Should I get a Microtek 1800f?

[Chris Strobel]

Hey Ted and all, thanks again for all the great info and friendly advice.Again I decided to keep the 4990 and skip the 1800f.When I get my Epson 4800 printer, 16x20 will be close to about as big as I can go, not to mention I just don't have the gallery space for anything bigger.I find with my scanmax wet mount kit its very easy to work with 8x10 negs on the 4990.I lay out the 1mm thick glass on the work plate, spray the fluid on the glass, lay neg down, spray fluid on top of neg, place clear overlay over neg, squeege out air bubbles, wipe off residue, flip the whole thing over and lay it on the 8x10 adapter sitting on the scanner bed, and wa la I'm readt to scan!I'm not sure whats involved wet mounting on a 1800f, but I thought wet mounting would be much more complicated than its is.I'm luvin my 4990 so far

Chris,

I'm going back to your original post where you said you shoot mostly 8x10. If you are shooting mostly 8x10 and not enlarging past 16x20 then the 4990 should do ok for you but there are the issues mentioned above. BTW, 8x10 is a tight fit on the 4990 if that is something else to consider. From a straightforward financial point of view you are not laying out another $900 but rather $900 less whatever you get for the 4990. Have you actually called Jim to see what he will give you for it in trade considering it is basically a new machine?

I really don't think the quality issues here are the driving factor but rather the cost considerations are. I agree with Bruce tht you won't see the difference between the two machines for 2x enlargements but you will if you are going to do 4x enlargements of 4x5's .... Your needs and your pocketbook drive the decision.

[DrPablo]

I have the i800F, and I just printed a truly beautiful 24x30" canvas-transfer print from 4x5 print film, scanned at 2400 dpi and then downsized for print. If you have good software (I've got Silverfast Ai Studio) then you can get great results from the i800F. I've only felt like it's limited for chromes with a big density range; but I tend to bias the gamma towards overexposure (I set it to 2.2 or so) with images with lots of shadow detail, then in PS dip the shadows in curves.

[Ted Harris]

Chris .... good deal .... BTW, wet mounting on the 1800f is just as easy as with the 4990, maybe even easier since you can remove the glass tray on which you wet mount.

A general note to those that are reading this thread and thinking about an 1800f. I spoke with Microtek yesterday and asked them about remaining supplies of the 1800f ... answer is that there are about 150 left in the US pipeline.

[Chris Strobel]

Hi Ted, just a quick note, you can remove the glass tray on the scamax system for the 4990 as well.Cheers........................................Chris

too.[QUOTE=Ted Harris]Chris .... good deal .... BTW, wet mounting on the 1800f is just as easy as with the 4990, maybe even easier since you can remove the glass tray on which you wet mount.