Drum Scanners

I keep seeing some of the most gorgeous scans being posted which have been done with the likes of Scanmate 5000 drum scanners. I have been using a Coolscan 9000 until recently. Now I am slumming it with a KM Scan Dual IV.

I am being seriously tempted at the thought of being able to own a proper professional scanner. Am I crazy to think of owning and mastering a drum scanner? Where should I look to try and buy one? Are any of the models small enough for reasonable home use? I'm not averse to mastering a piece of equipment and I'm extremely experienced with old Macs so no trouble there.

Where should I start and what should I know?

Sam

drum scanners take tweaks well but beware the crazed drum! since you probably will be wet mounting, the haze on the glass drum can build up and they don't give away drums. you can do research but some flatbeds do well. I have a Scitex Eversmart Pro 2 (one went on Ebay last week for $1500) that has almost the same Dmax and you can choose to wetmount or not. an older alternative to the 'blad Flextight is the Leaf45 but you have to tweak there too. You might talk to Sandy King or go on to the high end scanner forum at yahoo groups. lots of info there about all these

My Drum scanned 35mm slides and negs, look AWESOME!

Kiron Kid