The Case For film

Extract

Recording images from the TEM with photographic film has a number of advantages over digital imaging. The first advantage is cost. Most institutions, whether academic or industrial, already have a darkroom so there is little or no start up cost. Even if a new darkroom must be equipped, a professional quality enlarger, lens, timer, paper cutter, paper safe, easel and safelight are easily under $2500 total. Trays and chemicals are inexpensive while an automatic print processor, which speeds up work significantly, while reducing exposure to chemicals, is about $2500. Additional lenses, so the same enlarger can be used for other film formats (35 mm), are about $200 each.