Digital BW, The Print

In his posting of Mon, 23 Jul 2012,  writes
snip

>Plustek OpticFilm 120
>Image Sensor       CCD
>Light Source        LED
>Hardware Resolution Maximum Input：  10600 dpi
>Maximum Output：      5300 dpi
>Scan Modes Color:       48-bit input, 24/48-bit output
>Grayscale:         16-bit input, 8/16-bit output
>Dynamic Range       4.8
>Infrared Built-in
>Scanning Area (W x L)     60 mm x 120 mm
>IT8 Target        Included for color accuracy
>Power Supply       24 Vdc / 0.75 A
>Interface         USB 2.0
>Net Weight        Approx. 5.7 Kgs
>Dimensions (W x D x H)     210 x 374 x 189 mm
Snip

When I read scanner manufacturer's claims of 4.8 dynamic range I suspect 
all of their claims!   There is absolutely no way this is possible in a 
desktop CCD scanner!   A top drum scanner in perfect condition can only 
manage about 4.2 that's the reality guys and nothing beats a drum 
scanner in good hands.

I remember in years past that when all the desktop CCD scanner makers 
were making increasingly exaggerated claims for dynamic range that when 
challenged about their claims for 4.8 the MD of Imacon said that it was 
a marketing statement.  I read that as lies.

Cheers

Richard
-- 
Richard Kenward
richard@...
web site at <www.precision-drum-scanning.co.uk>
phone+44 (0) 1873 890 767
fax +44(0) 1873 890 565

On 07/25/2012 10:13 AM, Richard Kenward wrote:
> In his posting of Mon, 23 Jul 2012, writes
> snip
>
>  >Plustek OpticFilm 120
>  >Image Sensor CCD
>  >Light Source LED
>  >Hardware Resolution Maximum Input\uff1a 10600 dpi
>  >Maximum Output\uff1a 5300 dpi
>  >Scan Modes Color: 48-bit input, 24/48-bit output
>  >Grayscale: 16-bit input, 8/16-bit output
>  >Dynamic Range 4.8
>  >Infrared Built-in
>  >Scanning Area (W x L) 60 mm x 120 mm
>  >IT8 Target Included for color accuracy
>  >Power Supply 24 Vdc / 0.75 A
>  >Interface USB 2.0
>  >Net Weight Approx. 5.7 Kgs
>  >Dimensions (W x D x H) 210 x 374 x 189 mm
> Snip
>
> When I read scanner manufacturer's claims of 4.8 dynamic range I suspect
> all of their claims! There is absolutely no way this is possible in a
> desktop CCD scanner! A top drum scanner in perfect condition can only
> manage about 4.2 that's the reality guys and nothing beats a drum
> scanner in good hands.
>
> I remember in years past that when all the desktop CCD scanner makers
> were making increasingly exaggerated claims for dynamic range that when
> challenged about their claims for 4.8 the MD of Imacon said that it was
> a marketing statement. I read that as lies.
>
> Cheers
>
> Richard
> --

It depends very much on what is seen as an acceptable signal to noise 
ratio.
Image Engineering did a test on 3 scanners with and without Multi 
Exposure and gives the data they measured and computed:

www.silverfast.com/PDF/TestReport_ME_DWueller.pdf

Dmax and Dynamic range are important, a drum scanner also has less flare 
due to the single beam optical arrangement. In a desktop scanner the 
best light source is still covering the entire length of the linear CCD.

4,8 Dmax for a Plustek is too good to be true IMHO.

-- 
Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

Dinkla Grafische Techniek
Quad, pi\ufffdzografie, gicl\ufffde
www.pigment-print.com

On Jul 25, 2012, at 1:13 AM, Richard Kenward wrote:

> 
> When I read scanner manufacturer's claims of 4.8 dynamic range I suspect 
> all of their claims!
> Richard
> -- 
> Richard Kenward
> 
True, but pretty much all manufacturers exaggerate their dmax figure or base it on a testing method
that skews the result in their favor. 

But it looks like the first viable alternative to the departed 9000ED, so I don't think it should be dismissed 
entirely without further examination.

cheers

Feli



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