Luminous Landscape Forum

Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Digital Image Processing => Topic started by: predstone on May 22, 2007, 08:57:38 am

Title: flatbed scanners
Post by: predstone on May 22, 2007, 08:57:38 am

Hi,
I am purchasing a flatbed scanner for my 4x5 negatives and maybe alsoto be used with 4x5 slides at some point in the future.
I have looked at the Epson 750v and the Microtek artixscan 1800f.  The latter has a optical density of 4.8 vs. the epson of 4.0.
I am  trying to sort out differences and peoples experiences and preferences.
Thank you
Paul Redstone

Title: flatbed scanners
Post by: Kirk Gittings on May 22, 2007, 10:04:55 am

I teach scanning, as a matter of fact, I just taught a workshop this weekend for the "Real World Scanning Workshops". We used an 1800F, three 750's and a 4990.

Those OD numbers are completely exaggerated. It is closer to half that on both. I had both 1800f (no longer made) and V750. I sold the 1800F this weekend to a workshop student. The 1800F has minutely better resolution and solider mechanics, but all around the 750 is a better machine unless you scan 8x10 or do allot of multipass. IMO.

Title: flatbed scanners
Post by: Peter McLennan on May 22, 2007, 01:39:25 pm

Quote

, but all around the 750 is a better machine unless you scan 8x10 or do allot of multipass. IMO.
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Kirk, I rented a Nikon 8000 for a few months this winter and was satisfied with my 120 BW scans, but the scanner died before I could get to my 35mm stuff.  Would I be horribly disappointed with scans of 35mm BW and colour from a 750?

Title: flatbed scanners
Post by: predstone on May 23, 2007, 03:08:30 pm

Quote

I teach scanning, as a matter of fact, I just taught a workshop this weekend for the "Real World Scanning Workshops". We used an 1800F, three 750's and a 4990.

Those OD numbers are completely exaggerated. It is closer to half that on both. I had both 1800f (no longer made) and V750. I sold the 1800F this weekend to a workshop student. The 1800F has minutely better resolution and solider mechanics, but all around the 750 is a better machine unless you scan 8x10 or do allot of multipass. IMO.
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Hi
Thanks for the response. I am not sure what makes the 750v better overall? Seems like you praised the 1800f (which apparently I can still acquire) for better res. and being more solid.  I will be at least at this point only scanning 4x5 bW negatives.  
Thanks for your input
Paul

Title: flatbed scanners
Post by: Kirk Gittings on May 23, 2007, 09:03:51 pm

First of all the 1800F is no longer available new and I would not buy one used unless I could run it first. I went through three of them in a month before I found a good new one. I said that the 1800F had minutely better resolution. Not enough to see a difference in a 16x20 print. The 750 is faster, has ICE, better holders. All around I think it is a better machine which is why I sold the 1800F instead of the V750 Pro. The 1800f works better with multipass scanning because of the better step motor, but frankly I never used the 1800F after the V750 came out.

None of these machines come close to a good drum scan or even a competent scan from an Imacon. They are adequate for prints up to 16x20 IMHO.