Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/07/17

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Subject: [Leica] film scanners
From: "Don Dory" <dorysrus@mindspring.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 23:03:37 -0400

I've been using a Kodak RFS 3600 for about six months.  Prior to that I used
a LS-30.  For me at least I would never go back to the 2700 dpi scanners,
getting photo cd's would be a better alternative.  I think that the picture
cd's would be a very bad choice for serious use.  The scanners have somewhat
limited dynamic range, you don't get any choice of black point or white
point and the operators are frequently unskilled and harried.

I find that the press on the RFS 3600 is mostly off base.  First, final
scans are usually around two minutes or so, not 22 minutes as reported in
the Pop rag.  Second, the dynamic range is way beyond the LS-30.  If I ever
get time to figure out photo.net I will post some shots taken on Velvia
underexposed.  Velvia can show shadows deep, deep into the d-max of the film
base.  What I think throws reviewers off is that the scanner works much like
the automated printers at the mini-labs: if your slide is high-key the
scanner will bring it to dingy gray, you then use the controls in the
software to set your black point, white point and adjust the histogram to
your taste.  Now that I've scared you with the worst case, the scanner comes
with some really good presets for Kodak films, some Fuji, and a little agfa.
If you are using one of the listed films the scans are fast, accurate,
sharp, and really easy.

Shortcomings are a non scaleable preview window, a curve function that
requires a very fine touch, and no DIGITAL ICE.  If your work is clean that
is actually an advantage as the ice function on the LS-30 visibly softened
the image.  Also many people have trouble scanning B/W with the ice function
engaged.

Last, once you have your own scanner you are in control of when, how, and
which negs/slides get scanned.  No going back to the lab to rescan for dust,
scratches, wrong image, or poor scan.

my pfennig's worth

Don
dorysrus@mindspring.com