MF B&W scanner help

[surfotog]

I'm in the market for a scanner that will be used exclusively for B&W negatives from 120 film, both 6x7 and 6x9. My primary film is Rollei ATP processed in PF TD-3, which yields beautiful grain free negatives. Final output will be 30" x40" prints, occasionally bigger.
The Nikon Coolscan 9000 is an obvious choice, although difficult to find.. I can get a refurbished Leafscan 45 with a 6 month warranty, for half the price of the Nikon. Although it's native rsolution for MF is lower than the Coolscan, I could make two passes and stitch, yielding a higher res scan.
How does the quality of scans from these two machines compare? Are there any aftermarket glass holders available that will allow fluid mounting with the Leaf.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sanking]

I'm in the market for a scanner that will be used exclusively for B&W negatives from 120 film, both 6x7 and 6x9. My primary film is Rollei ATP processed in PF TD-3, which yields beautiful grain free negatives. Final output will be 30" x40" prints, occasionally bigger.
The Nikon Coolscan 9000 is an obvious choice, although difficult to find.. I can get a refurbished Leafscan 45 with a 6 month warranty, for half the price of the Nikon. Although it's native rsolution for MF is lower than the Coolscan, I could make two passes and stitch, yielding a higher res scan.
How does the quality of scans from these two machines compare? Are there any aftermarket glass holders available that will allow fluid mounting with the Leaf.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

I have used both the Leafscan 45 and the Nikon LS-9000. The resolution of the LS-9000 is about effective 3400 spi, that of the Leafscan 45 is about effective 2300 spi. When you scan with one pass the LS-9000 is clearly sharper. However, when you scan with the Leafscan 45 and stitch the effective resolution is about 4800 spi, which is clearly much better than you can do with the LS-9000.

There are no longer any aftermarket glass holders for the Leafscan 45. There is a Leafscan 45 discussion forum at Dead Link Removed where I posted some files that show how you can make your own glass holders, with templates and dimensions. It would be quite easy. You might also inquire on that group if anyone has one of the glass holders for sale. They come up from time to time.

If you want to pull all you can out of the Rollei ATP negatives, assuming you are using top optics, the Leafscan 45 with two passes and stitch will come much closer than the LS-9000.

Sandy King

 

[williamtheis]

rotating holder

you can increase the Leaf45 resolution with a rotating holder that Leaf made once upon a time. Basically you are scanning a "Portrait" rather than a "Landscape" so the 6000 elements of the array are along the shorter 2.25" side rather than the 3.25" side in a standard Beseler holder designed for an enlarger...

I couldn't find one so I took a standard Beseler 2x2 holder and filed it out to a "Portrait" format. cheap and makes resolution of Leaf45 much better

if this isn't clear, I can maybe post a picture