filmscanners: Glass slide mounts

["Neil Cotty" <neilc@apphosting.com>]

Hi all,

I know this has been said before here, but I thought I'd just reiterate it
in case others missed out. I have an LS4000 scanner and shoot with mainly
Provia or Velvia. I've been 'sort of' happy with the sharpness of the scans,
resigned to using various sharpening methods post scan - no getting around
that. But - today I received a set of glass slides - Quickpoint- on the
advice of others around the Internet. Fantastic. Unbelievable difference.
I'm getting much better results, much sharper. So for the cost of a few
cents - I picked up 300 on Ebay for a few pounds - it's well worth the
money.

One side effect though, maybe someone can tell me why this is happening.
With a few slides, say 10%, I am getting this erm, multi-coloured circles
and unusual shapes appearing on the slide. I guess it is the film itself
perhaps slightly curved, and light playing tricks - or could it be some left
over residue from development? It does look like a liquid! Odd, but even so,
if it happens I just use a std slide mount instead as it does show up in the
scan. Ideas?

Lastly, the Quickpoint slides seem to have a matt side, the viewing side. I
didn't like the look of that interferring with the scans so mounted them
reversed. Any issues with that? Having never used glass slide before - is
that there for projection?

Cheers,
Neil