Digital BW, The Print

I'm looking for a scanner for b&w negatives in the $750-$1,000 price 
range.  There's a wealth of information on the web about the various 
scanners, but very little about using them with b&w.  I'm told that 
dynamic range is particularly important with b&w, and that some 
scanners that do well with color don't do as well with b&w.

I've basically narrowed it down to the Canon FS4000US (which has 
greater resolution but lower DR), or the soon to be released Minolta 
Scan Elite II (which has less resolution but possibly greater DR).  I 
considered the Nikon LS-40, but was told that its LED light source 
caused problems with the grain structure in b&w.  

Could anyone give me some advice on how to move forward with this?

Robert,

look at the Epson 1680. There is a review of it in Photo Techniques Jan/Feb 
2002. It seems the most promising in your price range.  I recommended it to a 
friend who just got it, so I haven't done any serious tests yet.

Also in your price range is the Kodak 3600. Nice dynamic range and 
sharpness, but I thought grain did get exaggerated. This one I had and used 
for a year. Miserable interface, but you can work around it. Now in the $800 
range.

As far as judging grain and other issues of quality - only a test scan can tell 
you that. Most so-called film scanners won't keep film as flat  as a drum 
scanner. But they will be "good enough". The other issue is software: A nice 
big preview with the ability to really see  what the final scan will look like and 
read the values accurately is a big plus. Look for scanners supported by 
SilverFast (not the only criterion, just another option).

Good luck, and please let us know what you find.

Antonis

PS. If you go with a flatbed, there has been a lot of talk about wet mounting 
negs to the glass (using Kami fluid). Let us know and we'll dig up the 
archives!...


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "robertades" <roberti22@h...> wrote:

> I'm looking for a scanner for b&w negatives in the $750-$1,000 price 
> range.  There's a wealth of information on the web about the various 
> scanners, but very little about using them with b&w.  I'm told that 
> dynamic range is particularly important with b&w, and that some 
> scanners that do well with color don't do as well with b&w.
> 
> I've basically narrowed it down to the Canon FS4000US (which has 
> greater resolution but lower DR), or the soon to be released Minolta 
> Scan Elite II (which has less resolution but possibly greater DR).  I 
> considered the Nikon LS-40, but was told that its LED light source 
> caused problems with the grain structure in b&w.

Antonis:

The Epson 1680 is a flatbed scanner with a resolution of only 
1600dpi.  Why would I want to use that for scanning negatives?

-Robert


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "antonisphoto" 
<antonisphoto@y...> wrote:
> Robert,
> 
> look at the Epson 1680. There is a review of it in Photo Techniques 
Jan/Feb 
> 2002. It seems the most promising in your price range.  I 
recommended it to a 
> friend who just got it, so I haven't done any serious tests yet.
> 
> Also in your price range is the Kodak 3600. Nice dynamic range and 
> sharpness, but I thought grain did get exaggerated. This one I had 
and used 
> for a year. Miserable interface, but you can work around it. Now in 
the $800 
> range.
> 
> As far as judging grain and other issues of quality - only a test 
scan can tell 
> you that. Most so-called film scanners won't keep film as flat  as 
a drum 
> scanner. But they will be "good enough". The other issue is 
software: A nice 
> big preview with the ability to really see  what the final scan 
will look like and 
> read the values accurately is a big plus. Look for scanners 
supported by 
> SilverFast (not the only criterion, just another option).
> 
> Good luck, and please let us know what you find.
> 
> Antonis
> 
> PS. If you go with a flatbed, there has been a lot of talk about 
wet mounting 
> negs to the glass (using Kami fluid). Let us know and we'll dig up 
the 
> archives!...
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "robertades" 
<roberti22@h...> wrote:
> > I'm looking for a scanner for b&w negatives in the $750-$1,000 
price 
> > range.  There's a wealth of information on the web about the 
various 
> > scanners, but very little about using them with b&w.  I'm told 
that 
> > dynamic range is particularly important with b&w, and that some 
> > scanners that do well with color don't do as well with b&w.
> > 
> > I've basically narrowed it down to the Canon FS4000US (which has 
> > greater resolution but lower DR), or the soon to be released 
Minolta 
> > Scan Elite II (which has less resolution but possibly greater 
DR).  I 
> > considered the Nikon LS-40, but was told that its LED light 
source 
> > caused problems with the grain structure in b&w.