Film vs. Digital Enlargements

Has anyone had any enlargements done from film lately? I had an 8x10 done from 35mm film (Canon Rebel SLR) on the weekend and was not impressed. It looked very dull and tired compared to any I've had done from my digital SLR. Then I started thinking that the last few enlargements I've had done have been the same going back a few years now. Do you think photo labs developing film has become a lost art? Or is digital a much better starting point when doing an enlargement?

Photo lab can do a bad job of quality control, no doubt about that. But it also could be the extended range of the C print makes it look flat to you. Depends a lot on subject and lighting as well. Many people prefer a good color print from negative. I really like the zip and pop of a digital print and I have no apologies.

shane_c wrote in post #7109773
Has anyone had any enlargements done from film lately? I had an 8x10 done from 35mm film (Canon Rebel SLR) on the weekend and was not impressed. It looked very dull and tired compared to any I've had done from my digital SLR. Then I started thinking that the last few enlargements I've had done have been the same going back a few years now. Do you think photo labs developing film has become a lost art? Or is digital a much better starting point when doing an enlargement?

I presume you had "standard" prints made from the same film. How did they look compared to the 8x10s?

SkipD wrote in post #7110194
I presume you had "standard" prints made from the same film. How did they look compared to the 8x10s?

Yes, I had a 4x6 done back in 2001 and it looked very nice. I should also add that the film enlargements I've had done the last couple years have been done at different labs.

"labs" aren't what they used to be.

It all depends on how good the exposure (the overall light that was captured and how, i.e. camera shake, focus quality, shutter speed) was and where you take it.

Any place to take a film negative to have a reprint or enlargement made, will digitally scan your negative and also digitally print it. Most machines are automated without much personal adjustment made by a skilled worker.

I've had 20x30 inch enlargments made from 100 speed film that I scanned myself at home on my film scanner and sent to a printer that specilizes in larger parints.