nickv

There's also SelfColor in Paris, http://www.selfcolor.com/ near Republique, metro Jacques Bonsergent, they have an 848 for 50eu an hr. Nice people, some of them do not speak english, so, brush up on your french before going, just in case.

 

-Nik

I've used the Imacon 646 and the Creo iQsmart1. My take on them;

 

Imacon 646 (CCD Scanner, from 35mm to 5*10" trannie/ reflective)

 

- easy to use, film holders are magnetic, hold film flat and well constructed. No glass between lens and film path.

 

- The unit has a small footprint and sits nicely on a desk, within arms reach.

 

- Speed is acceptable, and it's not too noisy either.

 

- Software is available for Mac and PC and is really easy to use. has dust and scratch removal module as well. It used to be an add-on, I've heard it comes with the 646 now.

 

- Scans were excellent, good shadow detail and accurate colours.

 

- I was scanning 120 film (6*6 and 6*17), you can batch the 6*6 but only 3 at a time. It can get tedious if you have 1000's of scans to do. 35mm is better, you can get 12 up at once and batch them.

 

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Creo iQsmart1 - 11*17" FlatBed scanner (newer than Imacon 646)

 

- Flatbed scanner, has anti-newton glass bed.

 

- Software is excellent, but no dust and scratch removal. There is an add-on workflow module that let's you colour correct while the scanner is scanning but it costs extra, about US$1500-2000.

 

- I found the scans (from the same negs as the Imacon scans) to be a bit dull/washed out, not sure if the Anti-Newton Glass has anything to do with it.

 

- It's a HUGE device! You will need a large, sturdy desk to place it on.

 

- It's fast.

 

- Software is available on PC but a Mac version is recommended.

 

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The 646 is not a Bad Buy. You really have to go have a demo with each of these scanners, scan the same trannies / negs on each one and look at them sided by side on your screen and have good prints made (lightjets). I have not used the 848, it is a 'better' scanner (faster, actively cooled CCD, more resolution and DMax) but it is more money. It all depends on you, what do you want to do? Scan a few images well, or scan thousands in a production type environment? How much space do you have in your house? Do you like to use oil in scanning to get rid of dust / scratch (for the Creo). The software is a VERY important consideration too.

There's never a clear answer as we're all different! Go and test them, you'll get a sense of preference right away.

 

If you're in the UK, ICG out of Bristol do a great drum scanner which would be about the same price if not less, but the software is OS9 only.

 

Happy hunting.

I saw this scanner at epson's stand at Macworld 2005, they said it would be available at the beginning of March. According to them, it's only a bit better than the 4780 and scans at practically the same speed! Maybe I should just get the 4870?!