Re: New scanner to try

[P3D Mark Damish <mdamish@xxxxxxx>]

Hi,
  I had one for a day before returning it.  The scans were quick,
and the output was great, but:
  - The scanner assumes that everything in a slide mount is a positive.
    Not too bad, as I only have a few dozen negatives in mounts.
  - The scanner assumes that everything that is a film strip is
    a negative.  This is a killer for me, as I have a lot of
    unmounted slides, in 6-frame strips.  It also assumes that
    color strips have an orange mask, so it is not
    as simple as just inverting the colors in photoshop.
  - When scanning strips, it will preview all images, but
    you can only select one to scan.  I also believe that
    it spits out the strips when you are done, so that you
    have to repeat this 4 or 5 more times if you want to scan
    all of the images on a strip.
  - The machine had a very hard time with negatives on a thin
    film base.  Forget HIE and TP.  The machine loads the film
    directly, without the need to put it into a frame/holder.
  - I'm not sure about this last one, but I think that the machine
    worked with strips that were cut to 5 and not 6.  Memory
    is failing me on this one.

On the other hand, the machine was extremely to set up.  The software
is easy to use, and it will also scan prints up to either 4x6 or 5x7.  
My opinion is that if you're scanning mounted 2x2 slides only, the
machine is definitely worth the money for home use, although there should
be more sub $1000 machines coming out soon. I also don't know how
this machine stacks up to scanners that can input densities of 3.4,
but judging by comments made by others about noise in the dark areas,
which may be adjusted out, it probably doesn't meet the denisity
specs for these high end machines.
 I'd look closely to see if you machine is a match for your needs...
...In my case, it wasn't.

...Mark

P.S. This is based on a unit purchased in August.  I don't know if
     there have been any updates to the software since.  I was contacted
     by HP for a paid interview about "my use of the scanner", but
     didn't attend.  It sounds like they're listening!

> I don't have one to evaluate yet but anyone try an Hp PhotoSmart
> Photo Scanner?  
> http://www.hp.com/peripherals/pc_photography/photo_scanner.html
> It does slides at 2400 dpi optical.  $500.  I might pick one up and
> try it.
> 
> Michael Sandler
> 



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