Brian,
Get comfortable
:
I don't believe that ANY drum scanners are currently "in production" that can handle ULF formats. Well, if you consider ICG "current", they're UK based, and I don't believe have much presence here in the USA:
http://www.icg.ltd.uk/Aztek(based in Irvine, CA) is a great company, but from what I heard second-hand, are no longer producing "new" scanners. Their "current" model is the 'Premier', but it's max format is 8x10. I have a DPL8000(precursory model to the Premier, almost identical except for some internal differences), and it's a wonderful machine. Quite small(for a drum scanner), but packs a heavy-hitting punch tech-wise.
An older Howtek model, the 7500, can handle up to 16x20 as well, I believe. It's an OLD machine, almost(possibly more) than 20yrs old now, design-wise, and has been out of the lineup for quite some time. Aztek still has customers that use them, so they service them from time to time. However, finding one of these units is a bit hard, and finding a perfectly operating one is even harder. FYI: Aztek's founder, Phillip Lippincott, purchased Howtek's scanner patents/scanner division and applied many of their designs(which he greatly improved upon, he really was a "wizard" when it came to tuning PMT-based machines!)
www.aztek.comHeidelberg is no longer producing new scanners. Their last flagship models, the D8200 and D8400, can handle up to 16x20 film.
These are BIG, HEAVY machines, and thusly, require a good deal of space, despite their "vertical" design. They'll definitely need a suitably stable floor(preferably a concrete pad, not a raised foundation, as found in many homes). They are great machines, and if I were to replace my Aztek with any other machine, I'd go with a D8200/8400, without hesitation. Karl Hudson (
http://www.hudsongrafik.com/) is the go-to man for worldwide service and support these days on these wonderful machines. I've spoken to him a few times(when considering one of his refurb'd machines while deciding which way to go scanner-wise). I'm saving to add one of his machines to my equipment list, even thought the Aztek gives me everything I "need" and more. I don't use ULF formats. 5X7" film gives me everything I need resolution-wise, and more
Dainippon-Screen has a long history of producing scanners.
These are also BIG, HEAVY machines. Designed for production printing and graphics houses. However, there are some photographers/artists using the scanners for more photography-related use. Their last, flagship machine, the SG-8060p Mark II, is a BEAST. Also, quite rare on the second-hand market. Not very common in the USA, and I'm not sure if there is even any service available within the USA.
This guy uses one, you might want to talk with him about it(he's in Italy, and scans for a living):
http://www.castorscan.com/If I were you, I'd really look long and hard at ULF(well, anything over 8x10") as a "passing notion". ULF takes balls-deep commitment, time and money(which based on former posts/reviews I've seen yourself associated with, doesn't seem to be an issue, no offense
, I'd love to have more free cash for camera gear!)
I was shooting 8x10 for approx 2yrs. It's a great format, and has a LOT of potential for high resolution. If you're looking at TRANSPARENCY film, Kodak isn't making any more now. E6 with Kodak is kaput, dead as a dodo... Sad but true. And getting Fuji to custom-cut an order of film for you(especially us, as Americans) is going to be harder than pulling all of your teeth out with a pair of 99¢ store pliers
... But more power to you. In the end, I found that shooting 5x7 afforded me a few things, most notably the following: 1. Ease of portability 2. Lighter weight 3. Less cost of materials($25/sheet post-processing for 8x10 E6 adds up, yo!) 4. More "options" film-wise across the board
I know some people, personally, who have, or still do, shoot ULF. One shoots 8x20, one shoots 12x20, and another shoots 7x17. All have done so for more than 20yrs, and all have shot other LF formats for more time than that(mostly 4x5, 5x7 or 8x10)... One still has some 8x20 E100G that he purchased a number of years back when a special order was conducted for such by a wealthy Chinese client. He was luck enough to get (3) boxes, 30s sheets, and it cost him $350/box. That's $35/sheet.... 8X10 E100G at the time was ~$10/sheet. Not quite a linear price increase, but he wanted it...
Not trying to dissuade you here, and certainly not going to tell you don't chase your dreams, but make sure you're ready to get financially bucked off of your saddle mate, cuz these machines aren't exactly "new" anymore, even if freshly refurb'd prior to you using them... Parts, service and know-how are getting more scarce by the year...
If you're looking to potentially spread your "cost" out over some more time, and instead of scanning DIY-style, send out to some labs who are already set up and equipped for such needs. I'm happy to refer you to some, if you want. PM me if interested and I'll forward their information. Some are US based, some are int'l. Most are considered top of their fields/markets. But remember, they're in business, so need to make enough to keep the doors open. "Cheap" gets you exactly that: CHEAP.
best of luck
-Dan