Re: filmscanners: Scanner consideration

["Steve Greenbank" <steve@gccl.fsbusiness.co.uk>]

Hi James

Never used the 1640, but I noticed the UK computer magazine liked it whilst
having a free browse at Smiths.
It was up against some proper film scanners as well as flatbeds. I didn't
read it properly and I am not always too impressed with their reviews. They
may even have preferred it due to it's versatility and price. £300 is a hell
of a lot cheaper than a proper medium format film scanner.

How big do you want to print ? I can get a very good A4 and a more than
acceptable A3 (to most people) from my 3Mp digital camera. I still decided
to go for the 4000dpi film scanner to scrape as much detail as possible from
the slide, but I still think 1600x3200 off medium format will produce
impressive results at  A3.

Steve


----- Original Message -----
From: "James L. Sims" <jlsims@knology.net>
To: <Filmscanners@halftone.co.uk>
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2001 5:30 PM
Subject: filmscanners: Scanner consideration


> 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.
>
> Jim Sims
>
>