Looking for scanner suggestions- 8x10 negatives

[Shrike]

I work in a university library and we are currently digitizing a large number of older black and white negatives.
Most of these are from the 1940's thru the 60's in various sizes from 4x5 to 8x10.

Currently we are using a Agfa Duoscan T2000 XL. I am just wondering if there is a better scanner for the job out there?

The initial scan is only a few hundred negatives, but the entire collection is in the thousands so speed and simplicity are important considerations.

thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[Peter De Smidt]

I'd recommend the following for quality, speed, compatibility with contemporary computer systems, and support:

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,9398.html

[Lenny Eiger]

If you have 12K to spend , as Peter might suggest, you could purchase the Premier that's on EBay right now.. Otherwise, I'd go for a Howtek 4500. Best bang for the buck, and there have been a lot of them around lately.

Of course, for 8x10 there are many scanners that would suffice...

Lenny

[Peter De Smidt]

Wouldn't the Premier, or any drum scanner, be a lot slower than the IQSmart2, considering that the collection is in the thousands? Time would be the biggest cost with this type of archiving.

[andress007]

Archiving, right? So the priority should be the quality: you scan them once to pass this valuables negatives as e-files for those humans who will follow. And your goal should be get all possible info from those originals.

The best possible quality (with experienced b&w negative scanner operator of course) for flexible originals (negatives on film, etc) came from drum scanners. For flat originals (negatives on glass, etc) where is only one option is high-end flatbed scanner e.g. IQSmart2/3.

for film sizes 4x5 and up the drum scanner with larger drum with 11x16" (A3) scanning area at 4000 dpi will do the job you need.

Wouldn't the Premier, or any drum scanner, be a lot slower than the IQSmart2, considering that the collection is in the thousands? Time would be the biggest cost with this type of archiving.

[8x10 user]

Harvard might still have their Primescan for sale. You should contact them right away.

The bigger drum is going to make mounting those 8x10s quite a bit easier.

[Lenny Eiger]

Wouldn't the Premier, or any drum scanner, be a lot slower than the IQSmart2, considering that the collection is in the thousands? Time would be the biggest cost with this type of archiving.

That would depend on the resolution chosen, and whether or not the IQSmart is being used with mounting fluid... A 2000 dpi scan is pretty fast...

However, I have a soft spot for drums, certainly, and I had just seen one for very little $$...

Lenny

[mandoman7]

That would depend on the resolution chosen, and whether or not the IQSmart is being used with mounting fluid... A 2000 dpi scan is pretty fast...

However, I have a soft spot for drums, certainly, and I had just seen one for very little $$...

Lenny

Where was it that you saw that, Lenny?
JY

[Lenny Eiger]

Where was it that you saw that, Lenny?
JY

Evilbay.

Don't know if the link will work, its a completed listing... went for 10K. Apparently there was one bid... Don't know if the person actually acquired it or not.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Aztek-Premier-dr...m#ht_500wt_969

Lenny

[mandoman7]

Evilbay.

Don't know if the link will work, its a completed listing... went for 10K. Apparently there was one bid... Don't know if the person actually acquired it or not.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Aztek-Premier-dr...m#ht_500wt_969

Lenny

From 64K to 10K. Hard to resist
JY