Re: 35mm Film Scanners

["Keith Davison" <keith.davison@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have tested two Epson 1200S scanners with the photo adaptor using PC 
software, the "S" denotes the SCSI variant, but I believe that the USB type 
should have identical optical performance.
I compared 35mm scans done with the 1200S, an Agfa Duoscan T2500 and 
a Nikon LS2000, and 4x5s on the 1200S and the T2500.
All scans were done at the nearest optical resolution to 1200ppi for each 
instrument, with multisampling, USM, and ICE disabled where appropriate.
Transparency scans from the 1200S (two units, non-consecutive), were 
considerably less sharp than either of the other two scanners, in fact, they 
resembled a sharp 600ppi scan that had been software interpolated to 
1200ppi.  This lack of sharpness was also present in reflective scans.  I tried 
adjusting the height of the trans/neg above the scanner bed to see if it was a 
depth of focus issue, but I could not obtain any improvement.
The LS2000 had the edge over the T2500 for sharpness at this resolution.
The twain software driver for the 1200S is reasonable, but the curves window 
has fixed adjustment points (5 only) on the curve, it is certainly not as good 
as Silverfast for the Nikon.
The one area that the 1200S was superior to the the T2500 was in reflective 
scans of very pale originals with subtle changes of tone, the Epson can pull  
detail from this kind of material that I cannot see with the naked eye.
In short, I keep the 1200S for the above mentioned reflective scans, I would 
not use it for trans/neg scanning.
 
Keith



> 
> >>I have a lot of photos I would like to put up, but would prefer to scan
> >>the negatives (I've got an Epson 1200 I want to take for a spin as well)
> >>instead of the print, so for those of you who've been before, the pics
> >>are still the same.
> >
> >You'll love the Epson 1200 prints (as long as you can get good scans), it's
> >a very nice printer although photographic prints do have a higher density
> >range.
> >
> >Cheers
> >
> >Ben
> 
> 
> The Epson 1200 scanner is a beast that has received good reviews for
> trannie  scanning, even though flat bed scanners are currently unable to
> compete with a dedicated film scanner for scan quality.
> 
> Has anyone used the Epson 1200 scanner and if so any practical comparisons?
> Particularly interested in comments on the film scanner attachment as it
> will take up to 4"x5" film :-)
> 
> As you may have guessed am thinking about raiding the piggy bank ;-)
> 

> 


Neurobiology Dept.
Medical School
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
England
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