[Leica] Scanners

[Stephen Kobrin <skobrin@yahoo.com>]

I bought a Coolscan II about six months ago and now wish that I had
gone beyond the basic entry level even though I would have had to
double my outlay.  While the II is a fine scanner most of the time, it
does have difficulty with contrasty slides and negatives, and with a
very wide tonal range in B&W.  Of course, when I bought the scanner, I
could not have foreseen how much I would like digital processing,
especially for B&W and how much of it I would do.  Thus, if I were to
buy a scanner now, I would go beyond the "entry" level if it were
possible financially.  

Someone brought up the issue of a scanner being able to do justice to
Leica lenses.  While that covers a lot of ground, I do not think that
sharpness is the issue here.  Or even reproducing the "feeling" of
shooting wide open.  It is dealing with contrast and a very wide tonal
range in B&W.  Much of the time even my Coolscan II "does justice to
Leica lenses."  

While I have not been in the market recently -- I want to wait for the
3rd generation -- I suspect that one would have to spend $1600 to
$2000 for a really capable scanner.

Steve






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