A few thoughts on keeping film as part of your creative options in the digital age.
Just like trying to compare B&W film with B&W digital, the expectations should be different and kept separate IMO. Film offers a purer shooting experience in a way because the processing part can't creep into the shooting part of the photographic experience. There is no LCD to constantly chimp, and films specific type of latitude deals with minor exposure errors.
In reality, cost factors boil down to the price of the film itself and proofing if any. Prints afterwards cost the same with film or digital. I only have my films developed without any proofs for a few dollars a roll and make my own contact sheets on a flatbed.
Scanning is something you are either dedicated to or not. I have always used two scanners ... currently an Epson V750 Pro and a dedicated film scanner. The Epson can do a respectable job with MF film, but in my experience is dismal for 35mm except when used to make contact sheets. 35mm samples from a flat bed can look okay if the image was shot in good light and was multi-scanned. But when the lighting gets challenging (and atmospheric as Helen puts it), then the flat beds start showing their inherent weaknesses compared to most desk-top dedicated film scanners.
It is difficult to evaluate this on the web using sub 1 meg sRGB images ... one has to see a comparison of the same neg. scanned by both types of scanners then printed ... even an 8"X10" will reveal the obvious visual differences.
This is not to knock those using a flatbed in any way. It may fit their needs, and to spend more would be pushing it financially for the amount of film they may shoot ... plus, they can send for a better scan for images they deem worthy of the cost.
However, someone shooting a Leica M and superb Leica lenses with all their resolving power, subtile charms and micro contrast, may not be all that thrilled with the results from a flat bed ... even one as good as the Epson V700/750. A used Minolta 5400 (not the 5400II which is better for color but worst for B&W) or Nikon dedicated scanner may be the better choice.
For those on a budget and aren't scanning all that many films but like to keep that option open creatively, there may be
a dedicated 35mm scanner for you @ $239.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._OpticFilm_7300_35mm_Film.html#specifications
I have no idea if this scanner is any good or not, but the specs look decent (7200 dpi un-interpolated, and a 3.5 D Max) and the reviews seem to look pretty good.
Or this
3600 dpi optical resolution model for $270 (less a $50 rebate = $220.) that includes Digital Ice for color scans or C41 type B&W scans:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ge_PF3650U_Prime_Film_3650u_Film_Scanner.html
Again, I don't have a clue as to the "real" performance of these dedicated film scanners but would strongly suspect they are not made for any kind of volume and are more for the occasional scan, but at those incredibly low prices it may warrant further research. If anyone has any experience with these please add your comments.