RE: filmscanners: LED Illumination for Film Scanners

["Austin Franklin" <darkroom@ix.netcom.com>]

> > > Regarding the Leaf scanners.  I knew they were off my want list when I
> > > saw the bulb for one being sold on ebay, as a separate
> auction item ;-)
> >
> > At least you CAN get them with no problem.  Check how much the LED array
> is
> > for the Nikon, and you may reconsider!
>
> You've made your aversion to LED's well know.

Not only LEDs, but scanning B&W in RGB.

> But you must know that they
> are not a consumable item, like the Leafscan bulb.  It's
> inevitable that at
> some point you'll need to buy a bulb for your scanner. I don't know where
> you get them now, but in a few years the only place you'll be able to get
> them will probably be ebay. On the other hand, I've never heard of and LED
> array burning out. It's considered a permanent light source.
>
> Score 1 for Nikon, 0 for Leafscan.

No one, but you, appears to be keeping score.  This wasn't a Leaf vs Nikon
"discussion".

Because YOU don't know where to get Leafscan bulbs, doesn't mean they are
not readily available.  In fact, they are available from CreoScitex, who
owns Leaf, as well as any other parts for the Leafscan.  It is still an
entirely supported product.

The bulbs are reasonably cheap, VERY easy to replace, and take a LONG time
to burn out, depending on use.  Of the over 100 Leafscan users I know, I
know of no one who has replaced a bulb at least since I have known them,
though people do typically keep a spare.  Not to say someone may have, and I
just didn't know about it...it's not like we all sit around and discuss bulb
life.

My guess is you are not an electrical engineer, or you would know that LEDs
do have a life span.  Because you haven't heard of them burning out, doesn't
mean they don't burn out.  In fact, their typical MTBF is rated for 1000
hours.  Incandescent light bulbs are rated for 1000 hours.  Aside from
having written and reviewed quite a few MTBF and MTTR studies on designs
that included LEDS, I recently replaced 4 of the 6 LEDs in my
radio/CD/Cassette in my 1989 Range Rover, so I DO know they do burn out.

Though I have the highest respect for the Nikon scanner, if you should have
trouble with the LEDs, it would probably be an expensive and difficult
replacement.  Personally, that would not deter me at all from buying that
scanner.  What deters me is I already have a scanner that does exactly what
I want it to.  I will say I am disappointed that the resolution limit on the
Nikon and the Polaroid is only 4000PPI for 35mm.  I believe they don't
change magnification for different formats.  That gives a maximum print size
for 35mm for the Nikon and the Polaroid, with 240PPI output to the print
driver, of 16" x 24" , vs 21" x 31" for the Leaf.  Nothing really wrong with
that, but some 35mm films and lenses have enough resolution to take
advantage of the higher resolution scans.

The Leafscan has been around for more than 10 years, and still most of them
are in use today.  They are VERY trouble free, and they are built to be that
way.  They certainly have their shortcomings, but they also have their
advantages, and easily hold their own with most any modern CCD scanner.
They certainly are not for everyone.