filmscanners: Nikon Scanners, DOF and focus settings (was: VueScan 7.2.11 Available)

2001-12-04 Thread Ralf Schmode

Rob Geraghty schrieb:
 
 OK, but having reviewed your web page, you're only talking about colour
 negative strips in the motorised SA20 adapter.  The way the adapter
 operates - pulling the strip the whole way in to measure the number of
 frames, then feeding it back out when you scan frame 1 - tends to make the
 end of the strip curl longitudinally.  What this means for me in practice
is
 I get a scan which is 3/4 in focus and 1/4 out of focus at one end.  This
is
 the *only* kind of noticeable problem I've had with DOF and my LS30

Hi, Rob,

after so many people stating that *all* Nikon filmscanners allegedly have
that DOF problem, it is good to read from someone else who in fact *is* able to
get edge-to-edge sharp scans out of a Nikon. My perception with the LS-30 is
just as you said - I have used the motor feeder for my first couple of
strips which seemed awfully bent and the perforation damaged when exiting the
feeder, and I have used the manual feeder ever since. With my 100° and 400° neg
film scans there's film grain visible from corner to corner. Moreover, I
usually have my films cut into strips of four and leave them in the bag for a
couple of days prior to scanning which significantly reduces curl.

OTOH, my guess is that the improved glass optics of Nikon's newer models
might be adding to the DOF problem. If I have to replace my LS-30 (which is
still uncertain because the damage assessment is not complete yet - the Nikon
service *refuse* to sell spare parts, the plastic lenses in the CCD unit in
my case, so I had to hand it over to the local service), I'll probably change
my opinion and go for Minolta's Scan Elite II. My LS-30 has served me quite
well for the time I had it, but the hearsay about Nikon's LS-40 and the
behaviour of their service really doesn't encourage me to go with Nikon again.

Best regards -

Ralf  




Re: filmscanners: Nikon Scanners, DOF and focus settings (was: VueScan 7.2.11 Available)

2001-12-04 Thread Rob Geraghty

Ralf Schmode [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 after so many people stating that *all* Nikon filmscanners allegedly have
 that DOF problem, it is good to read from someone else who in fact *is*
able to
 get edge-to-edge sharp scans out of a Nikon.

Caveat: I suspect others are wanting more out of the scanner than it can
deliver.  It's been said on the list before; you can't expect a scanner that
costs US$500 to provide the same quality as one that costs US$20K, yet it
seems that many people expect as much.  I had quite high expectations of my
scanner, but I've come to learn a lot about its limitations.  If I go about
it the right way, the scans are great for my purposes.  I've had them
published as cover photos for a news-stand magazine, so I'm happy!

 my opinion and go for Minolta's Scan Elite II. My LS-30 has served me
quite
 well for the time I had it, but the hearsay about Nikon's LS-40 and the
 behaviour of their service really doesn't encourage me to go with Nikon
again.

The Minolta for ICE?  As opposed to a Polaroid?  I've heard very little on
the list about Minolta scanners.  I presume it's because there's few in
circulation, but maybe it's because the users are happy with the way they
work?

Rob

PS Now I'm about to go to Japan, and I'm going to miss having the LS30!

PPS Don't get me wrong - I think Nikon are doing themselves a disservice
with the way they are treating their scanner customers.  DOF clearly *is* an
issue, and the problems with Nikonscan can't be helping sales.  But I use
the film strip holder if I have time, and use Vuescan, and I get the results
I need!