Digital BW, The Print

I've never used the Plustek but have heard it has limited Dmax which
should matter to you for scanning transparencies and some silver B&W
negatives.

I have seen Nikon output and focus depends on the model.  The LS-4000
model was known for finicky focus and limited depth of field.  The
LS-5000 and V were known to be far easier to get the frame in focus.

I use the Canon FS4000US which has generous depth of field but fairly
poor holders.  A scanhancer diffuser nicely suppresses Fuji pepper
grain and B&W grain.  It has rather limited Dmax, so for contrasty
transparencies expect to have to scan twice and combine exposures.  I
use Photomatix to do the combining and Vuescan as my scanner software.

If I were buying a scanner today for 35mm I'd get the Nikon LS-50 or
5000 for the combination of speed, high quality IR cleaning, and Dmax.
The LS-5000 is somewhat higher resolution than my 4000 dpi Canon based
on scanning test charts.  I find 4000dpi overkill for most of my work
which is handheld on relatively fast films and after scanning at
4000dpi I downsize in Photoshop to 8x12 inches or so at 300dpi.

Roger


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Morse"
<Bill.Morse@...> wrote:
>
> I don't have experience with the Plustek, so can't say. The Nikons and
> similar film scanners, OTOH, are very difficult (impossible?) to get
focus
> across the whole film plane unless you use a wet-mount holder. A
used drum
> scanner (eg. Howtek 4500) will be your best bet, but you have to
have alot
> of film to make it worth-while.
> 
> I would recommend getting sample scans from the same wide-gamut negative
> from several different kinds of scanners (operated by knowledgeable
> owners!!) before deciding.
> 
> Bill
> 
> >
> > --- In
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@...m<DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > "pr_roark"
> >
> > <pr_roark@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Richard wrote:
> > >
> > > > Are there any good scanners for 35mm negatives
> > > > or should as, what is the best for 35mm ?
> > >
> > > David Brooks at Shutterbug tests a lot of these and is very
enthused by
> > > the affordable Plustek 7200i.
> > >
> > > My experience is that the typical 4000 dpi of a film scanner cannot
> > > capture all the detail that is in the film. So, those extra pixels
> > > just might be significant.
> > >
> > >
> > > > or is all photography pretty much gone to digital.
> > >
> > > So far, I see no (affordable) serious digital competition for my
medium
> > > format Tech Pan film when ultimate B&W quality is the issue. For
> > > color, however, I never shoot film any more.
> > >
> > > Paul
> > > www.PaulRoark.com
> > >
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Regards,
> 
> Bill Morse
> Wm. Morse Editions
> 
> http://www.MorseEditions.com/
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>