Digital BW, The Print

I am finding myself scanning MOSTLY 120 film.  My old Agfa DuoScan is 
doing just fine for most things, but I get curious.  I recently ruled 
out the Minolta equivalent to the Nikon 8000 since it won't operate 
with Win98se.  Since I have 512 in memory, I couldn't use, or often 
need the extra dpi of the Nikon since I can't process it.

Therefore I start to get interested in the Polaroid.  I've seen 
suggested retail around $2700.  Seen used about $1000 under that, 
which seems reasonable.

I saw Bruce McElhaney & Jeff Greer use the P.SS.120 and would of 
asked them offlist but didn't keep the digests for email.

Does the film carrier pass all the way through the scanner?
I'm shooting a 6x8 back (~75mm) on an RB Pro-S...am I going to be 
able to fit that into a carrier?  I'm sure I have other questions & 
will lookd at the info at Polaroid...Nuances are best reported from 
users though.

Thanks,
Cleavis

Cleavis,

The film carriers pass through the SS 120 (slots on both ends, you feed the 
carrier through the front and it moves out the end if needed). The 120 
carrier has markings on it for 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9. You line up a 
frame to fit one of these and that will correspond to a pre-scan size in 
Silverfast. For 6x8, you'd use one of the 6x9 areas and then crop in the 
scanning software. I shoot 6x4.5 and often use one of the larger film size 
areas because it is easier to line up the frame for these and I just crop 
to match the frame size when I scan.

I started using the SS 120 under Win98 SE. I eventually upgraded my 
computer to Win 2000 Pro and it is much more stable. I feel the 
scanner/software is more stable under Win 2000 but I think that is because 
Win98 SE wasn't the best software Microsoft ever rolled out the door and 
not necessarily a problem with the scanner driver or scanning software. 
(Overall, my computer has been much more stable with Win 2000). If you run 
Win 98 SE, be aware that you can't use the Firewire connection since there 
are no scanner drivers for that OS for Firewire. For Win 98 SE, you'll have 
to use SCSI. I personally didn't notice a big difference between SCSI (Win 
98 SE) and Firewire (Win 2000).

Any more questions, just ask.

Jeff Greer

At 02:10 AM 05/28/2002 +0000, you wrote:

>I am finding myself scanning MOSTLY 120 film.  My old Agfa DuoScan is
>doing just fine for most things, but I get curious.  I recently ruled
>out the Minolta equivalent to the Nikon 8000 since it won't operate
>with Win98se.  Since I have 512 in memory, I couldn't use, or often
>need the extra dpi of the Nikon since I can't process it.
>
>Therefore I start to get interested in the Polaroid.  I've seen
>suggested retail around $2700.  Seen used about $1000 under that,
>which seems reasonable.
>
>I saw Bruce McElhaney & Jeff Greer use the P.SS.120 and would of
>asked them offlist but didn't keep the digests for email.
>
>Does the film carrier pass all the way through the scanner?
>I'm shooting a 6x8 back (~75mm) on an RB Pro-S...am I going to be
>able to fit that into a carrier?  I'm sure I have other questions &
>will lookd at the info at Polaroid...Nuances are best reported from
>users though.
>
>Thanks,
>Cleavis
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Cleavis,

I would just add one comment to Jeff's below about the Polaroid 120, which I
also have. It is not full frame along the sides of the medium format
carrier. At least not with my Pentax 67 negs. I am losing 1 to 2mm of image
on each side. Tim Spragens went with the Minolta and we exchanged some files
back and forth. The quality is the same but the Minolta has the glass
carrier available so that you do not have to sacrifice any film area. Other
than that the Polaroid has been a great unit. Nice 35mm scanner too.

I also went the Win 2000 route and recommend it. I have played with XP a bit
now and if the drivers you need are available it looks pretty good too.

Martin Wesley
http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html

----- Original Message -----
From: "J Greer" <jgpinfo@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 8:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Polaroid SprintScan 120...?


> Cleavis,
>
> The film carriers pass through the SS 120 (slots on both ends, you feed
the
> carrier through the front and it moves out the end if needed). The 120
> carrier has markings on it for 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9. You line up a
> frame to fit one of these and that will correspond to a pre-scan size in
> Silverfast. For 6x8, you'd use one of the 6x9 areas and then crop in the
> scanning software. I shoot 6x4.5 and often use one of the larger film size
> areas because it is easier to line up the frame for these and I just crop
> to match the frame size when I scan.
>
> I started using the SS 120 under Win98 SE. I eventually upgraded my
> computer to Win 2000 Pro and it is much more stable. I feel the
> scanner/software is more stable under Win 2000 but I think that is because
> Win98 SE wasn't the best software Microsoft ever rolled out the door and
> not necessarily a problem with the scanner driver or scanning software.
> (Overall, my computer has been much more stable with Win 2000). If you run
> Win 98 SE, be aware that you can't use the Firewire connection since there
> are no scanner drivers for that OS for Firewire. For Win 98 SE, you'll
have
> to use SCSI. I personally didn't notice a big difference between SCSI (Win
> 98 SE) and Firewire (Win 2000).
>
> Any more questions, just ask.
>
> Jeff Greer
>
> At 02:10 AM 05/28/2002 +0000, you wrote:
> >I am finding myself scanning MOSTLY 120 film.  My old Agfa DuoScan is
> >doing just fine for most things, but I get curious.  I recently ruled

(snip)

SNIP:
I couldn't use, or often need the extra dpi of the Nikon since I can't process it. Therefore I start to get interested in the Polaroid.  

Cleavis

The SS120 has the same ppi as the Nikon.  The carrier passes through and out the back.

Simon

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: lyonscox 
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 3:10 AM
  Subject: [Digital BW] Polaroid SprintScan 120...?


  I am finding myself scanning MOSTLY 120 film.  My old Agfa DuoScan is 
  doing just fine for most things, but I get curious.  I recently ruled 
  out the Minolta equivalent to the Nikon 8000 since it won't operate 
  with Win98se.  Since I have 512 in memory, I couldn't use, or often 
  need the extra dpi of the Nikon since I can't process it.

  Therefore I start to get interested in the Polaroid.  I've seen 
  suggested retail around $2700.  Seen used about $1000 under that, 
  which seems reasonable.

  I saw Bruce McElhaney & Jeff Greer use the P.SS.120 and would of 
  asked them offlist but didn't keep the digests for email.

  Does the film carrier pass all the way through the scanner?
  I'm shooting a 6x8 back (~75mm) on an RB Pro-S...am I going to be 
  able to fit that into a carrier?  I'm sure I have other questions & 
  will lookd at the info at Polaroid...Nuances are best reported from 
  users though.

  Thanks,
  Cleavis


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Apologies in advance if I screw this post up.  I get the digest, and
have never tried to respond to a query on this list.

on 5/28/02 8:54 AM, DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com at
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com wrote:

> I would just add one comment to Jeff's below about the Polaroid 120, which I
> also have. It is not full frame along the sides of the medium format
> carrier. At least not with my Pentax 67 negs. I am losing 1 to 2mm of image
> on each side. Tim Spragens went with the Minolta and we exchanged some files
> back and forth. The quality is the same but the Minolta has the glass
> carrier available so that you do not have to sacrifice any film area. Other
> than that the Polaroid has been a great unit. Nice 35mm scanner too.

I lose a bit on the negative edges with the 120 as well.  I just ordered a
glass carrier for the 120 direct from Polaroid (new product, available only
for the past week according to the person on the phone).  Price was $129.
If I remember rightly, the person on the phone claimed it had a 61mm wide
opening, which would be about 5mm wider than my standard carrier.  I should
receive the carrier sometime next week, and will send anyone who wants it a
quick negative coverage evaluation.

I agree that the 120 is a great scanner.

--clyde rogers

Various SNIPS...

> Apologies in advance if I screw this post up.  I get the digest, and
> have never tried to respond to a query on this list.

Seemed to have worked well, I'm jealous ;-)


Regarding
>> I am losing 1 to 2mm of image on each side.<<

> SNIP <

> I lose a bit on the negative edges with the 120 as well.  I just 
ordered a glass carrier for the 120 direct from Polaroid (new 
product, available only for the past week according to the person on 
the phone).  Price was $129. If I remember rightly, the person on the 
phone claimed it had a 61mm wide opening, which would be about 5mm 
wider than my standard carrier.  <

Very exciting!! However I see at CDW the P.SS 120 has been recently 
(May 2002) noted as discontinued...
<http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.asp?EDC=271788>

The other online providers have no mention of this & I haven't seen 
it on Polaroid yet either. And for users who have not downloaded an 
update since DEC 2001 there is this VERY IMPORTANT link Located under 
the 120 FAQ


regarding "Recent testing of the SprintScan 120 has revealed a 
potential hardware problem that can render the scanner inoperable. 
Once this problem occurs, there is no other recourse but to have the 
unit serviced."  
Installation of firmware version 1.20 is the only way to prevent this 
from occurring....

<<http://polaroid.custhelp.com/cgi-
bin/polaroid.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?
p_sid=8ZEHaggg&p_lva=&p_faqid=1895&p_created=1008604342&p_sp=cF9ncmlkc
29ydD0mcF9yb3dfY250PTI1JnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9JnBfc2VhcmNoX3R5cGU9MyZwX3B
yb2RfbHZsMT0yJnBfcHJvZF9sdmwyPTEzNCZwX2NhdF9sdmwxPX5hbnl_JnBfc29ydF9ie
T1kZmx0JnBfcGFnZT0x&p_li=>>

With the possibility of a glass carrier I think I might pick one up 
to try out.  Not sure of the benefits over my DuoScan yet so I'm not 
sure if this is necessary or impulsive.

Sincerely,
Cleavis