I have been using a wonderful film by
Kodak which makes very nice black and white slides of continous tone and
high contrast copy. This is a positive film which requires no reversal
processing. It is called Kodak Direct Duplicating Microfilm 2468. I have
been buying it from a supplier in Florida who has apparently gone out of
business. Now here is the catch. Kodak, according to my long time
photography needs supplier, is not willing to sell this film in anything
less than a case. There are 50 100ft rolls in a case at about $40.00 per
100ft roll. My question is....are there any of you out there who might be
familiar with this film and know of suppliers other than Brandon's in
Jacksonville, FLA.? Brandon's is the supplier from whom I have ordered this
film in the past. Or another question which has just come to mind...are
there any EM Suppliers out there who might be interested in this film as one
of their catalogue items? I would appreciate hearing from any of you who
might have information on where to find this film or someone who might be
interested in purchasing a case for distribution.
I trust this is an appropriate post. Since we all make slides from
time to time, I felt that it might be. Perhaps it would be better to reply
to me directly and if there are others interested, let me know and I will
pass on any information I receive. Thank you very much, Sandra Zane
Sandra F. Zane, EM Tech. sfzane@email.uncc.edu
Dept. of Biology, UNCC Ph.(704)547-4051
9201 University City Blvd. Fax (704)547-3128
Charlotte, NC 28223
high contrast b&w film that you can process & mount at your desk. The
processing does require our processor - either power or manual. The
film comes with the development chemistry. You just have to buy the
reusable slide mounts separately. It is a little denser than wet
processed film, but it may not be as apparent with a high contrast
image.
John Warren
Area Sales Manager
Digital Products
Polaroid Corporation
WARRENJ1@cliffy.polaroid.com
Sandra Zane was wondering where she could get Kodak Direct
Duplicating Microfilm 2468. We use Eastman 5360 which sounds like the
same thing; 35 mm, gives a positive without a complicated kit, developes
in Dektol. We order it locally (I think) or you can get it from Freestyle
Sales Co. 5124 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90027,
www.freestylesalesco.com. In their catalogue it is called "Kodak B&W
duplicating film 5360" and is available in 50 or 100 foot rolls or 4x5
sheets.
Geoff McAuliffe, Ph.D.
Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
675 Hoes Lane Piscataway, NJ 08854
voice: (908)-235-4583; fax -4029 e-mail: mcauliff@umdnj.edu
roll. 800 237-3526 or tedpel@aql.com or Fax 916 243-3761 I put the
camera on B and manually work the shutter for 2, 2.5, 3 sec, depending on
the size (height of camera). It's so cheap, I usually bracket and shoot 3
shots for each to make sure I don't have to repeat shooting. Most of the
time, any of the shots could be used, but I pick the ones that are most
closely matched for use in a single presentation. I develop in D-19 4
min at 20 oC. There is another film, Kodak Contrast Copy Film, that works
about the same, but gives a bluer tint. I only keep the 5360 now.
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D.
P. O. Box 3020
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC 27710
Ph: 919 684-3452
FAX: 919 684-8735
saram@acpub.duke.edu
slides. I have usually let them them take care of that and found out that
our Biomed's graphic people use color slide film only which heard gives a
blue cast to the EM prints. I decided to try Kodak's RPC # 175-3151 film on
our copy stand (the people I got it from use it for taking slides of X-rays).
It turned out Great! The draw back.... 10 and 15 second exposure
brackets, at f4 f-stop, with four 500 watt photofloods. I developed it in
our Xomat x-ray processor but was told you can use D-19 also. I'm going
to reshoot the prints with Fugichrome 100 and that Direct MP 5360
someone else mentioned to compare. Has anyone else done this
comparison? My next trick is to find out how to get the Poloroid Digital
Pallete we have to use these long exposure films, if possible.
Rick Vaughn
Electron Microscopy Research Facility
RLVAUGHN@MAIL.UNMC.EDU
Not only should you consider the pixel depth (8, 10 or 12 bits), but you
should also consider the optical density range of the scanner. I don't
think the recent thread on scanners touched on this.
The digitization depth basically indicates the *output* range of the
scanner. A 10 bit scanner will output ~1000 gray levels. The optical
density range, though, indicates the *input* range of your scanner.
Optical density (OD) is the log(10) of the fraction of transmitted light.
Since most scanners start at roughly an OD of 0, a scanner with an OD range
of 2 will be able to "see" down to about 1% light transmission. An OD
range of 3 provides you with a range of 1000 in the light transmission.
With the same number of bits, each step will be 10 times coarser. You
will, however, be able to pull information from those dark regions of the
negative. Consider what kind of negatives you will be scanning. If they
are relatively flat, an OD range of 2 may be sufficient. If you have high
contrast negatives, check whether you need the extra input range.
The Umax scanner I've used has an optical density range of ~2.0. Agfa
indicates that their Arcus II (US$1500-2000) has a density range of 3.0
(0.2 - 3.2). Their DuoScan ($4000-4500) has an OD range of 3.3 (0.2 -
3.5?). Polaroid's Sprintscan 45 apparently has an OD range of 3.4 with a
$10k list price (ouch!).
So... think about your OD needs as well as pixel density, digitization
bits, and price!
Cheers,
Henk
Henk Colijn colijn.1@osu.edu OSU Campus Electron Optics Facility
I've noticed a great deal of discussion regarding films for
slides, and given how important this topic is to
microscopists, I thought I'd add my experience to the list.
My original film was also the MP 5360. The film works
well, is of high resolution, and exposure times of one
second or less using a MP-4 copy stand are common. You
can process it in your own lab. The drawback, in my
opinion, is a yellowish-brown hugh in the background. I am
told this can be cured with fresh bulbs in the MP4 copy
stand, and that they should be replaced "routinely", but I
really do not want to be bothered with that responsibility
and expense. I have also used the polaroid instant slide
film, but I find the resolution unacceptable, and the
slides I have made and archived do not seem to hold up to
the test of time. Our current solution? We use Kodak
Ektachrome 64T ("T" for tungsten lighting), EPY 135-36
film. The resolution is top shelf, and exposure times are
on the order of 1 second or less. Standard E-6 processing
at the local film processing stand does a nice job, so you
don't even have to get your hands wet. On a 35mm camera
set up on the MP4 copy stand, we use a film speed of "50",
and f-stop of 2.8, and automatic exposure. I do not know
the specifics about the lens which we use, but the distance
to the camera is from about 8 inches to 2.5 feet, depending
on the enlargement desired. With this film you will also
experience a brownish background. Using a SLIGHTLY blue
filter over the camera lens (available at the camera shop),
a pleasing grey background can be gained. As a darker blue
lens is used, the slides will become increasingly blue, but
I for one prefer blue over brown.
Hope this helps,
Doug Keene
Shriners Hospital for Children
Portland, Oregon
Doug Keene
DRK@shcc.org
We have had superb results with Fuji's Velvia. It is a daylight film, so
you will need blue filtration when used with tungsten halogen sources
(82B)and it is slow (50ASA) but it produces exquisite color rendition and
depth. It is also a standard E-6, for easy development. Good luck...
and if you take an especially beautiful shot which you would like to
share, let us know. We are always looking for interesting images for our
short courses (with credit, of course).
Barbara Foster
Microscopy/Microscopy Education
53 Eton Street
Springfield, MA 01108
(413)746-6931 fax: (413)746-9311 email:mme@map.com
There has been a tremendous response to my plea for information
about the DPM 2468. At the request of a couple of you, I am posting my
findings to the list. Here is basically what I have learned from you folks,
Kodak, and a couple of dealers with whom I have spoken.
1. Kodak is still making the DPM 2468. They won't produce the
film, however, until they have an order for it.
2. Kodak will not sell this film in quantities less than 50 100ft.
rolls. This makes dealers reluctant to stock it.
3. Neelima Shah informed me that Mid City Camera in Philadelphia
carried this film and I was able to order 2 rolls from them.
However, they are not sure that they will continue to stock it and
are going to call me later this week to let me know what they
decide. The 2 rolls they sold to me were the last they had in
stock.
Now for the good news: Several of you have informed me of another
film which seems to be very similar to this one in ease of use, exposure
times and development. It is called Direct MP Film 5360 and is available
from Ted Pella. You can find it on page 186 of their catalog. Those of you
who have used this film seem to be pleased with the product.
I would like to thank all of you who responded to my post on this
listserver and for the information you shared with me. I attempted to
answer each of you individually; but because the response became so great, I
will have to thank you as a group. Once again you were there and willing to
help.
I am not affiliated with any of the organizations who make or sell
any of the products discussed here.
Again, thanks to all who shared. Sandra
Sandra F. Zane, EM Tech. sfzane@email.uncc.edu
Dept. of Biology, UNCC Ph.(704)547-4051
9201 University City Blvd. Fax (704)547-3128
Charlotte, NC 28223