P3D HP Photo Smart Scanner

["Steve Hughes" <steve@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've been using the HP PhotoSmart scanner for over a year and really like it
but it is an entry level device and if you can afford to move into the $1000
price range you can get something a lot nicer.

On the plus side it scans 2x2 mount slides, 35mm negatives or unmounted
slides and prints. The driver software will do negative to positive
conversions. It's OPTICAL resolution is 2400dpi and that exceeds the useful
data content of most film. The drive is TWAIN compliant and works with all
my graphics programs.

On the minus side it will only scan one frame in a film strip at time. This
means you can spend a lot of time scanning a 36 exposure roll. It has no
positive film registration hardware so you may have to scan a film strip
more then once to get pairs to line up right.

The only hint about using it I would give is to do a few scans and then
calibrate the scanner, a process that takes about 30 seconds, if you want
the absolute best color accuracy.

Oh, never try to scan strips longer the 6 frames! The manual warns you
against this and you will damage the film strip if it's too long.

I have scanned other film sizes by temporary mounting them in 2x2 mounts.

I like the scanner and would recommend it to anyone who only intends to do a
few scans at a time. It's not a production scanner because of the speed or,
more precisely, the lack there of. In it's price range it's a great deal.

Steve A. Hughes
S&S Solutions
steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


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