Digital BW, The Print

Alex,

I don't think this scanner is going to live up to your expectations. The
actual optical resolution is probably no more than 1200 dpi and I have to be
skeptical about the optics and electronics on something this low end. I
would recommend that you check out the Epson 2450 and 1680 scanners, $399
and $1,149. The best for the glass negs would probably be one of the high
end Scitex scanners but I assume you don't want to part with several
thousand dollars. As someone suggested, you might want to contact a service
bureau with a high end flat bed and have some things scanned so that you can
see the difference.

The scanner is probably more important or as important to getting a good
print as the printer.

Martin Wesley

http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html



----- Original Message -----
From: "B. Alex Pettit Jr." <a_pettit_jr@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2002 3:44 AM
Subject: [Digital BW] Cheap Scanner ??


> Well, now that I finally have a good BW printer ( Epson 2000P + MIS FSe ),
I set up this Microtek X12USL scanner ($270) and 5x7" transparancy adapter
lid ($80).
>
> I have some old glass 4x5 negatives from my grandfather that I wish to
scan and print, and I thought this scanner would work fine : Wrong !
> Although it is rated for 42 bit color and 2400x1200 resolution, the
dynamic range is just miserable. I cannot resolve anything in the darker
negative areas - they just show as white. I improved it a bit by scanning as
a Positive and then swapping afterwards ( in Picture Windows 16 bit mode ),
but in examining the negatives with a magnifier, I am loosing a great amount
of detail. No afterscan correction curves work properly - the data is lost:
the subtile grey shading in these deeper areas is not captured.
>
> 1) any tricks for wide white to black ratio negatives ?
> 2) what is an 'inexpensive' scanner capable of properly acquiring the
information from these, somewhat grainy and imperfect, but still interesting
 circa 1900 negatives ???
>
> Thanks,
> Alex
>
>
>
>
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