Best 4*5/5*7 scanner for 3000 US$?

[Bernard Languillier]

Dear all,

I am currently looking for a good scanning solution enabling fine art quality print up to A2 from 4*5 slides (A2 being about 41*60 cm or 16*23 inch).

I am aware of the existence of second hand drum scanners, but they seem too cumbersome to use. An Imacon 636 would be great, but they are too expensive still.

I am currently using a Nikon Coolscan 9000 and am very happy about the results for 645 slides.

A scanner of similar quality able to scan up to 4*5 would be ideal.

Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance,

Best regards, Bernard

[Martin Patek-Strutsky]

Recently I compared the results from a drum scanner and an Imacon (both operated by a specialist) and the Epson 4870 (operated by myself). My conclusion was that up to a magnification ratio of about 5x differences were extremely subtle.

If you don't plan to print larger than A2 from 4x5 or even 5x7 my advice would be to check the Epson 4870 carefully before spending 3000$.

[Don Miller]

In that price range are scanners from Microtek and Creo/Scitex. These are service bureau type machines designed for a variety of tasks in a high workflow/duty cycle environment. Despite their claims of "new" models these lines appear "old tech" to me. But they do appear to have better real dmax than th current Epson and Canon consumer oriented models popular with LF photographers.

Some things you might want to do: 1) Get a high-end drum scan and compare it to the same scan on Microtek or Creo equipment. Either ask these companies to make the scan or purchase the scanner with return privileges. 2) Wait for the results from the thread where photographers were going to test many types of scanners (I can't find the thread, maybe on photo.net?) 3) Wait for a review of the new Canon 9950f 4) View your scanning dollars and a yearly budget and determine if it makes more sense to have the scans done by someone else.

I've pre-ordered a 9950f, but if it doesn't have better dmax than the Epsons I won't keep it. Canon's office decoration budget probably exceeds the R&D budget of these middle level flatbed scanner makers. If they choose to apply what they now know about digital capture they can make a low duty cycle scanner that will out perform (when scanning chromes) the mid market service bureau type machines. So I'm going to keep sending my more important work out for scanning and wait for a cheap good 4x5 scanner.

Don

[Paul Butzi]

I'm using a Microtek 1800f to scan 4x5 B&W negatives and printing the resulting scans digitally, at sizes well beyond a2 - I've made prints up to 40"x50" and been happy with the results. No, at 40"x50", the prints are not as good as they are at 16x20, but they still look good.

I've compared scans made on an 1800f to scans made on an Imacon 828. at $1100, I'll take the Microtek over the $17000 Imacon. The imacon scans are better by a very small margin.

-Paul