[Leica] Re: Scanners

[lrzeitlin at optonline.net (Lawrence Zeitlin)]

On Jun 9, 2007, at 11:08 AM, vroger wrote:

>>> Hi All:
>>> I am wondering about a very compact scanner for negitives only. I
>>> find my
>>> general scanner with the "negative carrier" to bulky and slow. I
>>> would like
>>> to shoot some more film and scan my negatives myself. I have seen
>>> little
>>> box-like scanners advertised. Anyone have any experience witrh
>>> these? vroger


I have scanners at both ends of the spectrum, a PrimeFilm 1800i and a  
Minolta 5400. The PrimeFilm scans B&W or color negatives quickly and  
does not use a carrier. The film is just placed in a slot and the  
cover closed. Software is rudimentary but any good image processing  
program like Photoshop or GraphicConverter can let you tweak the  
pictures to your heart's content. The downside is that the scanner is  
limited to 1800 lpi. That's fewer pixels than you can get from most  
cheap P&S cameras today. It is good for cataloging reams of negatives  
but large enlargements won't win you any prize at photo shows. There  
is a later model reputedly capable of 3600 lpi but I haven't tried it.

The Minolta 5400 (now supported by Sony) is at the other end of the  
scanning continuum. At highest resolution the results are  
unparalleled. The software is excellent. ICE and grain reduction are  
supported. It does both slides and film strips in the appropriate  
carriers. But scanning takes five minutes or more per frame. A single  
36 exposure roll takes the better part of three hours.

The strategy I have evolved is to do a quick scan on the PrimeFilm  
1800, view the images on the screen of my iMac, and note those I like  
for detailed scanning on the Minolta. Even though I scan twice, the  
process takes about half the time as using only the high resolution  
scanner. I keep the negatives in sleeves just in case I change my  
mind later.

Years ago, before reasonably priced scanners became available, I  
experimented with a procedure using a digital camera mounted on a  
Heiland slide copier to transfer slide images to a computer screen.  
It worked after a fashion. Leica even sold a slide copier attachment  
for the early Digiflex line. But as the price of scanners came  
down,most photographers abandoned the idea. Given today's 10Mp DSLRs,  
it probably deserves a second chance.

Larry Z