Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/09/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Well, I've owned an Elite Scan 5400 for all of four days now so my observations should be taken as preliminary. To cut to the chase, my results in scanning a mere handful of transparencies have been absolutely stunning. Far superior to the results I've been getting with my Nikon LS-2000. Scans have been extremely sharp and dynamic range appears to be excellent. Physical unit is long (approx. 13 inches) and lean (maybe 2-1/2 inches). Build quality (externally, at least) is excellent. The scanner connects to the computer via IEEE 1394 (aka "Firewire") or USB 2.0. I'm using USB. Software installation was a breeze. Scanning software can be used as a standalone utility or accessed through Photoshop "import" function. The scan utility is very easy to use. There's also an express version of the scan utility that operates in wizard-like fashion. You answer a few on-screen questions and the scan is performed. The unit comes with two film holders: one for unmounted media (6 frame strips) and one for mounted media (4 transparencies). The scanner creates an on-screen thumbnail index of images in the film holder. I haven't played with the various image cleanup utilities such as the grain dissolver, Pixel Polish, or ICE. Note that a 5400 dpi resolution (actually, PPI), a 35mm frame will generate a 116 MB file. YIKES! However, output at 240 - 300 dpi, you'll get yourself a man-sized print without interpolation. Minolta also provides Photoshop Elements 2.0 in the software bundle which is a very nice product when industrial strength image manipulation is not required. I purchased my 5400 from Page Computers (www.pagecomputers.com). Price was $797 + a few dollars for shipping. I received the scanner in 3 days. There seems to be some price volatility with the 5400. Page has the price up a few dollars today to $801 and it had been around $789 at one point a week or two back. Hope this helps. I'd be happy to answer any specific questions about the 5400 though it might be best to continue off-list as this is somewhat off topic. Dave F. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Dory" <dorysrus@mindspring.com> To: <Leica-Users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Friday, September 12, 2003 10:35 AM Subject: [Leica] Minolta 5400 scanner > Jim Hemenway had inquired about the Minolta 5400 scanner. It uses a > fixed three line CCD and moves the film past the sensor. Therefore I > suspect that it will do a very respectable job on B&W negatives with the > ASF functions turned off. > > Any one out there actually own one of these? It is available in the UK > for 529 pounds so the days of the Coolscan dominance may be over if it > performs up to the specs. > > Don > dorysrus@mindspring.com > > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html