A question on filmscanners

RE: A question on filmscanners

Hi Roger,

I use the Primfilm scanner but my model is the PF3600pro, I works up to 3600 dpi, so if you can find one of those a good price it may be better than the 1800 model. My only complaint has been its a bit slow at high res and the files are very big. When printing off on my Lexmark Z53 an A4 print is too fuzzy (sometimes) but A5 size is fine.

So much to do, so little time to do it !

DOUGHNUT

RE: A question on filmscanners

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 05-12-02 AT 07:33 PM (GMT)]Hi Roger – The Canon can be had for around £650 Sterling, and is more than capable of pulling the max detail out of film. A friend at RIT in the States (THE place) has access to all types of stuff, up to the top-whack drum scanners, and he bought the Canon as it was, in his view, top-dog. Stuff scanned on that is acceptable with www.alamy.com, and is going to be fine for all printing applications. Read 113mb files at top quality. I shrink them down after scanning, but use the Polaroid dust removal tool instead of the dust removal software built in.

Regarding prints, I put 12″x18″ prints from 35mm through a Konica QD21 digital minilab (I run it for my day job, leaving the photography to the other times!), and others I know go through Fuji Frontiers. We are talking exceptionally good prints at this size.

I would certainly reccomend the Canon without hesitation – but get a scsi card first!

And the Turbinlite Havoc is from 1459 flight at Hibaldstow I am told, but I know not when! Damn good try though, personally I had never seen anything like it!

9 Group, 1459 Flight, Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire, Arrived 20/09/41 Havoc I. Havoc II (Turbinlite). Boston III (Turbinlite). Became No. 538 Squadron, 02/09/42. Just got this on a google search.

And this:

On 2 September 1942, the various Turbinlite flights around the country were raised to squadron status, No 1459 Flight at Hibaldstow becoming No 538 Squadron.

These squadrons were equipped with Havocs and Boston, modified to carry a powerful searchlight in the nose and AI radar. The turbinlite aircraft used their radar to locate enemy aircraft and then illuminated them with the searchlight, enabling accompanying fighters to attack the hostile aircraft. On being raised to squadron status, the Hurricanes became an integral part of the unit, whereas the turbinlite aircraft had previously operated with fighters from other squadrons. Improvements in AI radar in aircraft such as the Mosquito soon lead to the concept becoming unwieldy and ineffective, resulting in the squadron’s disbandment on 25 January 1943.

No Squadron badge approved or codes issued.

http://www.rit.edu/~cgs2794/comparison.htm what my friend Carl wrote. Very good with scanning info.

RE: A question on filmscanners

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 05-12-02 AT 05:51 PM (GMT)]Thanks for the info Mark and Damien. Yes, I am a (weekend) pro, but so far I never had to go digital yet. This year I have spent a small fortune on lenses (EF 300 mm F2.8 and EF 100-400) and a scanner is now outside my financial view a bit as I also have to buy a new computer and printer then. That Primefilm example was offered me for around 40 P. St., so that’s why I asked. For a time I was looking for either a Canon or Nikon 4000 dpi scanner, but since a friend on my has bought a Minolta Dual Scan Elite II, I have to include that one in the list too. What I need is this: a filmscanner that can give me an A-3 print at 260 dpi in non glossy magazines. For glossy,larger than A-4, I doubt if one of these scanners is usable (but I can be wrong). I hardly print photo’s, but I want to buy a photoprinter that can go also to A3 (Canon 9000 ?). The Primefilm was just for fun on the net, but as it is not real that good, I’ll just wait untill I can buy one of the above scanners. It strucks me that there are a lot of members of the forum who have an interest in photography. Thanks for the advise so far. Best wishes, Roger

RE: A question on filmscanners

Snapper,
It sounds as if you really know your stuff regarding scanners and quality.I would like to have the gear to do it really well.I have had all sorts of problems with scanners to date, the Epson I originally bought went back to PC world because the driver just would not work on my machine (2ghz P4 256ram 60ghz hard drive)with XP. I exchanged that for an HP 1400dpi which is fine albeit a bit fiddly with the slide adaptor in the lid.I can get reasonable results from it if i print files that have been scanned at, say,300dpi(upwards of 25mb) and sized at A4.
However this does take a lot of faffing about and is not always repeatable.
What do you think is the cost of doing it properly.
Phil

RE: A question on filmscanners

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 05-12-02 AT 10:18 AM (GMT)]Hi Snapper,

Lets go for:-

Douglas Havoc – Turbinlite
Tangmere
October (?) 1942
No.1455 Flight

Cheers,
Neilly

RE: A question on filmscanners

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 05-12-02 AT 00:37 AM (GMT)]Adobe Photoshop 7, that’s the best. I used to have Photosuite (bought for a particular gimmick) but it doesn’t give a good enough result.

Larger film sizes are fine with good flatbeds, tonight’s work/play with an early xmas gift of negs – My Epson 1640 with Film adaptor, and a 6×9 neg from a 1930’s Kodak 620 Camera:

(Anyone going to tell me what / where / when / who? LOL)
Attachments:

RE: A question on filmscanners

Thanks Snapper
We use IPA at work (for cleaning video head’s) I’ll see if I can “acquire }>” some and give it a go….as for digitally enhancing them….. well I have never had much luck with that they always look a bit….. well sort of fakey, but I have to admit that my photo editor is not very good (MGI photo suite) but maybe its me as i have never been very “arty”, I have heard that the Adobe one is the best.. maybe I’ll give that a go as well.

Thanks again
Dezz 🙂

p.s I am, at the moment, resisting the temptation to post a pic of a very young Dezz sitting on the wheel of that Concord!!!
:7

RE: A question on filmscanners

For physically cleaning them, you have a problem! Try some Isopropyl alcohol or Pec 12 – if you can get them. I can get Pec 12 from a supplier, so if you get stuck, email me. But ask most UK photolabs if they order from Tudor, will be able to order some for you. Get the Pec pads too. take care not to scratch them.

By cleaning, I actually meant the post scan dust / scratch removal neccesary to make them look good.. I use the clone tool in Adobe Photoshop, and the Photoshop dust removal plug-in from Polaroid (a free download). That, and a bit of time, sorts it out!

RE: A question on filmscanners

Hi Snapper
I have got a Agfa snap scan e50, its not great but scan’s slides and negatives, I got it mainly for scanning old slides taken by my dad in the 60’s and 70’s. Despite them being in slide cases some of them are very grubby, what’s the best way of cleaning them?

“(and its the cleaning that takes the time)”

Just as a taster here is one I scanned earlier

Thanks
Dezz 🙂

Ps I had to reduce it in size and save it at only 92% quality to get it under 100K, but you get the idea.

Attachments:

RE: A question on filmscanners

Roger, you are a pro if I recall, yes? If so, would you buy a Vivitar lens as opposed to a Canon/Nikon lens just because it was cheaper? And would you expect the same results?

What are your needs for a film scanner? If you want to scan a fair ammount of negatives or slides, but you want to do it to a standard where you can make prints incomparable to those direct from film, then don’t bother with the Primefilm. If you want to just put pics onthe web, then a Primefilm, or even a film adaptor on a flatbed will be sufficient. If you have the cash spare, and wish to archive large amounts, get the Nikon LS4000 with the batch-feeder / roll film holder. If you want to do a lot of scanning of film, but not hundreds at a time (and its the cleaning that takes the time) then go for the Canon FS4000 US. both are 4000 dpi scanners, both are comparable, and both will give 12″ x 18″ prints from Velvia that are stunning. I know, I have some. I went for the Canon, and can do 4 mounted slides or 6 negs at a time. Get a decent scsi card and cables, and you will save time and get less noise than with the usb connections. (The Nikon comes with Firewire). If you haven’t got a lot of RAM, then get some. I am running 800mb, with twin 866 Mhz PIII’s and a 45 GB hard-drive. A decent hard-drive is useful, as is processing speed, and a CD-Writer is a must.

A friend has a Primefilm, and I’m afraid that there is no comparison. But he doesn’t need to do what I need to do, and isn’t doing it commercially. I am, and I believe you are too from memory. He’s quite happy with it, because it fills a need. I’m happy with mine because it makes me money and gives me superb results.

Bottom line, get the Primefilm, and then buy the better one in a few months when you exhaust its capabilities, or jump in at the deep end first and buy once.

Regards,

Mark.