Re: [APML] Epson Expression 1600

[Jerry Lodriguss <jml@astropix.com>]

At 06:45 PM 5/25/00 -0500, you wrote:
>I am a new subscriber to the list but have been experimenting in 
>astrophotography for a few years now.  I have recently purchased an Epson 
>Expression 1600 to replace my Microtek ScanMaker 4.  I did so because of 
>the higher resolution (1600 vs. 600dpi) and its capability of handling 
>medium format film.  The Epson also received a very positive review in 
>Shutterbug.  I just installed it and ran some practice scans of M42, M104, 
>and M64 using 6x4.5 negatives.  Frankly, I am disappointed with the 
>results as compared to the ScanMaker 4.  The detail that is evident in the 
>negatives gets washed out in the scans (e.g., I can't see the dust lanes 
>in M64 or M104).  This occurs even after setting the exposure control to 
>the minimum level.  I even tried placing another (blank) negative strip in 
>the holder but this did not afford much more detail; it simply mucked up 
>the color.


I'm not familiar with that scanner at all, but assuming it is a negative 
scanner, you can try this trick, it sometimes works on other scanners where 
you can't turn off the autoexposure control in the pre-scan (and I don't 
even know if that is what your problem is, <G> but I'll throw this idea out 
there anyway).

Find a frame that is /12 totally exposed and 1/2 un-exposed.  I get it from 
part of the leader that is out when loading the film into the camera.  Use 
this to set the autoexposure. Swap frames, put in the real astro frame, and 
then scan without letting it pre-scan on auto again.

You can also try pre-scanning a normal daytime neg and then swapping it for 
the astro and "tricking" the scanner into not doing a pre-scan the same way 
as above.

YMMV.

Jerry





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