[filmscanners] RE: SS4000 fixes to improve quality--dust removal.

["" <snsok@swbell.net>]

Tom,

I popped the top of my SS4000 (about 3 years old now, I guess) and was also
dismayed to see a very fine layer of dust on the mirror. Not to sound dense,
but I presume the mirror under discussion is what I am seeing in the
rectangular slot that is exposed as the open area of the slide
holder/carriage passes under the cold light.

I tried a small computer battery-operated vacuum but that did virtually
nothing to remove the dust. I very cautiously used a bit of Dust-Off,
avoiding a hard blast for the same reasons (I presume) you shouldn't use it
on a camera mirror. That dislodged some dust but I can still see plenty.

I presume the CCD (is that what it uses?) is mounted in such a way that its
photosensitive surface is vertically oriented and faces the back end of the
scanner. I guess if that's the case, it would not accumulate as much dust as
if it were horizontal.

What I don't understand is how much dust is a tolerable amount on the
mirror. Also, when the machine is idle, what position does the mirror
assume" Does it go vertical?

I have kept an inverted shoebox (with cutouts to accomodate the cables) over
the scanner quite faithfully. This is disappointing.

Stan

-----Original Message-----
From: filmscanners_owner@halftone.co.uk
[mailto:filmscanners_owner@halftone.co.uk]On Behalf Of HPA
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 12:42 AM
To: snsok@swbell.net
Subject: [filmscanners] SS4000 fixes to improve quality


Something to check is how much dust gets on the mirror underneath the slide
inside the scanner.  The scanner of course has no doors to keep it
dust-free.  I popped the top off (four catches on the bottom) and found some
dust on the optical mirror (looks like the mirror in your average SLR
camera).  I have a high quality air compressor (it is a medical breathing
unit from a thrift store, which has no oil in the chambers, perfect for
photography) and blew it out real good.

The mirror of course hinges while scanning, so I turned it on with the lid
removed, and pressed the power button, which sends it through a cycle.  As
soon as the mirror was fully exposed, i unplugged the power cord.  This is
when I was able to best get at the mirror with the compressor hose.

I didn't particularly notice a halo, but i did notice a huge improvement in
general optical quality.

Of course now I use a pillowcase as a dust cover.

Tom Robinson

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