Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/07/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thank you Phong. I am sure to some of the digital pros these are probably pretty basic questions, but at least it has generated lots of response and debate on the Leica and Hasselbald user group lists. I'm a novice on digital printing so it is helpful to me. In answer to your 6X7 question. I posted a message on the Hasselbald list, but will add a bit of it here since there seem to be a number of folks that use medium format on the Leica list.... If you want prints up to 8X10 or 8.5X11 the Epson 2450 will be fine most of the time if printed on a current vintage desktop printer. My problem is that I am printing on an Epson 3000 which is 5 to 7 year old technology in order to get larger size prints... My cheap Epson 2450 scanned images that are printed on my cheap HP deskjet at 8.5X11 look much better than my Nikon 8000 scanned prints off the Epson 3000 at 8.5X11. If you don't plan to go larger than that I would go with the 2450 and a good quality Epson or HP desktop photo printer. - --- Phong <phong@doan-ltd.com> wrote: > Hi Darrell, > > Thanks for sharing your experience. I read your > report > with great interest, as I am looking for a scanning > solution > with a 90% mix of 35mm over medium format, up to > 6x7; > I'd be willing to forego large print size (use the > lab for those). > I really appreciate the update approach you have > taken with your > reports. > > How does the quality in small print sizes (8x10, 5x7 > and 4x6) > compare between the 2450 and the 8000, from medium > format > film (say 6x7) ? Thanks, > > - Phong > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > > [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On > Behalf Of Darrell > > Jennings > > Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2002 9:14 AM > > To: Hasselblad User Group; Leica User Group > > Subject: [Leica] Update on Nikon 8000ED scanner > > > > > > I've now done about 10 scans on the Nikon 8000ED > and > > followed them through to final prints. Most of > these > > were color shots that I had had some trouble with > > using the Epson 2450 (touble was primarily noise > in > > solid color areas). > > > > The good news is that with the exception of one > image > > that I still can't get a good scan/print of > (probably > > have to go to a professional drum scan on it), the > > rest of the images improved significantly. I am > still > > not satisfied with the final prints, but if you > went > > on a scale of 1-100 to get from where I was with > the > > 2450 to where I wanted to be (as good as or better > > than a wet dark room color print; with 1 being the > > 2450 and 100 being the "perfect print"), I would > say I > > got 80% of the way there with a combination of the > > Nikon scanner and trying different papers with the > > different images (the papers can make a BIG > difference > > all by themselves). > > > > The detail in the scans is SIGNIFICANTLY better > than > > with the 2450, and the Digital Ice feature is > > flawless...no dust, no retouching....NONE AT ALL! > > > > > What are the drawbacks? > > 1. Image file size. While the 2450 was already > BIG > > (about 250MG file on a medium format color image > at > > actual image size and 1200 DPI), the file format > is > > now up around 435MG at 4000 DPI. At that size I > have > > not been able to get Geneuine Fractals to > work...the > > file seems too big, as GF just goes away and > > processes...I cancelled it after about 45 minutes. > > > > > If you do the math you find that if you want to > use a > > 2880 DPI image to match the resolution quality of > the > > newest Epson photo scanners, the file size at > 16X20 > > inches will be bigger than any PC or Mac you can > > currently buy....you'll need something with 5 or 6 > > Gigabytes of RAM just to print the image. Maybe > there > > is a separate printer buffer with additional > memory > > you can buy and put in between. > > > > I am looking at something like an Epson 7600, but > I > > don't think you can take advantage of the 24 inch > wide > > print size because there isn't a computer that > will > > drive it at 2880 DPI. > > > > 2. The scanning takes a LONG time. Particularly > if > > you go to 16X scanning with Digital Ice. We've > all > > heard of go get a coffee...well this is make > dinner > > and eat...We're talking 30-45 minutes per scan. > > > > 3. For medium format you will want to get the > glass > > film holder...an extra $250-$300...on top of an > > already expensive scanner. > > > > Is it worth it? For me I think so. The extra > image > > quality is visible and it has gotten me closer to > the > > quality of print I am hoping for. If you want to > > print big (16X20 or larger) the scanner quality is > > very visible vs. the Epson 2450. > > > > For photos posted on the Internet, absolutely go > with > > the 2450, it is easier, faster, and about 10% of > the > > price of the Nikon. You will not see a difference > in > > image quality on the Internet for 35mm or medium > > format between the two. > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Do You Yahoo!? > > Yahoo! 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