Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/06/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I recently decided to get a scanner, but had been hunting around for something affordable. Having had good reports from users of this new Canon scanner, I decided to go for it. At CDN$899.00 or US$699.00 it seems to outperform both slightly older Nikon scanners (LS20/LS1000), as well as the Polaroid Sprintscan Plus, for a much better price. IMHO an excellent deal. Following is a quick and ready report I wrote for another list: The new scanner arrived. After 24hrs coping with conflicting SCSI cards, IRQ numbers etc, it is now up and running. I must say my initial impression is very good. This is a quick and ready report, and definitely not very rigorous. The scanner seems excellent for the price (CDN$899.00 or US $699.00) It scans to 2720 ppi up to 36 bit at 3.2 density. (at 36 bit you get a 50+MB file at 24 bit around 25MB+) The interface is easy to use (with plenty of options and control - colour, lightness, contrast etc). I scanned a slide basically using the default set up as is and got an excellent result. Tried a few other ones, some tricky and it was pretty good on most of them, with very little adjustment to be done in the scanner. It also works well for B&W - I got one print with a better tonal range than one I did in the darkroom - but maybe that was just my darkroom work :). Haven't tried colour neg yet - I would imagine it is also very good. The only other scanner I have to compare it to is the Nikon LS20 Coolscan II and IMHO it beats that in all areas I can think of. It does have a kind of crummy manual APS adapter, but I'm not too bothered about that. And the Neg strip holder seems a little flimsy/plastic, but that seems standard for most scanners? I guess I can order a spare for $30.00? Good shadow detail (better than the Nikon - very little noise by comparison), little blooming, exceedingly sharp (viewed on an 8x10 Epson 700 inkjet print at 1440 dpi). Overall, so far, I am VERY pleased, especially considering the price. I let you know if I get any major problems. Earlier Canon scanners and software don't have a good reputation. This one seems different. Tim A > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Nathan > Wajsman > Sent: June 10, 1999 2:12 AM > To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > Subject: Re: [Leica] Digital film scanning > > > Jim, > > I upgraded from the HP Photosmart scanner to the LS-2000 a couple > of months > ago. The jump in price is quite substantial, a factor of 3-4. > Nonetheless, I > have concluded that it was worth it for the following reasons: > > - scanning of color negatives and slides vastly improved due to > the greater > dynamic range and color depth > - scanning of B&W negatives also improved (mainly due to the > greater dynamic > range) but the improvement is much less dramatic than for color > - the ICE feature can be a real life-saver; I recently had botched the > processing of some B&W chromogenic film, with black spots all over the > negative, well beyond any reasonable amount of spotting. The ICE feature > removed 99% of the defects with only a minimal loss of sharpness. > It literally > saved the negative. Note that it cannot be used with Kodachromes or > traditional B&W film. > > In summary; if your only use is with standard B&W film, then it > probably is > not worth it for you to upgrade, as you already have a pretty > good scanner. On > the other hand, if you do a significant amount of color work, > then you should > consider it. The best way to decide is to find someone who has > one and have > them scan one of your own images, so you can see the difference > for yourself. > That is what I did before buying (thanks to Pascal). If you do > not have anyone > nearby who has one of these, I can do it for you. Contact me off-list if > interested. > > Kind regards, > > Nathan > > Jim Laurel wrote: > > > Have any of you had experience with Nikon's new LS-2000 scanner? I have > > been using an LS-1000, but the digital ICE feature that removes > scratches, > > dust, etc., would be a real time saver. > > > > How much better than the LS-2000 than its predecessor? Subjective > > impressions welcomed. > > > > Oh yes...on topic, I will be scanning Leica images. ;-) > > > > Thanks, > > Jim > > -- > Nathan Wajsman > Overijse, Belgium > General photo page: http://members.tripod.com/belgiangator > Belgium photo page: http://members.xoom.com/wajsman > > > > >