P3D Low-priced slide scanner?

[SHIELDS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Hi!

After looking at some recent scans, I decided the time had come to seek
a better slide scanner. I have the Artec Scanrom 4E, and have corresponded
with a couple of list members about it. It is quick and convenient, and I 
have solved all the interface problems, but its resolution is only 400DPI
actual, and the "software interpolation" to higher resolutions doesn't help
much. It also has color fringing--no achromats inside, obviously!
I paid something around $200 for it and got one for a friend on closeout
at $80. It wasn't any better. It works better for prints since they don't
have to be magnified as much--scanning at 200DPI and reducing 50% produces
pretty nice results--lessens the fringing.

A good slide scanner was mentioned here recently--no price--but compared
to a Sony digital camera, which I believe comes in around $650.

I'm looking for the lowest-priced scanner that will jump me up well above
what I have now, so I can have decent scans. 1200DPI sounds wonderful--I
wouldn't mind more--but there may be no middle ground between $200
and $500, which is what I heard the lowest cost slide scanners were.
If it has to be $500 or so, I'd like the most bang for my buck. Since I shoot
beamsplitter format, a unit that handles regular 2X2 mounts is fine--don't
need to do Realist format.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Mark Shields

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shields@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.netcom.com/~northws1/stmatt.htm
"Let the little children come to Me," Jesus said, "and don't keep
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  -Matthew 19:14



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End of PHOTO-3D Digest 2894
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