Digital BW, The Print

> Hi Austin,
>
> Here is the URL that will get you to the spec sheet for the scanner:
>
> http://www.dimage.minolta.com/
>
> Be sure to have your magnifying glass ready! Some idiot set the whole
> thing in 4 or 6-point type. Talk about trying to read the fine print!
>
> I share you skepticism on this one. Is it perhaps a numbers game
> where the 16-bit A/D converter cost very little but let's them make
> more outrageous claims?
>
> Martin

I believe they are not being honest here, or just plain don't know what they
are talking about.  There is a little link to a URL that shows 14 bit vs 16
bit.  It claims 16 bits "resolves the image with greater fidelity...".  That
is a physically impossibility.  First off, the shadow detail they show is
not near real shadow detail!  It's mid range detail.

They also claim "ideally suited for...16-bit compatible software such as
Adobe Photoshop"...  And as I said, if you are getting a full range of 16
bit data, you can NOT do any level shifts to it in PS without losing data.

I believe the curve they show is erroneous.  All, both 16 and 14 bit
values/steps, would be in the MIDDLE of the curve, and they wouldn't be
steps, they would be dots.  Pixel depth doesn't have "steps", they are ratio
values and more bits just give you larger numbers, the "steps" between the
numbers is exactly the same.  Steps happen with PPI, NOT with pixel depth.
This is very very misleading.

Click on "16-bit A/D..." on the Pro page, then click on "16-bit vs.
14-bit...".  Take a look and see if you agree.  This really irks me.  I
believe it's totally outrageous.