Digital BW, The Print

Just thought I'd share my experiences and impressions with the 
Polaroid SprintScan 120 and Imacon Photo Flextight for those still 
making similar purchasing decisions. I purchased an SS120 in July, 
but returned it after testing it for about a week (well within the 
return period) primarily because Polaroid had, in the interim, 
announced financial difficulties and I didn't want to risk being 
stuck with an unserviceable scanner. Overall, when I returned it, I 
thought the SS120 was a very good value and, on balance, a capable 
machine (but wait until you read what I say about the Imacon, which 
is significantly better). My biggest problems with the SS120 were 
significant noise, especially in the highlights, color fringing from 
time to time (only visible at 100% view, and not in all cases, and 
not consistent, and barely noticeable, if at all, on final print 
outs, although it does degrade sharpness), and the film holders 
cutting off the edges of the film and decreasing useable film space 
by 5-10%. I used the Silverfast software with the SS120. 

After waiting 3 months + for the Nikon 8000 ED, I received a new 
Imacon Photo yesterday. (I finally got a call that my Nikon was in 
stock the same day I had decided to order the Imacon and just 
cancelled the Nikon order.) The Imacon scans are simply gorgeous. In 
a different category from the SS120, IMHO. Every part of every frame 
is SHARP (I used USM setting at -120 which is equivalent to no 
sharpening for the Imacon). The SS120 scans were sharp too. The 
Imacon scans, however, just have a different type of "presence." The 
film holder design is a pleasure to work with and, in my limited 
experience thus far (and also from what many others have told me) 
works as intended to get sharp scans time and again.  Barely a need 
for sharpening, if at all, of 3200 dpi scans.  Noise is significantly 
lower than with the SS120. Color gradations are smooth. No color 
fringing that I can see. The Flexcolor Imacon software is powerful 
and has a very intuitive interface. The Imacon is really a pleasure. 
Although it only scans at 3200 dpi as opposed to 4000 dpi, I'd any 
day take the Imacon's 3200 dpi over the SS120's 4000 dpi, even for 35 
mm.  For anyone considering the various medium format options, if you 
can afford $5,000 for the Imacon (after rebate; good through the end 
of November as I understand it but you should check with Imacon), I'd 
recommend you rethink it before spending the money on one of the 
competing models. 

BTW, I am scanning only color transparencies, almost all Velvia and 
Astia, 35 mm and 6 cm x 9 cm (haven't scanned the medium format yet 
on the Imacon because I'm waiting to receive a custom holder from 
Denmark).

BTW, the Imacon is not fast.  A 35 mm slide at 3200 dpi 16 bit takes 
about 7 minutes to scan.  Much longer than the Polaroid.  However, 
the software is very well behaved (at least on a Mac) and only 
requires at maximum 192 MB of RAM.  Therefore, it's easy to do other 
Photoshop work at the same time that the scanner is working.  The 
machine is very well constructed and, compared to the noisy SS120, is 
very quiet during the scanning.  The Imacon does not have digital 
ice, which I thought would bother me, but the scans are so nice, that 
I don't mind looking through the file and dusting it; I'm also taking 
extra precautions to absolutely clean all the dust possible off the 
slide before scanning (i.e. special Hepa dust fan/filter for the 
workroom, and special dust cleaning antistatic brush), which 
substantially decreases dusting time.  $5,000 for the scanner doesn't 
seem as exorbitant as it did to me a few days ago.  (BTW, about 3-6 
months ago the market price was $10,000.)