Re: filmscanners: Microtek Artixscan 4000: how does it measure up?
I have the SCSI (didn't know there was a firewire vesion) Artixscan 4000T. Unsurprisingly it perfroms much the same as the SS4000. The ScanWizard Pro software is very easy to use and has been completely stable from day 1. But the results in my experience are far inferior to Vuescan (US$40 I believe). In part my poor results are probably duwe to lack of experience with the product - I just found Vuescan so much easier that I didn't bother much with Scan Wizard Pro . You can try Vuescan for free here http://www.hamrick.com/vsm.html My Artixscan came with Silverfast Ai 5 which is very sophisticated. In my experience I rarely get a better scan with Silverfast than I do with Vuescan. I did put quite a lot of effort into using Silverfast but found I still got better scans form Vuescan. The automatic settings certainly seem much superior in Vuescan. I do suspect that in very skilled hands Silverfast will produce the best results overall, but it would take me weeks just to get regular good results. With Vuescan the results are invariably good with very little effort. Steve - Original Message - From: "Tim Lumsdaine" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 5:53 AM Subject: filmscanners: Microtek Artixscan 4000: how does it measure up? > In all of the correspondence I've followed on this site, I've hardly > encountered anything relating to Microtek's "top" contender in the dedicated > 35mm scanning category. I've had the FireWire version on order for a while: > the specs seem good, the ScanWizard Pro software is easy to use, and it > compares favourably (from what I've seen) with scanners far above its price > range. From info I've received it shares the same engine as the Polaroid > SS4000. In Australia it retails for around $2,500AUD. > > It still hasn't arrived in the country yet, so I'm curious as to whether any > players here have had any experience with the beast or its earlier USB > sibling. Any info would be much appreciated. > > Tim Lumsdaine > Sydney, Australia > > >
Re: filmscanners: Microtek Artixscan 4000: how does it measure up?
Tim I don't have either of them, but I understand the Artixscan and Polaroid have the same innards and are both made in the same Microtek factory. They differ in minor details of hardware (such as firmware) and in the package of software they come with. I have not heard of a firewire version of the Artixscan -- I thought they were SCSI (and not USB either). As to price, I notice an Australian supplier is quoting AU$1,753 for the Polaroid without SCSI card or software (I guess you can download the Polaroid software for free, and/or pay US$40 for Vuescan). They quote AU$2,200 including Silverfast software, SCSI card, cables, etc. See http://www.scannerplace.com.au/p4000.htm Peter Marquis-Kyle Brisbane - Original Message - From: "Tim Lumsdaine" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > In all of the correspondence I've followed on this site, I've hardly > encountered anything relating to Microtek's "top" contender in the dedicated > 35mm scanning category. I've had the FireWire version on order for a while: > the specs seem good, the ScanWizard Pro software is easy to use, and it > compares favourably (from what I've seen) with scanners far above its price > range. From info I've received it shares the same engine as the Polaroid > SS4000. In Australia it retails for around $2,500AUD. > > It still hasn't arrived in the country yet, so I'm curious as to whether any > players here have had any experience with the beast or its earlier USB > sibling. Any info would be much appreciated.