jon_echtenkamp

I can't speak for those of you in the market for Nikon's professional level scanners, but as someone who's been leaning toward a Canon FS4000, the CoolScan V is a huge step forward from the IV-ED and even the Canon. It also appears poised to knock the socks off the FS4000 in everything but price.

The step up to 4,000-dpi scanning at Nikon's entry level satisfies the concerns of us who wanted more pixels to take full advantage of a 13x19-inch printer without having to "stretch" pixels. And the 38-second scan time -- a big advance over the IV-ED -- is otherworldly compared to the FS4000, which has had users reporting 5-, 10- and even 20-minute scan times.

I hadn't heard of the new-generation Digital ICE4 before, but I wonder if it will produce less softening than the earlier version. The new Digital DEE, or Dynamic Exposure Enhancer, is also an intriguing new element for supposedly getting more detail out of dense areas. But one of the best new features for us Mac users is that it has a FireWire interface, as well as USB 2.0 for the Windows folks.

The UK site lists it at 550 pounds (monetary, not weight!), which translates to around $900, according to an internet converter. That's steep, but probably worth it rather than waiting around for the Canon to slog through my negs.

Here's the Nikon Japan link for more detailed info about the new line. http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/index_e.htm

The new brochure for the F100 body depicts the new AF 28-105mm lens

mounted on the F100, although it stops short of offering any

information about the lens beyond what you can glean from a close

inspection of the lens barrel. The lens has internal focusing,

according to the "IF" initials in the caption listing available lenses

for the F-100. There is a macro mode judging from the signature orange

"M" and adjacent orange line on the barrel. The lens has a relatively

wide zoom ring and a reasonably wide manual focus ring out front. The

lens is considerably smaller in diameter than the 24-120mm, as you

would expect. As someone who's been considering the 24-120mm for an

all-around zoom, this new one is a tempting alternative. I wonder how

it will stack up to the well-regarded 24-120 in terms of contrast and

sharpness, both across its range and especially out past 80mm, where

the 24-120 softens apparently. At f/4.5 at 105mm, it's a touch faster

at its long end also. The people at B&H Photo knew nothing about it.