RE: filmscanners: Selecting a scanner

[Jack Phipps <JPhipps@asf.com>]

Hi John--
Most people on the list know I work for Applied Science Fiction (the
developer of the Digital ICE products like Digital ICE, Digital ROC and
Digital GEM) and I am biased. Regardless, I wouldn't consider a scanner that
didn't have Digital ICE for eliminating surface defects from film. I do a
lot of scanning myself and getting a defect free scan is tedious! I don't
have to worry about additional damage by agressive cleaning.

Digital ICE will correct for dust, scratches (as long as they don't
penetrate the emulsion) and even defects in the film. The least expensive
scanner that I know of with Digital ICE is the Acer 2740S. You should be
able to find on for around $450 US or so. Both Nikon and Minolta make
relatively inexpensive models as well.

I haven't heard of any recent problems with stepper motors on Nikons, maybe
others on the list can comment. Good luck in your search.

Jack Phipps
Applied Science Fiction



-----Original Message-----
From: John Rylatt [mailto:rylatt@attglobal.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2001 8:16 PM
To: filmscanners
Subject: filmscanners: Selecting a scanner


I am new to this list and would appreciate some advice on selecting a film
scanner.

The high-end(4000 dpi) is beyond my budget.

I wish to make prints mainly in 8x10 format, with perhaps 11x14 at some
later date.

My printer is an HP932C Deskjet.

My computer is just one year old with a 20 Gig HD, 832 MHz processor and 512
Mb Ram. My OS
is Windows Me.

I would like to be able to adjust the histogram for a selected area of the
prescanned
image, by using  lightness and contrast controls. I would like to have this
feature for
both slides and negatives.

I have heard that the earlier Nikon scanners were having problems with
burning up the
stepping motor.

I would like a USB connection, but a plug&play SCSI board is acceptable.

I have been reading the list mail over the past few days re comments on the
CanoScan
FS2710, and I am wondering if I will find this unit suitable for my needs
and wants.

Regards, John.