Film scanner equivalent to MFDB?

[david o]

Vancouver

I was there 6 month last year... had a good time and work

[david o]

doubled

[TMARK]

I shot roughly 40,000 film frames with my two H2s before moving to digital and I did all of my scanning on the Nikon 9000 (most of the images online are from these scans). The Nikon is worth the extra money in my opinion and try your best to get the best image from the scan capture part in the workflow. Scan at max resolution as well.

As someone else suggested, get the glasss tray, but I found I got best results with wet scanning my film with the 9000.

Kind regards,
Derek Jecxz

Derek,

Nice images on your site.  

For your work max resolution and wet mounting is required.  For fashion and people 2000 dpi is really all that's called for.  I liked my Nikon 9000.  One thing about the Nikon is that is really only scans at 4000 dpi.  For lower resolutions the software down samples the 4000 dpi scan. I think what Dolce Moda needs 2000 dpi will be fine.

[jecxz]

Derek,

Nice images on your site.  

For your work max resolution and wet mounting is required.  For fashion and people 2000 dpi is really all that's called for.  I liked my Nikon 9000.  One thing about the Nikon is that is really only scans at 4000 dpi.  For lower resolutions the software down samples the 4000 dpi scan. I think what Dolce Moda needs 2000 dpi will be fine.

TMark,

Thank you--you are right, 2000 dpi, or even 300 dpi if not printing more than 8x10, is sufficient. I only scan at 4000 dpi because I only want to scan once and I do print large. Wet scanning is a major PIA, but the results are worth it. From 645 scans I'm printing 48" x 40" without software up-sizing. But the quality from a digital back is far beyond scanning. Be well.

Kind regards,
Derek

[Alex MacPherson]

Derek,

Nice images on your site.  

For your work max resolution and wet mounting is required.  For fashion and people 2000 dpi is really all that's called for.  I liked my Nikon 9000.  One thing about the Nikon is that is really only scans at 4000 dpi.  For lower resolutions the software down samples the 4000 dpi scan. I think what Dolce Moda needs 2000 dpi will be fine.

Can I get 2000dpi with an Epson v700 and fluid mounts?

[jecxz]

Can I get 2000dpi with an Epson v700 and fluid mounts?

Ask this guy:

http://scanscience.com/Epson_V_Kits.html

Kind regards,
Derek

[TMARK]

Can I get 2000dpi with an Epson v700 and fluid mounts?

I only use my v700 for 4x5, and mainly black and white and chromes, as the color gets strange with negative film.  That's using three different drivers:  Silverfast, Viewscan and the Epson software.

T

[Alex MacPherson]

I only use my v700 for 4x5, and mainly black and white and chromes, as the color gets strange with negative film.  That's using three different drivers:  Silverfast, Viewscan and the Epson software.

T

I am told from the ScanScience people that wet-mounting prevents color shift as compared to dry scans.

[KevinA]

Ask this guy:

http://scanscience.com/Epson_V_Kits.html

Kind regards,
Derek

If you are going to wet mount and you have the space, I would go to Ebay and pick up a drum scanner, they go for Epson money. Other than that the Nikon coolscans will beat the cheap flatbeds.
 My ideal would be something like the Eversmart range of A3 flatbeds, a bit to much money at the moment, with them you get speed ease of use and top quality.
The cheap flatbeds like the Epson/Micrtotek quote high dpi, but in reality you don't get anywhere near that in captured detail. In fact I did see a test somewhere where you actually captured more detail at 2000dpi with them than at the "full" resolution. Get a Nikon.

Kevin.

[jecxz]

I am told from the ScanScience people that wet-mounting prevents color shift as compared to dry scans.

With all due respect to the person at ScanScience, the only reason why I went to wet scanning was because of the random appearance of Newtonian Rings (NR), even with the anti-NR glass. If there is even a slight curve to your film, these rings will destroy a photograph.

Color shift? I've used the 9000 for years before wet scanning and the color isn't any different/better with wet scanning. Very important: you must make sure you have a dust free environment, dust in the liquid is a major PIA.

Kind regards,
Derek

[TMARK]

If you are going to wet mount and you have the space, I would go to Ebay and pick up a drum scanner, they go for Epson money. Other than that the Nikon coolscans will beat the cheap flatbeds.
 My ideal would be something like the Eversmart range of A3 flatbeds, a bit to much money at the moment, with them you get speed ease of use and top quality.
The cheap flatbeds like the Epson/Micrtotek quote high dpi, but in reality you don't get anywhere near that in captured detail. In fact I did see a test somewhere where you actually captured more detail at 2000dpi with them than at the "full" resolution. Get a Nikon.

Kevin.

The Microtek I use is a dedicated film scanner.  I do get more detail out of it at 4000 dpi than 2000 dpi, but the time penalty is absurd.

I think it is important to note that all of the home solutions are compromised to some degree.  For anything really important I send it out for a drum scan or, gasp, I print it in the darkroom.  I can't (and won't) spend four hours making a "perfect" scan, then four more hours retouching.  Its possible to reach the pinnacle of scan perfection with wet mounts, but is really tedious.  I think for up to 16 x 20 a 2000 dpi scan from a dedicated film scanner is just fine, for people.  

That being said, perhaps buy a v700 and try it out.  It might work for you.  If not, you have a good flatbed for scanning polaroids, prints, flat art, invoices.