Using the ICG in clean conditions you should save lots of time cloning out the dust. However as I mentioned before the ICG is a high throughput machine and really comes into its own when scanning 100+ films a day.
The quality difference is noticeable especially on punchy film like Velvia. Whether it is THAT noticeable depends on your standards.
Dear Graeme
Bob has made some good points. Whilst I have not used the ICG machines, I suspect that the real speed of throughput will be rather dependent on using their special customised easy load drum. Am I am right in saying these are made for one particular film size...35mm? For other sizes or a mixture you are into the normal drum scanner mounting techniques.
What you need to bear I think, is that with a drum scanner you tend to work in batches, whereas with CCD film scanners its just a matter of popping the film into a holder, and pushing it into the scanner and away you go. Drum scanning is not like that! Drum scanners really need a dedicated clean room as there is plenty of opportunity to introduce dirt. Bear in mind you have potentially six surfaces to keep clean. There is also the question of having adequate ventilation to remove the toxic chemical smells, and of course drum scanners tend to be biggish bits of kit. They tend to make quite a lot of noise as they spin up and the head traverses the drum...
Will you notice the difference on poor quality repro. in editorial magazine pictures? In all honesty I very much doubt it!!
Cheers
Richard -- Richard Kenward Digital Imaging...Preparing quality drum scans for professional image makers who want the best. Details in Labs section at www.prodig.org =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
