Thys,
Do not make the mistake of comparing OD specifications from various
manufacturers and deciding the highest number wins. They are absolutely not
comparable as no two manufactures use the same technique.
David
-----Original Message-----
From: Thys [mailto:teknovis@cis.co.za]
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2001 3:05 AM
To: filmscanners@halftone.co.uk
Subject: Re: filmscanners: 35mm filmscanner choice
James
I'd be very interested to see other replies to your query, since I'm in a
similar position wanting to upgrade from my lowly FS2710 to one of the newer
4000dpi machines. I've looked at the specifications and read some comments
and summarized it for myself so far:
Nikon 4000:
Pros:
Best d-range of all of them.
Digital ICE works best (but has most negative influence on the image
quality)
Cons:
Price
Sharpness is good, but suspect in the corners.
Software problems
Only Firewire interface
Nikon IV:
Pros:
Price
Good d-range
Digital ICE
Cons:
Resolution (too close to cheaper models); could as well stick with the
FS2710
Same sharpness issues as 4000
SS4000:
Pros:
Price
Sharpness good
Highest real resolution of all (according to imaging-resource)
Cons:
Not the best d-range
No ICE or FARE
'Only' 12 bit output
Only SCSI supported
Future support(?)
Canon 4000:
Pros:
Price
Excellent overall sharpness (sharpest of all according to
imaging-resource)
FARE (not as good as ICE, but has very little overall negative image
impact)
SCSI as well as USB support (Important, since I want to use it on my
laptop from time to time)
Cons:
D-Range
Shadow noise (could be improved by multi-scans?)
Speed (slower than the others)
Of course there are other considerations, but I found these ones to be the
most important ones for me. I am not particularly inclined to any of them
at the moment yet. I would like to see if there are new machines coming from
Minolta and others soon and wait for more comparisons.
Regards
Thys
---------------------------------------------------------
Thys van der Merwe
Portfolio of African Images:
-----------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: <BeckettJB@aol.com>
To: <filmscanners@halftone.co.uk>
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2001 2:04 AM
Subject: filmscanners: 35mm filmscanner choice
> [apologies if this already posted]
>
> I have been a long time list lurker and will shortly take the plunge
for
> a 35mm scanner. I have read most of the online reviews as well as list
> traffic on the scanners which I think would meet my needs. (The best I can
> buy for around $1,000, thus eliminating the Nikon 4000 dpi from the
running)
> It seems my choices are
>
> the Nikon IV ED, Polaroid SS 40000 or the Canon FS4000,
>
> The Polaroid scanner offers much for the money, but no FARE or ICE, yet
good
> software, ie Silverfast. (Polaroid's current financial situation certainly
> makes me a bit nervous as well)
> I have read several negative comments on sharpness about the new Canon
> scanner yet read a reasonably positive review on Imaging Resources (Dated
> 6/27/01) which seem to address the sharpness issue.
> ()
>
> Last but not least the new "low end" nikon IV ED is tempting with ICE3 but
> only 2900 dpi. Will the decreased resolution of the Nikon be offset by the
> Genuine Fractals software??? Will it make a difference in the quality of
the
> final output (see below)
>
> I plan to use the scanner to produce 11 x 14 quadtone prints via
piezography
> from 35mm negatives, both color and black and white. (as well as maybe
some
> color work)
>
> Would greatly appreciate input from owners of any of the above scanners
>
> Thanks,
> James Beckett
