Re: Negative Scanning

From: Gordon Couger (gcouger_at_NOSPAMprovalue.net)
Date: 08/18/04 

Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2004 00:40:05 -0500

"Gary G" <see.signature@bottom> wrote in message
news:lgelh0p6amlv1hn029anvmqt3h545o9i4m@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 09 Aug 2004 03:31:01 GMT, ecurb <brcrabb@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >On Tue, 3 Aug 2004 19:54:04 -0400, "A. Russell Wallace"
> ><what.spam.me@are.you.crazy.org> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>"ecurb" <brcrabb@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >>news:ak0lf055a4l9ofnsf35umfa8t3dvo1nhir@4ax.com...
> >>> Looking to embrace the digital age a bit more and looking for some
> >>> advice.
> >>>
> >>> I have lots of negatives, primarily from electron microscopy using
> >>> Polarioid 545 camera backs and 4x5 cut film. I'd like to digitize at
> >>> least some them to make them a bit more available for use.
> >>>
> >>> Can anyone recomend a good negative scanner? One that can accept a
> >>> variety of negative formats, good resolution, etc etc. Anyone using
> >>> one that they have good experience with? Either a standard scanner
> >>> with a of backlight accessory, or one dedicated for transmissive use.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks in advance.
> >>>
> >>> SMMS Inc.
> >>
> >> two questions.
> >>
> >>1.your pictures are all B & W, right?
> >>2.at what resolution do you want to scan them?
> >>
> >
> >All B&W Yes,
> >
> >The higher resolution the better, within reason.
>
> For 4x5 negs, I don't think more than 1200dpi is necessary. This will
> make a very large TIFF file even at 8-bits. Look at the UMAX
> Powerlook III with transparency adapter. It is SCSI interface and
> works on Mac or PC. It is 12-bits with high Dmax. Generally pretty
> reliable. Mine quit after about two years. The stepper motor board
> went bad. Cost about $200 for UMAX to repair it.
>
> The other option is Nikon SuperCool Scan 8000ED or 4000ED and cut the
> negs to fit 6x7cm. The 8000 does 4000dpi. For a 4x5 (6x7) frame,
> 8-bits is about 125MB.
>
An light table and digital camera will do a decent job as well. I have used
the color light head from an enlarger and Nikon Coolpix for color slides for
a decent conversion. I have not been entirely satisfied with scanning color
negatives that way but I don't think I have devoted enough time to working
out the filter pack and color correction. I think it can be done. On
negatives larger than 35mm in B&W a CoolPix does a great job at 8 bits. I
expect any other 4 or 5 mega pixel digital camera would do the same. 

-- 
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcc@couger.com
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