Mikrotek ArtiScan F1 vs. Epson V700/750

[friedemann_pistorius]

<p>I have a growing stock of 4x5 transparencies and I want to scan them</p>

<p>1) to convert them into digital files<br>

2) to make enlargements up to ca. 60" x 48.</p>

<p>I definitely can't afford neither a high end film scanner nore a scanning service (some 3000 images I guess), so I think my choice is limited to a good flatbad scanner.</p>

<p>I wonder if the Epson along with a Better Scanning film holder or the Mikrotek with its "Emulsion Direct Imaging Technology" (E.D.I.T.) will produce better (i.e. sharper) results?</p>

<p>I know this topic has been discussed here often before, and I apologize if my researches have been insufficient. I don't want to start another flatbed vs. drum scanner discussion, I need just some advice from your personal experience.</p>

<p>Thank you for any input.<br>

Friedemann</p>

 

[Tony Evans]

<p>Can't comment on the Microtek, but the V700/750 will handle 4x5 easily up to 8x at the true optical resolution of about 2400 dpi, giving a 300 dpi file image. Pushing to 12x should be O.K. if paying attention to optimum film height for your particular machine (they all appear to be different) and Wet Mounting using the BS film holder. Presume you would have to remove slides from their mounts.</p>

[bruce_watson1]

<p>You are talking about more than 12x enlargement (remember, the image size from 5x4 film is smaller than 5x4). At this level, drum scanning is almost a must. Excellent drum scanners are available on the used market for less than the cost of professional flat bed scanners.</p>

<p>OTOH, you aren't likely to scan all 3k of your images at full resolution, nor should you. Enlargements at this level show every flaw with stunning clarity, including the limitations of your scanner. Making a print that big puts a serious premium on technique -- all your movements, your decisions on f/stop and shutter speed, how stiff your setup is, how you handle wind and vibration problems, your film processing, your scanning, and your photoshop work has to be nearly perfect -- and on top of all that, you have to have an image that's worthy of a print that size, and most are not.</p>

<p>So.... one alternative is to buy and use a lesser scanner for the 3k scans you're talking about, then send the ones that seem worthy out for drum scanning as you find them.</p>

<p>Me? I bought a used drum scanner years ago. There's learning curves of course, but they're no more difficult than learning to use a view camera. And now I've got some beautiful huge prints on the wall...</p>

[friedemann_pistorius]

<p>Thank you Tony and Bruce.<br>

I do not want to scan all images for 12x enlargements. Those few pictures worthy of printing will of course be sent out for professional scanning.<br>

I want to create a library with digital copies of my film images at a resolution as good as possible within my budget. I'm certainly not a pessimist, and I certainly will keep shooting film as long as it's available, but God only knows how long this will be. With decreasing film sales, scanners will become less available and more expensive. So I thought I should stop waiting and just start...</p>

[rob_tucher3]

<p>I would add my two cents. I bought an Epson V750 and routinely scan my b&w negatives with it. I am getting fantastic results. I do not bother with the wet scans. I follow stipulations I've found on the internet. I bought a 10x8 sheet of anti-Newton glass. I place my negatives emulsion down on the glass and then carefully place the AG glass on top, insuring flat and non-distorted scanning. I scan at 800 dpi at 4x5 and get a good, crisp image, flip it because emulsion down is backwards, adjust, and print. Size and resolution can be increased but I find for my purposes (smaller prints than you require) this is best.</p>

[marc_batters]

<p>I don't know where you are in the world, but here in the USA, there are concerns that Microtek no longer has a warranty repair center in North America. Most web posts say Microtek left North America in 2009, but now, a sales center has returned. Still unclear about a service center here, though.</p>

<p>I pondered/wondered about a Microtek scanner. Their Glassless type of scanning seemed like a good idea, but the lack of local factory servicing bothered me. Europe seems to have a service center, but North American customers have to send their units to Malaysia(?).</p>

<p>In the end, I acquired an Epson, and am very happy with it.</p>

[bruce_watson1]

<p><em>...scanners will become less available and more expensive.</em></p>

<p>Actually, they will become less expensive. This has been true since the mid 1990s, when digital finally became good enough and the commercial shooters switched over in droves. They flooded the used market with film equipment, from camera bodies to darkroom equipment of all kinds to drum scanners and all the rest of it. The prices on all of it plummeted as supply swamped demand. This trend continues to the present, although there is some bottoming -- drum scanners that sold for $100k+ new in 1995 sold for $5k six or seven years ago, and are now selling for $2k.<br>

<em><br /></em></p>

[BernardMiller]

<p>Hi, Rob. Where did you get the 8x10 piece of anti-newton glass? And how much did it cost you? Cheers!</p>

[marc_batters]

<p>Bruce, I have to disagree with your pricing statement.</p>

<p>Last April, prices for the Epson V 750M Pro were $650-$720 USD. Today, many major retailers are out of stock on this item, and prices average between $830-$890 USD, on the auction market.</p>

<p>Last August, prices for the remaining shelf stock of Nikon, Coolscan 9000's were $2,100-$2,200 USD, (from the major retailers). The remaining, unopened boxes of new/unused Coolscans routinely fetch north of $4,000 USD now.</p>

<p>New Imacons still command $15,000-$20,000 USD.</p>

[brit]

<p>Hummm. Here in the UK I got a V700 about Aug last year from Amazon. Just looked and still the same £400 thereabouts.</p>

<p>Actually here is the history</p>

<p><img src="http://charts.camelcamelcamel.com/uk/B000F2CAO2/amazon-new-used.png?force=1&zero=0&w=795&h=440&desired=false&legend=1&ilt=1&tp=all&fo=0" alt="" /></p>

<p>And for the V750</p>

<p><img src="http://charts.camelcamelcamel.com/uk/B000FK521W/amazon-new-used.png?force=1&zero=0&w=795&h=440&desired=false&legend=1&ilt=1&tp=all&fo=0" alt="" /></p>

<p>And to the OP, I'm not being ignorant its just I haven't gotten around to using mine much at all. Time time time!</p>