Much very sound advice has been given on this tricky subject. The film itself is the best form of archive. The method of obtaining prints/viewing images becomes the subject. The Imacon users group (for scanners) is once again discussing methods involving huge expendure in order to make safe digital archives. There are no easy answers - apart from film!
Whichever route you choose, the learning and spending needs to continue beyond what you outline above. By the very nature of this forum, the advice you receive here will be biased - towards the darkroom solution.
I think you need to really research (far more extensively than obtaining opinions from strangers, even in a friendly and knowledgeable community like APUG) what each option entails and break down pros and cons along with the extra expenditure - colour head for enlarger, photoshop software+ ICC profiling for scanner/monitor/printer etc. Also about how the facility will fit into your home and how much you will need to learn to achieve results with which you are happy.
You do not mention the split of B+W / Colour which you shoot - this could have a bearing.
For the scanner route -I agree that you do not necessarily need to spend as much on the scanner itself, but ought to look for one with a top quality lens and high Dmax for colour work.
The way of working itself is so very different and this ought to be something that will have a major say in your decision. Using computers cannot claim to be nearly so tactile or pleasurable as darkroom working; there are advantages which the digital workflow can offer..........
Ideally, to cover all bases, you should be thinking about both routes!!!!!!!
Whichever route you choose, the learning and spending needs to continue beyond what you outline above. By the very nature of this forum, the advice you receive here will be biased - towards the darkroom solution.
I think you need to really research (far more extensively than obtaining opinions from strangers, even in a friendly and knowledgeable community like APUG) what each option entails and break down pros and cons along with the extra expenditure - colour head for enlarger, photoshop software+ ICC profiling for scanner/monitor/printer etc. Also about how the facility will fit into your home and how much you will need to learn to achieve results with which you are happy.
You do not mention the split of B+W / Colour which you shoot - this could have a bearing.
For the scanner route -I agree that you do not necessarily need to spend as much on the scanner itself, but ought to look for one with a top quality lens and high Dmax for colour work.
The way of working itself is so very different and this ought to be something that will have a major say in your decision. Using computers cannot claim to be nearly so tactile or pleasurable as darkroom working; there are advantages which the digital workflow can offer..........
Ideally, to cover all bases, you should be thinking about both routes!!!!!!!
