RE: filmscanners:minolta and med format (questions, questions)

["LAURIE SOLOMON" <LAURIE@advancenet.net>]

Since it is my post that is cited below or to which this post has been
attached, I will respond.

With the introduction of the Scan Multi II, Minolta introduced a Universal
Film Holder which was I holder with masks that you cut your self ( I do not
know if it was glassless or not).  The customized masks were furnished to
permit the user to locate and position the various sections of the different
medium format film frames so as to center each of the sections ion the
center of the holder so that section could be scanned at the maximum optical
resolution of 2820 dpi, which was reserved for 35mm film using the 35mm film
holders, and which would be stitched together later using third party
software. This film holder along with the newly upgraded scanner software
introduced at the same time as the Scan Multi II and the Universal Film
Holder allowed for 2820 dpi full frame medium format optical resolution
scanning.  The same holder and software could also be used with the original
Scan Multi to do the same thing thereby upgrading it to a Scan Multi II.

With the Scan Multi Pro, there appears to be the introduction of a new
optional accessory the Multi Format Set in addition to the Universal Film
Holder and the other film holders that now come as included standard
equipment with the scanner.  This leads me to think that the Multi Format
Set is something different from and in addition to the Universal Film
Holder; but I do not have the slightest idea how it differs from the
Universal Film Holder or works in conjunction with it.  Minolta in their
infinite wisdom has not supplied any description or information on this
optional accessory, what it does, or how it works.  What you say about it
being just the customizable mask set for the Universal Film Holder may be
accurate.  I do not know and cannot find out because of Minolta's silence in
providing information on it even though they make a point of mentioning it
in the Multi Scan Pro spec sheet as an optional accessory under whose use
certain specifications can be gotten.

What you note regarding Vuescan is correct but it only accomplishes an
optical 2820 resolution scan of the entire medium format frame if you scan
the frame in sections and stitch those sections together later via some
third party software just as in the case of the Minolta software.  True, it
is cheaper than the Minolta software; but it is still a pain in the butt and
requires extra effort to acquire a full frame medium format 2820 optical
resolution scan and to stitch the sections together - not to mention the
additional costs and problems of attempting to stitch the sections together
accurately and cleanly - just as is the case for the Minolta software.
Moreover, to scan in sections with the Vuescan software so that those
sections can be stitched might require the Universal film Holder and its
customizable masks as well.  If one has to get them as an accessory, then
they are packaged with the Minolta software at $200 US cost so one might as
well use the Minolta software that comes with the holder.  The last
statement may not hold true for those who own the Scan Multi Pro if the
Universal holder and customizable masks come with the scanner at no
additional cost; but then again in that case you already own the Minolta
software anyway so why go out and get a different but similar version of it
such as Vuescan.

Flatbed scanners with film or transparency adapters will work in most cases
if one is satisfied with an optical resolution of around 1200 dpi for a
medium format film (since the early two Scan Multi film scanners - the
original and II - only do straight entire frame medium format scans without
interpolation at an optical 1140 dpi).  However if one wants higher optical
resolution scans for whatever reason, one would have to use one of the
higher resolution flatbed scanners such as the Agfa T2500 which typically
can cost more than the Minolta medium format film scanners.  The advantages
and disadvantages of flatbed scanners seem to revolve around what type of
medium format film you are scanning (negatives or transparencies, color or
black and white).  Most flatbed scanners do not have scanning software that
is capable of accounting for the orange masking on color negative film (
although some third party software for flatbeds do handle those masks);
sometimes flatbed scanners tend to generate noise when scanning silver based
black and white film due to the scanner capturing the grain structure of the
silver crystals in the emulsion which happens less with film scanners if I
am not mistaken.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-filmscanners@halftone.co.uk
[mailto:owner-filmscanners@halftone.co.uk]On Behalf Of Erik Kaffehr
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 5:31 PM
To: filmscanners@halftone.co.uk
Subject: Re: filmscanners:minolta and med format (questions, questions)


Hi!

I got the impression that Multi Format Set is just a glassless carrier with
mask you can cut yourself. Vuescan, which is avalable for 40 USD (I think)
does 2820 scan across an MF film, but covers just a 24 mm area. Vuescan can
bed downloaded from www.hamrick.com/vsm.html for test.

Did you consider using a flatbed scanner for MF?

I sort of consider buying the Scan Multi Pro, if I can afford it. On the
other hand I do A3 prints from my 6x7 slides, and I don't think they lack in
sharpness.

Regards

Erik Kaffehr




tisdagen den 18 december 2001 21.12 skrev du:
> Other than the info I cited, there are no pictures of the Universal Film
> Holder for any of the scanners or of the Milti Format Set accessory; what
> is worse is that I could find no specifications or detailed information on
> either.  You might want to check in your manual to see it says anything
> about the two since you say you have the Scan Multi Pro film scanner.  I
> only have the original Scan Multi and do not have either the upgraded
> software which they want to charge $100 for nor the Universal Film Holder
> which comes ith the software at an expensive price since I would find it a
> pain to have to do all the repositioning and stitching just to get the
> increased optical resolutions.
>
>
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Erik Kaffehr                erik.kaffehr@swipnet.se alt. ekr@ksu.se
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