Looking for a large format/A3 scanner!!

[mr benn]

Hi Folks,
This is my very first post!
The company I work for archive materials for commercial customers mainly, for negs and smaller prints we have been very happy using our Nikon Coolscan 4000/Epson v700 etc
But at present we are archiving broadway musical programmes that are ranging from A3 in size to 13.5 x9.5 inches- larger than a V700 can take.
photo stitching in photoshop is just too time consuming to be practical

We recently took a chance on a Mustek scan express A3 USB 2400 Pro and found it to be frankly awful!!
terrible software, the glass platen started to separate from the shell in one corner affecting the focus, then gradually it started to emit a horrible screeching sound until it completely died within a month of delivery

now these programmes, while nicely printed they are hardly Photographic negative quality, so without going to the expense of an Epson Expression 10000XL,
what would be a reasonably affordable middle-ground??

one option I have looked at is this
Plustek OpticPro A320 Flatbed Scanner 1600 x 1600 dpi from Conrad.com

but Im weary of trying brands that I'm not familiar with again!

Thanks in advance for all your help,
Keith

 

[jeffreyg]

Why not photograph them with a digital camera mounted on a copy stand? Lights on the right and left at 45 degree angles to the base. It's easier than scanning. Generally you can meter off an 18% gray card and set the white balance for the type of bulbs. A card reader or cable from the camera to the computer and you have the card as a backup as well.

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[OzJohn]

Why not photograph them with a digital camera mounted on a copy stand? Lights on the right and left at 45 degree angles to the base. It's easier than scanning. Generally you can meter off an 18% gray card and set the white balance for the type of bulbs. A card reader or cable from the camera to the computer and you have the card as a backup as well.

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This is precisely how most museums and archives "scan" documents. True line scanning is just far too slow. OzJohn

 

[mr benn]

hi guys,
thanks for the replies I get what you guys are saying about photographing the images but I don't think that will work for us
sticking with a scanner (such as the Plustek in the link above) do you guys have any recommendations?

thanks
Keith