Microtek announces new Microtek ArtixScan M1 scanner

[ellis_vener_photography]

(I just received this press release from Microtek. )<P>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<P>

 

Microtek® Extends Renowned Line of High-Value Scanners with the ArtixScan® M1 - Featuring

Exclusive EMULSION DIRECT IMAGING TECHNOLOGY<P>

 

Microtek ArtixScan M1 follows the Microtek ScanMaker® i900 as the next-generation film/flatbed

scanner featuring E.D.I.T. for scanning film<P>

 

Carson, CA (October 24, 2006) -- Microtek, a world-leading manufacturer of digital imaging products,

announced today that it is developing the ArtixScan M1, a combined flatbed and film scanner for

35mm, 6cm, and 4x5-inch film formats that also offers additional functionality to scan reflective art or

prints as large as 8.5 by 14 inches. Microtek will preview the ArtixScan M1 at the PHOTO PLUS EXPO at

the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York on November 2, 3 & 4. Equipped with Microtek's

patented Emulsion Direct Imaging Technology (E.D.I.T.), 4800-dpi optical resolution, 16-bit digital

output per channel, auto focus, and new film holders with tension technology, the Microtek ArtixScan

M1 offers extraordinary value to photographers, photo enthusiasts, and graphic designers in need of

high-quality scans.<P>

 

"The Microtek ArtixScan M1 is first and foremost a film scanner that offers outstanding image quality to

photographers who want to breathe new life into old images shot on film," said Parker Plaisted, Product

Brand Manager for Microtek Lab, Inc. "With our patented glassless scanning architecture called E.D.I.T.,

the Microtek ArtixScan M1 matches or exceeds the performance specifications of dedicated film

scanners, while offering better value and additional functionality."<P>

 

New Emphasis on Film Scanning

The Microtek ArtixScan M1 is the first in a new line of flatbed scanners from Microtek that will deliver

outstanding images from both film scans and reflective scans. The reflective scanning capability of

flatbed scanners has been outstanding for several years, but the film scanning capabilities of flatbed

scanners lagged behind the dedicated film scanners. By advancing the optical resolution to 4800 dpi

with the E.D.I.T. scanning architecture, the film scanning capability of the new flatbed scanners from

Microtek will surpass the film scanning capability of dedicated film scanners while maintaining

outstanding reflective scanning capability. Excelling at both film and reflective scanning, these new

flatbed scanners will offer greater versatility and value to photographers, photo enthusiasts, and

graphic designers.<P>

 

Emulsion Direct Imaging Technology (E.D.I.T.)

Like its predecessor the Microtek ScanMaker i900 - a CNET Editors' Choice award winner - the

ArtixScan M1 features Microtek's patented E.D.I.T. architecture. E.D.I.T. is a unique technology exclusive

to Microtek that allows the optical system to scan the film emulsion without looking through the glass

plate that supports reflective materials on the flatbed scanner. With E.D.I.T., the film is supported in a

tray inside the scanner below the glass plate. The glassless scanning enables clearer scans of the film

because it avoids the optical distortions, aberrations, and dirt that can appear in a scan that passes

through the glass plate of a typical flatbed scanner.<P>

 

High-performance Scanning Capabilities

With 4800 dpi optical resolution and 48 bits per pixel, a scan of 35mm film on the Microtek ArtixScan

M1 will produce an image file that is equivalent to an image file from a 34-megapixel digital SLR

camera. The resulting detail in the scan of 35mm film will enable prints up to 16 by 24 inches while still

holding 300 pixels per inch at that print size. Large-format prints from 35mm scans can be made up to

24 by 36 inches while still holding 200 pixels per inch at that print size. Professional photographers

and photo enthusiasts will be able to fully utilize the printable area offered by their photo printers from

scans of 35mm film and larger film sizes.<P>

 

Software and Color Management

Continuing a strong partnership with LaserSoft Imaging®, the Microtek ArtixScan M1 will include the

popular SilverFast® software offering an intuitive user interface and professional controls over the

scanning parameters. One of the many outstanding features of the SilverFast software is fully-

integrated color management based on ICC standards for positive film and prints and the excellent

NegaFix technology for negative film.<P>

 

Pricing and Availability

The Microtek ArtixScan M1 is expected to be available in February 2007 for a suggested retail price of

$699 through distribution, mail order, specialty camera stores, selected retail stores, and Microtek's

retail Web site (www.store.microtek.com).<P>

 

About Microtek International and Microtek Lab, Inc.<P>

Microtek International is a global leader in designing and manufacturing innovative, affordable desktop

digital imaging products. Known for its first-to-market scanning technology, Microtek continues to

provide a wide range of scanners to the photography, prepress, graphic design, and document imaging

markets. Founded in 1980, Microtek International, Inc. is headquartered in Science-based Industry

Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan. The company has a strong global presence with major operations and

distribution channels in 53 countries around the world. Microtek Lab, Inc., the North American

subsidiary of Microtek International, Inc., is located at 16941 Keegan Avenue, Carson, CA 90746.

Information about Microtek can be found on the Web at www.microtekusa.com.<P>

 

© 2006 Microtek Lab, Inc.<P>

Note: Specifications and terms are subject to change. ArtixScan, ScanMaker, and E.D.I.T. are trademarks

of Microtek International, Inc. All corporate names and trademarks are the property of their respective

companies.<P>

[jeff_drew4]

Ellis,<p>

WOW! I was about to order & wait for a new, dedicated film scanner! Seriously! You just saved me a bundle$ and I can wait another 6 months. What the heck! I've been putting this acquisition off for 3 years . . . :-)<p>

If we ever meet, the beverages are on my tab!<p>

Thanks!

[robert hall]

Wouldnt the V750 from Epson do a better job? It can do wet scans and scan up to 8x10 negatives.

[ellis_vener_photography]

from my conversations 10 daysago with a Microtek exec ( Ihave under an NDA about

thisscanner until this morning) it is possible to do flui mount scanning with this scanner.

Good point about 8x10 film but even with the Epson you can't do fluid mount scanning of

8x10 film with the V750M.

[sattler123]

Is it really a given that this new scanner cannot scan 8x10 film? Many of the flatbed scanners on the market don't advertise that capability, but they will actually scan an 8x10 without problems. If this new Microtek did 8x10 scans it could just be the ticket for me - all the way from 35mm, 6x4.5, 4x5 and 8x10 - a dream come true. Let's wait until the first reviews are out........

[ulrik]

A scanner with film holders designed to hold the film flat and with autofocus that does not cost more than an Epson V750? Come on, tell me more sweet little truths...

 

Ulrik

[william john smith]

<I>Come on, tell me more sweet little truths... </I><P>You get what you pay for.

[ellis_vener_photography]

One way that the new Microtek scanner differs from the Epson is i nthe film holders. What

they tell me (I haven't seen one) is that tension is applied to the film to pull it flat. And athat

any precise focusing is done via mirrors inside the scaanner.

[moccia]

Thanks, I was ready to buy a Nikon Coolscan V as a dedicated 35mm film scanner, leaving for the future the option of an additional flat-bed scanner for the occasional medium format film.

If this Microtek scanner lives up to the expectations it will do both. I have just to wait few more months.

[ShunCheung]

If your objective is to scan film, especially the relatively samll 35mm film, a flatbed scanner is not going to be as good as dedicated film scanners, but it might be good enough for your purposes. Essentially you indeed get what you pay for.

[upscan]

Thanks Ellis for bringing the news.

 

Microtek's glass-less feature came with their i900 and 1800f, however their puny CCD arrays have distanced them from other film scanners such as the Nikon 9000.

 

Essentially these Microteks are large flatbed sized film scanners with the capability for scanning opaque materials also. (Film scanners are CCD scanners without glass in the lightpath from film to sensor). The potential advantage of the Microtek design over conventional film scanners such as the Imacon and Nikon 9000 is to add opaque material capability to the glass-less scanning capabilities that characterize film scanners in a scanner capable of handling large format film also.

 

Microtek is quite correct in that the glass in flatbed scanners degrades image quality. 2 mm of glass in between the lightpath path between film and sensors introduces image-degrading refraction: there is no free lunch. Other things equal, a refraction-free system is superior. What is new about Artixcan M1 is not the glass-less feature but the greater optical resolution. The 1800f was only 1800 dpi, this scanner is 4800 dpi. Microtek's numbers are not funny numbers generated by stepping motor tricks and 4800 dpi if true, does raise the bar to equal other film scanners such as the Nikon 9000.

 

The film-stretching feature of the carriers will help help attain uniform sharpness, however a better way is fluid scanning which is optically superior to dry scanning. Refraction-free fluidscanning has been used with the 1800f see http://www.scanscience.com. , and will be also available for this scanner.

 

As to where does this put the Epson V750 that is an interesting question. Refraction-free Fluidscanning is available for both and for all flatbed scanners so that is not the issue. From what has been released thus far, the big difference between the Epson and Microtek is the new, richer CCD array in the Artixcan M1 which, with its refraction-free glass-less feature puts it into the realm of film scanners. If all is as claimed, Microtek has with one swoop taken aim at the Nikon 9000 and the Epson offerings.

 

Given the Microtek's claimed 4800 dpi optical resolution, (assuming it is not a stepping motor funny number) we must assume a richer CCD array and that would indeed make the Microtek a full film scanner. Just recently Microtek had introduced the 1000XL with 3200 dpi in an XL format, selling for about $2.5K. How they have increased the CCD array to 4800 dpi over the same XL format for under $1K remains to be seen. The Nikon 9000 sells for about $2K, the price for this scanner is under $1K, wow!

[ulrik]

Will the scanner have hardware-based dust removal for film scanning?. Then I might wait for it and see how it compares with the Epson V750.

[james_bemus4]

The scanner uses IR channel dust removal with Digital Ice (a hardware/software solution.