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Thread: Leaf 45 scanner

  1. #1

    Leaf 45 scanner

    I have been thinking about purchasing the Microtek Artixscan 1800. It would be used to scan 4x5 positives. I was reading your forum and Mr Dolde seems to be using a Leaf45 with great success. I would be most appreciative if the forum elaborates in both directions. The pros and cons and any other suggestions the you may have. Maybe this two scanners can not even be compared to each other. I am new to 4x5 and I am experiencing a steep learning curve. I am running a dual processor Power Mac 10.3.9 which is quite new but I am afraid may not support the Leaf45. Thank you.

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jun 2005
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    Spain
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    154

    Leaf 45 scanner

    The Leaf 45 scans at 1200 dpi max for 4x5", which may or may not be enough for you.
    This will let you output at around 4x, which you will also be able to do with the 1800f. Don't think you'll see any differences at this level of enlargment. The Leaf is an old dedicated film scanner which most probably doesn't run on OSX and is reported to be very slow too. It might be interesting if you need to scan 35mm and MF too (over 5000 and 2500 dpi respectively), but otherwise I'd go for the Microtek. There are many posts in this forum regarding the qualities and defects of the 1800f.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jun 2002
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    9,487

    Leaf 45 scanner

    I used to have a Leaf 45 and I think the modern under $1000 flatbeds are as good as the older Leafs.

  4. #4

    Leaf 45 scanner

    I concur with what has been written above. I sold my LeafScan45 after finding that the Epson 1680 and 4870 that I owned at that same time gave better results. My current Epson 4990 is even better. The Leaf was sharper but its lower resolution on 4x5 film would not match the prints made by the Epsons. For 6x6 and 6x7 the LeafScan was superior to the 1680 and 4870, but not that much.

  5. #5
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
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    Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico
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    Leaf 45 scanner

    Tell us about your final product? prints? How big etc.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  6. #6

    Leaf 45 scanner

    Thank you all for your feedback. I would stay away from Leaf 45. I would probably do not print anything larger than 20x30. I am not sure if a Microtek 1800 or an Epson 4990 would get me there from a 4x5 image. I am willing to get something better but I would rather not exceed the $1800 range.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Georgia
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    44

    Leaf 45 scanner

    I used to own a software development firm and among other things we wrote drivers for the Leaf , Howtek drum scanners, Sharp flatbeds, etc for the Silicon Graphics platform over their SCSI interface.

    The Leaf has a steep learning curve in order to get a decent quality curve, and has nil for support today in either hardware or software support. In short, it was not a device I liked to work with then and I would like even less today.

    I highly recommend the Howtek 4500, 6500 or 8000 drum scanners. I'm currently running the Howtek HiResolve 8000 using PC based Aztek DPL Pro software - the combination produces excellent digital files to work with from all formats and types of film. I plan on staying with drum scanning of my film (which I develop myself for control) for some years to come - at least until the arrays reach about 52-55MP and are AFFORDABLE!

  8. #8

    Leaf 45 scanner

    Thank you Jack. I am afraid that drum scanners are out of my price range.

  9. #9

    Join Date
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    5,506

    Leaf 45 scanner

    I agree that the Leaf 45 has a steep learning curve, and you might also find it easier to work with if you dedicated an older Mac 3 with OS 9.2.2 to it )very inexpensive).

    However, there is no comparison in my opinin between results with medium format between the Leaf 45 and a flatbed like the Epson 4870, which I also use. There is a sharpness to the Leaf scans that the 4870 just does not have, and the difference is significant at print sizes of 8X10 and larger, not small.

    As for 4X5, if you use a glass plate you can actually scan in two passes at 2450 and stitch in Photoshop. The glass plate will also allow easy use of wet mounting.
    For discussion and information about carbon transfer please visit the carbon group at groups.io
    [url]https://groups.io/g/carbon

  10. #10

    Leaf 45 scanner

    I have a Leafscan 45 beside me on my desk connected to my G4 right now. As of today I am running the scanner on OS 9.2.2 However Lasersoft sells silvefast Ai iT8 and Ai iT8 studio which provides full upgrade to OS X and Win 2000 and XP

    I do understand the opinions of others regarding the learning curve of the L45 but I feel the superior results regarding sharpness are worth keeping this scanner around. Also at the prices it can be had for now, I think it is a excelent value for the money, due to the versitility of scanning film 35mm to 4x5. I have not seen a flatbed that can give me the quality of the leafscan on the 6x6 transparencys I shoot on occasion.

    Lastly the Yahoo groups has a Leafscan user group which has helped me greatly.

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