filmscanners: Scanning large format without a bank loan

[Arthur Entlich <artistic@ampsc.com>]

First off, let me explain that the reason I haven't been very active on 
the list the last week is twofold,

1) my ISP has somehow corrupted my mailbox again, and I have to go 
through a painful process to read my mail, and torture to actually reply 
to it.

2) If that weren't painful enough I'm playing accountant for my wife and 
my own tax filings, which in Canada are due the end of the month, or (so 
I've heard) they add one digit for each day you are late, or is it they 
cut off one digit off your body for each day you are late-- something 
like that... ;-)


Jim Sims wrote:

 >I have returned my Epson Perfection 1200U Photo scanner and will
be buying a new scanner. I know that a film scanner is the way to
go for scanning negatives and transparencies but I also need a
flatbed scanner. Since most of my transparencies and negatives I
scan are medium format and larger (up to 4 X 5), I can not justify
a film scanner at this time. I am considering the Epson 1640 for
the flatbed and hope that it will give better results than the
1200. They're specs tout a 3.3 D-Max and 42 bit, a little better
than the 3.0 D-Max and 36 bit that was stated for the 1200. I'm
wondering if anyone on this mail list has experience with the 1640
and would recommend it. I'd really like to see the new Polaroid
120 but I'm afraid it may be above my budget limits for now. If
the 1640 will provide anything near the results I'm looking for
that's the route I'd like to pursue. The 1200 was bad to
posterize in the greens and flesh tones with the slightest under
exposed transparency or over exposed negative. Any advice or
recommendations would be appreciated.


=====

Now, I don't know what kind of budget the writer has to work with.  I'll 
agree that overall film scanners do the best job for 4x5, or any other 
format, overall, but as Jerry will tell you, the Agfa 2500 (which will 
still set you back about $4300 US) will do some nice transmissive scans.

There are a few middle priced flatbed scanners which can do moderate to 
reasonable scans of 4x5" or smaller scans.  Certainly, most flatbeds 
fall down on 35mm, but some of the newer 1200 dpi optical flatbed 
scanner aren't bad.

Most flatbed scanners have a sweet spot down the center where they 
provide the best resolution.  Some are designed to take advantage of 
this sweet spot for transparency use.

ON the low end, reports from the Agfa Snapscan e50 have been good.  The 
scanner with built in transparency adapter costs under $200 US.  It has 
a native 1200 x 2400 dpi resolution, 42 bit A/D, with 8 bit per color 
output.  However, I do not believe a full 4 x 5" transparency section. 
In fact, I think it is about 2 x 3".  UMAX makes the 4000U which is also 
a 1200 x 2400 dpi scanner, and has an optional transparency top, which I 
believe goes up to 4 x 5.  It is a 36 bit system and is about $300 US 
plus the cost of the transparency adapter.

Microtek has several scanners.  The Scanmaker 4 is about $500 and has a 
built in transparency hood which can scan up to 8 x 10" but is only 600 
x 1200 dpi, 36 bit claiming 3.4 Dmax, if you take those claims to be 
meaningful.

The UMAX Powerlook III at $800 US is 1200 x 2400 with 8 x 10 
transparency included, max density 3.4D.

There are several flatbeds in the $1200 US range which also have these 
features.

All of these scanners will be a compromise of some sort to get the 
quality a 2400-4000 dpi film scanner will provide, but your budget may 
determine the range of scanner to consider.

In terms of D  max numbers, keep in mind that the difference between a 
3.0 and a 3.4 is quite substantial, however, all manufacturers play 
games with these numbers, so only tests will reveal what will work.

You might wish to see if any magazines have recently reviewed the 
transmissive scanning abilities of medium priced flatbed scanners and 
see how they were rated.

PS: To Lynn, no I have no method to get a HP Photosmart to scan 4 x 5" 
transparencies at present.

Art