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Well since this did end up being a public discussion... anyone out there willing to do the same test with the Polaroid SS120? > From: Arthur Entlich <artistic-1@shaw.ca> > Reply-To: scan@leben.com > Date: Wed, 05 Jun 2002 20:26:22 -0700 > To: scan@leben.com > Subject: walexander@leisurepublishing.com > > Dear William, > > I am writing you in private mail, not because I have an 8000ED (I don't) > but to suggest you reconsider your options. > > Further, if you do not find someone to provide you with the service you > need, I would be pleased to forward your message to a more appropriate > list (filmscanners) as there are several people with the 8000ED on that > group, and some are quite knowledgeable (as you likely know, getting a > scan is not enough to make an evaluation, as it can be poorly > accomplished and give you the wrong impression. > > Also, the film type used, if dICE is engaged, or if superfine scanning > is used rather than regular (using one scan line rather than three).. > all determine the result (not to mention proper use levels adjustments, etc. > > Make sure you ask what setting were used, and HOW LONG the scan took to > accomplish. > > Now, having said all this, I also want to suggest you consider some of > the known problems with Nikon scanners. > > Nikon scanners use an LED light source rather than a cold cathode. The > 8000ED, unlike ether other scanner uses a diffuser to reduce the problem > of exaggerated dust, dirt, scratches and grain. It still has some of > this problem, and is in part why Nikons require dICE IR cleaning. > > This LED light source has other problems associated with it. It is not > as bright as cold cathode. This mean the Nikon requires a larger > aperture lens to capture the image data. This brings another problem > into play. The Nikon scanners all suffer from reduced DOF, to the point > that they literally cannot tolerate typical curvature of mounted slides, > nor the warp that occurs in using non-glass carriers. Nikon will gladly > sell you a costly glass carrier, but you are still left with dealing > with the distortion as a result of adding 4 new surfaces into the scan > path and tow pieces of glass. Further, over time glass gets scratched, > and there are those 4 extra surfaces to keep dustfree and clean. > > Lastly, is probably the biggest problem with the 8000ED. The Nikon > scanners are the only ones designed with three monochromic sensor lines. > Rather than the CCD chip having three separate filtered linear CCDs > (R, G, and B) Nikon uses a monochrome 3 line chip, and it changes the > lamp color LEDS sequentially capturing each color channel data > sequentially. There has been much conjecture as to why (if you are > interested I can provide you with two theories, at a later date), but > the Nikon LS8000ED can develop microbanding on some images when it is > used with all three linear sensors in use. > > Nikon's only answer to this is to convert to "superfine" scanning mode > which turns off two of the linear sensors. This also slows the scanner > down to 1/3rd the speed. Add dICE IR cleaning scans, and you have a > VERY lengthy wait to get a medium format scan. > > Anyway, I'd like to suggest you consider the Polaroid SS120 as an > alternative. It uses cold cathode lighting which reduces dust, dirt, > scratches and grain. It doesn't have dICE, but Polaroid has a PS > plug-in and a separate standing dust and scratch module which is nearly > as effective for dust, dirt and scratches, as dICE, although it doesn't > do much for things like deep fingerprints or fungus damage. This > software is free, but it currently isn't available for the Mac platform > (PC only). > > Again, this cathode lighting source is very bright, so no problems with > warping or curved films causing out of focus areas. Lastly, no banding > problems, so it runs at full speed, about 3 times faster than the Nikon > in super fine mode, and much faster than if dICE is engaged. > > The only complaint I have heard about this model is the film carriers > are a bit finicky, and due to having a glossy surface on the edge > sometimes there is some reflection at the very edge showing up, which is > an easy fix, using very fine sandpaper to matte the surface slightly. > > The SS120 comes with Silverfast 5.5, I believe, plus Polaroid Insight, > and it is about $400-500 cheaper than the LS8000ED. > > I don't own the SS120, but I do have its smaller brother, the SS4000+, > which is a great scanner. I know a few people with the SS120 and they > are quite pleased with it. > > Anyway, you will probably get different opinions about different > products, but just beware of Nikon loyalists who love it because it says > Nikon on it. > > PS: I own a good smack of Nikon lenses and camera bodies, which are very > fine, but I don't think much of their scanners from all the reports I > have read (I have no owned any). > > Art > > William Alexander wrote: > >> New to the group.. this message comes from the colortheory group at Yahoo. >> >> Ok end of fiscal year spending is forcing me to show the publisher a >> comparison of the Nikon Super Coolscan 8000ED to the Agfa scanner we have in >> house. The only way I can figure out how get a scan from a Nikon is if, by a >> long-shot, someone on this list owns a Nikon 8000ED scanner... If anyone out >> there's got one please email me off list. I'd like to send a slide for you >> to scan. All shipping costs etc will be covered and a crisp $20 spot is >> yours for your trouble. Anyone out there? >> William Alexander >> Roanoke Va >> - >> Turn off HTML mail features. Keep quoted material short. Use accurate >> subject lines. http://www.leben.com/lists for list instructions. >> >> > > > - > Turn off HTML mail features. Keep quoted material short. Use accurate > subject lines. http://www.leben.com/lists for list instructions. - Turn off HTML mail features. Keep quoted material short. Use accurate subject lines. http://www.leben.com/lists for list instructions.
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