Hello,
I'd like to sincerely apologize for my stupid, childish behavior recently in a posting in the lounge. I think I know what caused it now, I think I had my mind set on using film, when given my situation, digital is pretty much what is best for me. I guess I had to exorcise those film demons and I did it in the most mindless manner. Once again, I'd like apologize, I've never done anything like that before, and never will again, anywhere.

I've purchased the Nikon D50, the very popular 50mm 1.8 AF and a 105mm 2.8 ais, I'm going to have a look at Gimp, but I've also puchased "Black and White Photography Techniques With Adobe Photoshop" by Maurice Hamilton, and I'll compare; if Photoshop looks better, I'l go for it. Thanks for everyone's help.

The nikon d50 is a good camera, I have been told a good program to use along side PhotoShop is Lightroom. If you are going to buy a printer the epson printers are very nice and Ilford is introducing a good line of papers and inks now and in the future. I would hold off until CS3 is released when purchasing image management software.
I have seen first hand Mark Nelsons method of making digital negatives on a epson printer and then observed Sandy King make platinum prints with very basic and simple to learn setups.
You would have the best applications of wet and digital processes.

Welcome to Hybrid. You may find that gimp will do all you *need* and that the commercial software is on par or over kill.

Epson and Canon both make good printers. When you buy a printer plan on getting one that will accept a continuous flow/Ink system (CFS or CIS). It may initially double the cost of the printer, but will pay for itself very quickly. A CFS/CIS is a ink delivery system that uses one set of cartridges attached by fill tubes to ink reservoirs (bottles of ink). On may cost about 200.00 – 400.00, but will contain many times as much ink as that found in individual carts and will result in huge savings and hassles.

http://inksupply.com/


It may be a bit early in the day to begin doing digital negs, especially if you plan to make silver gel contacts and or if you've never coated your own paper. If you do wish to do digital negs, read up on what printers work best for this or ask. Not all printers are created equal.

Good luck and please ask questions. There are some really smart and capable folks on this site who like to help.