[filmscanners] Re: Focus problem on Minolta Scan Multi Pro

["Simon Lamb" <simon@sclamb.com>]

On 17/3/02 7:10 am, "M. Denis Hill" <denis@area360.com> wrote:

>> The preferences are Auto Expose for Slides, Autofocus at Scan and use
> monitor colour space.
>
> I've been using Auto Focus in prescan, then I check and do final focus with
> the manual focus tool. I keep Autofocus at Scan turned off. You might try
> this to see if your prescan looks in focus. If that fails, try manual focus
> for some prescans, but bracket focus out toward the extremes. That might
> reveal something broken.
>
> By manually setting the focus in different positions, you'll see if focus
> changes. It's possible that the depth-of-field is sufficient for 35mm film
> even with focus not working right, but there is enough difference in the
> "height" of the film in the MF carrier to throw it out of focus. Why don't
> you try my manual focus experiment with a slide and 35mm strip, as well? It
> may reveal something.
>
> BTW, the autofocus uses the center of the frame. If you have low contrast
> material in that area, the scanner may fail to see any change in contrast as
> it tries to focus.
>
> Have you tried both the glassless and glass insert in the MF carrier? I
> wonder if there is a problem with the carrier or insert.
>
>> I have successfully scanned 35mm Provia slides, Scala slides and Delta 100
> film (although the quality of the black and white negative scan was not very
> good, it looked grainy and the Provia was too red - any tips here?).
>
> You may have no choice but to use VueScan to solve the red problem ... until
> Minolta attacks the blue cast I mentioned and your red problem. BTW, I tried
> some Kodachrome 25 scans using the Minolta software. Ghastly!
>
> I did find this in the readme file:
>
> Color Reproduction of Negative Film
> When using 35mm and medium format films, make sure that the film is aligned
> correctly
> with the film holder frame and the film masks, respectively.
> This is necessary to ensure that the AE (Automatic Exposure) can be
> performed correctly.
> Misaligned film may produce unexpected color casts in the scanned image.
>
>> I am now trying to scan 6X6 Delta 100 negatives and Kodak Portra 400NC and
> 160VC
> negatives.
>
> I've scanned Portra 24x65mm in the MF holder with no focus problem. I had no
> color problem with it in VueScan.
>
>> There are very few instructions with the scanner.  I am placing all negs in
> the carrier with the image right side up (or the matt side at the bottom.  I
> assume this is correct but shouldn't affect focussing anyway.
>
> I agree that the manual is skimpy. The online help description of manual
> focus is a study in circular logic! If I can find time to really attack the
> beast, I may try writing a book. I think it has the potential to be a real
> winner once it has been doped out.
>
> Emulsion down is what the manual indicates (under instructions for scanning
> slides), so you're on the right track in that respect.
>
>> I hope you can help as this is spoiling my view of the scanner.  What is
> worrying me is that Vuescan is having the same problems - 35mm is fine,
> medium format is out of focus.
>
> Have you contacted Minolta support about this? I'm running the 1.0.1 version
> of Minolta software, but it seems unlikely to be the problem since VueScan
> is also unable to focus.
>

Denis

Thanks again.  I will try using manual focus although if I have to do that
for MF film I may just return the scanner as it should not be necessary on
such an expensive piece of equipment.

I do get the problem with the glassless and glass carriers.  I have found
that Minolta on their web site for the 1.0.2 release state that they have
fixed a focus problem.  I wonder if they have just made the problem worse!

I will try some more experimentation today and let you know how I get on (if
that is OK).  Thank heaven for Vuescan, although the fact that Vuescan
cannot focus either suggests a scanner problem to me.

Thanks again.

Simon

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