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

["Jeff Ball" <jeffball@zoominternet.net>]

Hello Alen,
My .02.  I have a page describing my recent endeavors with medium format
scanners.  I am far from an expert!  I think the Polaroid is definitely
worth looking into since it is on sale for around $2200.  That is a
significant savings over the Nikon and Minolta.  I am now using the Nikon
and like it so far.  The only issue I see is blooming off of bright stars of
positives when you have a low signal positive and try to stretch it beyond
reason<g>  This was a test on an IC1396 slide which was very thin.  Here is
my page summarizing my recent experiences.  I highly recommend the glass
carrier if you get the Nikon,  it is expensive at over $200.

http://www.astro-photography.com/mediumformat.htm

The Minolta looked promising other than the rainbow streamers.  I am still
trying to figure out the color profiling.  Nikon scans are different on the
reds when compared to the Minolta.  My nikon gave great scans of PPF
compared to some I had done a couple of years ago.

Here is a completed IC1396.  Lower contrast with a reduced analog gain to
suppress the blooming around bright stars.

http://www.astro-photography.com/ic1396.htm

I don't know why the Nikon records these reds more "ruddy" than the Minolta.

Here is a rework of an M31 image.  These negatives were taken 2 years ago.
I am going to revisit shooting with PPF.  It is an awesome film and the
grain reduction feature in the Nikon is very impressive
http://www.astro-photography.com/m31_smooth.htm

Here is the original from 2 years ago.

http://www.astro-photography.com/m31_old.htm

My preference now is for smoother image and sacrifice the deepness of the
image.  The new M31 used only 4 PPF's while the older one used 6 negatives.

My recommendation is to talk with someone who scans astro positives on
medium format scanners.  It must be prime focus shots with bright stars.
See what pushing the processing does to the stars and if the CCD blooms on
the brighter stars.  I think the Nikon is great for print and is definitely
usable for slide with some precautions.  You need to have deeply exposed
slides to avoid pushing the processing.  My guess is that many of these
consumer priced <g>  models will have CCD's that bloom bright stars on
positives.  The Polaroid does use a different light source and that may not
result in any problems with blooming.  Best of luck and let us know what you
decide.

Jeff Ball


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-astro-photo@seds.org [mailto:owner-astro-photo@seds.org]On
Behalf Of Koebel, Alen
Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 10:40 AM
To: 'astro-photo@seds.org'
Subject: RE: [APML] Best recent model 120 format scanner?


Looks like the thread has dried up. Thanks to everyone who replied.
It has been a great help. The only problem now is affording the darn
thing. Medium format scanners are expensive compared to 35mm only models!

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