Digital BW, The Print

I would like to buy an inexpensive, flatbed scanner for the sole 
purpose of making contact sheets from sleeved film. I want to 
just lay down a standard PrintFile-type 8.5x11 sheet of negatives, 
and VERY QUICKLY make a 150dpi contact sheet. I don't need 
anything high-quality, just good enough to see the content of the 
negative. The main thing I'm looking for is good software, ease 
of use, and fast performance; quality is probably last on my list.

I have been using an Agfa Duoscan, but the thing is so slow and 
clunky, there MUST be something better for this limited need.

Any thoughts or recommendations appreciated.

-Mark Tucker, http://marktucker.com

Hello:

I use an Epson Perfection 1240U, with very acceptable
results. You may want to look into this option. As for
software, I use VueScan, but if you only want it for
contact sheets, I would say that the Epson software
should be more than enough.

Good luck

Alejandro Montiel

--- marktuckerdotcom <mark@...> wrote:
> I would like to buy an inexpensive, flatbed scanner
> for the sole 
> purpose of making contact sheets from sleeved film.
> I want to 
> just lay down a standard PrintFile-type 8.5x11 sheet
> of negatives, 
> and VERY QUICKLY make a 150dpi contact sheet. I
> don't need 
> anything high-quality, just good enough to see the
> content of the 
> negative. The main thing I'm looking for is good
> software, ease 
> of use, and fast performance; quality is probably
> last on my list.
> 
> I have been using an Agfa Duoscan, but the thing is
> so slow and 
> clunky, there MUST be something better for this
> limited need.
> 
> Any thoughts or recommendations appreciated.
> 
> -Mark Tucker, http://marktucker.com
> 
> 


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Mark, what do you find clunky about the Duoscan? I've got an Agfa 
1236, now discontinued, that I keep around because it has a near full 
page light source for transparancy. I've never used a Duoscan so 
can't compare speed or clunkiness, but the 1236 should be inexpensive 
on the used market, if you can find one with the light lid.

Tim Spragens

> I would like to buy an inexpensive, flatbed scanner for the sole
> purpose of making contact sheets from sleeved film...
> I have been using an Agfa Duoscan, but the thing is so slow and 
> clunky, there MUST be something better for this limited need.
--
Tim Spragens
http://www.borderless-photos.com
&
http://www.borderless-photos.de

Hi Mark,

Make sure what ever scanner you choose DOES scan the entire sheet width.
Length isn't usually an issue.  I found none of the 8 1/2" wide flatbeds
would actually scan transparency at 8 1/2, so I couldn't scan my six wide
PrintFile sheets...so I had to move to a tabloid sized scanner...a LOT more
money, but well worth it for me.

Regards and Happy New Year,

Austin

> I would like to buy an inexpensive, flatbed scanner for the sole
> purpose of making contact sheets from sleeved film. I want to
> just lay down a standard PrintFile-type 8.5x11 sheet of negatives,
> and VERY QUICKLY make a 150dpi contact sheet. I don't need
> anything high-quality, just good enough to see the content of the
> negative. The main thing I'm looking for is good software, ease
> of use, and fast performance; quality is probably last on my list.
>
> I have been using an Agfa Duoscan, but the thing is so slow and
> clunky, there MUST be something better for this limited need.
>
> Any thoughts or recommendations appreciated.
>
> -Mark Tucker, http://marktucker.com

Hi Mark,

I'm putting my vote in for an Epson flatbed with transparency adaptor.
 Watch out which model you get as many of the newer ones have shrunk
the useful transparency size.  

I have the Expression 636 which does a full 8.5X11 transparency.  I
still see them for sale for less than $300 with the adaptor.  I paid
about $1300 for mine 5 or 6 years ago and I'm still scanning my 8X10
negatives on it.  The Epson Twain software is useable although I put
in Silverfast.

Let's see some of the Cuba stuff.  Frank


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "marktuckerdotcom"
<mark@m...> wrote:

> I would like to buy an inexpensive, flatbed scanner for the sole 
> purpose of making contact sheets from sleeved film. I want to 
> just lay down a standard PrintFile-type 8.5x11 sheet of negatives, 
> and VERY QUICKLY make a 150dpi contact sheet. I don't need 
> anything high-quality, just good enough to see the content of the 
> negative. The main thing I'm looking for is good software, ease 
> of use, and fast performance; quality is probably last on my list.
> 
> I have been using an Agfa Duoscan, but the thing is so slow and 
> clunky, there MUST be something better for this limited need.
> 
> Any thoughts or recommendations appreciated.
> 
> -Mark Tucker, http://marktucker.com