Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, 
"sceptre12345" <am1000@v...> wrote:

> Chasseur d'Images magazine recently (Dec 2003) had a
> review and comparison of the newer Nikon Coolscan
> scanners (5000 and V) with the Minolta 5400.
> 
> The Minolta 5400 has the highest input resolution but in terms
> of  pratical resolution its about equal to the new Nikon
> scanners. This is consistent with what we are seeing with a lot 
> of scanners. 

Up to a given print output size, this is of course an arguable point 
either way. My concern is with larger print size (above 13x19").  
My side-by-side comparison, admittedly, was with a late-model 
Polaroid SprintScan 4000, where the difference was tangible, 
albeit not earth-shattering.  The Nikon V/5000, no doubt, is 
better-spec'd all-around than this.
 
> The Epson 3200 has an input resolution of 3200dpi but its real 
> resolution is around 1800dpi. And the Nikon 8000 real's
> resolution is around 2895 dpi according to tests available on
> the scannerforum. http://www.scannerforum.com/

I've wondered about the 3200 in this respect, and also wonder 
how this would relate to the newest Model in the lineup.
 
> So it seems that the Coolscan 5000 and V can now match the
> Minolta 5400 size for size in term of output.

Again, this may depend on desires print size.  How large did they 
go in their comparison?

 
> The Minolta 5400 has a tendency to go magenta (noise?) in 
> the shadows and for b&w negatives it has more contrast than
> the new Nikon scanners with the result that some highlights
> may be blown. This could be corrected if Minolta offered an
> upgrade to its exising software. The Nikon Coolscan b&w
> scanned images demand more post-processing since they
> appear softer in term of contrast (shadows and highlights
> being preserved), but not in terms of resolution or sharpness.

Merely anecdotal on my end, but I haven't had any noise or 
color-shift issues thus far with the 5400, save for a brief problem 
on a RAM- and processor-challenged system the first week I 
had the scanner (a somewhat souped-up Power Mac 7600, 
which was slated for upgrading anyway); a brief move to a blue 
and white G3 cleared everything up, and my current G4 simply 
gave the whole pakage a nice speed boost.  

> It also was noted that the new Coolscan software has been 
> significantly improved. Both scanners are now faster than the
> Minolta 5400, Firewire 400 version included; the difference is
> staggering when ICE is activated.

Can't argue that, although I'll say the scan speeds I observe with 
the 5400 - all bells and whistles engaged - is about average.  
Nikon appears to hold the speed record in this regard. :-)

- Barrett