larry_gaskill Posted April 5, 2001 Share Posted April 5, 2001 I currently scan medium format slides and would love to find a goodquality large format (4x5) transparancy scanner. <p> I understand Nikon had the 4500 that would do 4x5 but now the newreleases don't seem to provide for 4x5 <p> Any recommendations would be appreciated (not flat bed scanners) <p> Thanks <p> Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin_vanmeter1 Posted April 5, 2001 Share Posted April 5, 2001 New scanner will be on the market in 2 months, look promising at the "market price" Canon D2400uf with carrier for transparencies up to 4x5 <p> http://consumer.usa.canon.com/scanners/csd2400uf/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim6 Posted April 5, 2001 Share Posted April 5, 2001 Larry, <p> You're looking for a dedicated film scanner, not a flat bed, like the Canon correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_ross Posted April 5, 2001 Share Posted April 5, 2001 I am lucky enough to have a friend with a Polaroid SprintScan 45, which looks outwardly alot like the Nikon you refer to. This is a fabulous scanner with the exception of the 4x5 carrier which only allows for a scanning area of roughly 3.6 x 4.6 inches and makes it difficult to scan the edges of a sheet of film because of the design. <p> It produces extremely rich and accurate scans with absolutely no loss of shadow detail. It is also very fast. The specs from polaroids website say : 2500x2500dpi single pass, Dmax=3.8, 5 minutes at maximum resolution. <p> He paid something in the neighborhood of $8k many years ago for it. There is a newer model which has higher resolution and costs in the mid $3k range I believe. I wonder if there is a better holder available though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renee_galang1 Posted April 5, 2001 Share Posted April 5, 2001 Hello guys I have for sale the polaroid 45 sprintscan, an x-demo, definitely not a used scanner! for AUS$5,500 + shipping costs (its best if you have a UPS/Fedex account number). With the cheap aussie dollar it is a good buy for US buyers out there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_theall2 Posted April 5, 2001 Share Posted April 5, 2001 Larry,Don't waste your money on all those High end scanners. Check out he Epson 1200U Photo scanner. For a few hundred (not thousands) it will scan up to a 4x5 negative or slide. It also does regular flatbed scanning as well so you can digitize prints when the negatives can't be found. You can go up to the 1600U if you really want the top of the line but the 1200U does fine. Make sure you get the Photo model which comes with the lid with the neg/slide scanner attachment. Check it out at the epson site and then check prices on ebay.Good Luck.Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_m._herman1 Posted April 6, 2001 Share Posted April 6, 2001 Larry, <p> You didn't mention what you planned to do with the scans of your transparencies. That is a key question when deciding which scanner to purchase. <p> Transparency scanners have received a great deal of discussion in the PDN Pro Forum. Go to www.pdnonline.com. In the center column in the lower half of the opening page is the link to the forum. You can post your question there after you register, or you can search for past discussions concerning transparency scanners in the Tech Talk forum. <p> RegardsBruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_andrews Posted April 6, 2001 Share Posted April 6, 2001 I had an Epson 1200 'perfection' for precisely two days. The lens was so bad that it couldn't resolve anything near the claimed 1200dpi. I tested it with a high resolution glass plate, and it acheived about 13 lppm, or just over 600dpi. The same plate in a proper 35mm film scanner was resolved at over 60lppm.<br>I then spent hours trying to get a better focus with the darn thing, and came to the conclusion that the lens was just a pile of crap.<br>I don't know if the 1640 is any better, but most of the reviews I've seen don't rate it very highly for sharpness.<br>If anyone has any objective measurements of the 1640, I'd be very interested. Comments like 'tack sharp' won't be accepted as evidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpshiker Posted April 6, 2001 Share Posted April 6, 2001 What Pete says is often the problem with "affordable" scanner. They claim a certain resolution, but when you compare them with high-end scanners at same resolution, it's a totally different evaluation system. Just like looking at something through the bottom of a bottle or through a perfect optic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry_gaskill Posted April 6, 2001 Author Share Posted April 6, 2001 Thanks for your contributions. <p> I currently scan my medium format slides with a Minolta Dimage Multi <p> I use for archival purposes, sending slides through email to friends andothers. I usually print an 8x10 or 10x10 and put better prints inshow book. I also produce a cd slide show to show off my work. <p> I still would prefer the best quality possible if I am going to gothrough the effort etc. <p> Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_ross Posted April 6, 2001 Share Posted April 6, 2001 Re: the Epson 1240/1640U scanners. <p> Are either of these capable of 'decent' quality 600dpi scans? It sounds like they have enough resolution, but how does the shadow detail hold up (from transparancies) and how is the color rendition? I am glad to have a Polaroid 45 available to me, but I would still like one on my desk. I really only need it to produce 600dpi scans for making 8x10 samples for my portfolio book and my web page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorin Posted April 6, 2001 Share Posted April 6, 2001 I have the 1640SU. At 800DPI is VERY sharp and it is a true 1600DPI. I scan primarily slide film and happy with it. A drum scan or the new dedicated film scanners with higher d-MAX will definitely get more from the shadows but in my opinion it the best buy below $1000. Since I ALWAYS bracket, I found out that I can scan the slightly overexposed version and get more from the shadows. If the contrast is too great I can scan the overexposed to get the shadows, the uderexposed to get the highlights and "merge" them in PS. Or for those killer shots (that I will take someday :-) I can alway send it out for drum scan. <p> Overall, I'm happy with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason_j. Posted April 11, 2001 Share Posted April 11, 2001 I know that a flat bed will not compare to a neg scanner and a neg scanner will not compare to a drum scan, but... I assisted a photog who had an agfa flat bed (I can't remember the model, but it was under $1000) and it gave GREAT image scans for the $$$. I've heard the same from other people who owned agfa's. Now I've also seen drum scans and they are better and bigger files, but hey, if you want a value, the agfa is nice, if you want the best quality possible, the drum scan is it. I am not commenting on the middle ground - the medium and large format neg scanners - because I have not personally seen scans from the newer models yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_booth2 Posted April 29, 2002 Share Posted April 29, 2002 I too am searching for a dedicated film scanner, in my case from 6 x 6cm up to 5inch x 4inch but I do need high end quality without drum prices. I have heard that the Microtex Artixscan 4500T might be the one, has anyone any info on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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