RE: [APML] Best recent model 120 format scanner?

[Philip Perkins <philip@astrocruise.com>]

To add my 2 cents to this discussion, I have been very happy with my 
Sprintscan 45 Ultra.  This scanner handles everything from 35mm to 4x5" at 
2500 dpi.  It is essentially a "pro-level" scanner but at quite reasonable 
cost.  The SS120 wasn't available at the time I wanted a medium format 
scanner - I knew it was coming but decided not to wait after seeing a 
pre-production model at one of the imaging shows.  I was after top quality 
and for that reason I also looked at the UMAX Powerlook 3000.  This is a 
very high quality scanner and probably as good as one can get without going 
to a drum scanner.  But it is (or was) very costly, very large, and very 
heavy.  It really needs its own workbench and seemed more suitable for a 
small pro lab.  Having worked with the SS45 Ultra for some time I'd rank it 
right alongside the Powerlook 3000 in terms of quality but at around half 
the cost.  It doesn't have quite the resolution, however the 112Mb medium 
format scans are as large as I want to handle, and 2500 dpi is more than 
enough for anything around 200 ASA and upwards.  The max resolution is 
actually 2571 dpi which I use by default for all scans.

I have done a number of scans with this, the latest of which is my 
"planets" image:
http://www.astrocruise.com/planets.htm

--Philip


>Can anyone recommend a recent model scanner for both 35mm and
>120 format film? I am familiar with the specifications for
>suitable models from Minolta (DiMAGE Scan Multi Pro), Nikon
>(Super Coolscan 8000 ED) and Polaroid (SprintScan 120). But
>specifications don't say how they will actually perform when
>scanning astrophotos.


Philip Perkins - philip@astrocruise.com
Wiltshire UK & Luberon France
Astrocruise - http://www.astrocruise.com


--  APML Archives at <http://astro.umsystem.edu/apml/>  ---
             Unsubscribe at <majordomo@seds.org>