Microtek scanners

[couldabin]

Does anyone have any experience with Microtek's Scanmaker i800 scanner? I just purchased one, and have deep reservations about it. For one thing, when scanning negatives at lower resolutions (< 600 ppi) it makes a most disconcerting noise (it rattles and vibrates). But, unless I'm doing something wrong, the quality of the scans is abysmal. I'm scanning B/W (the one last night was TMax 100). It completely overpowers shadows. Areas that substantial definition in the negative scan at pure black. I had expected to be able to set the scan density so that I could differentiate between the unexposed edge of the 4x5 film and the scanner bed (i.e. see the "edge" of the film). Curiously, if I scan it as 48-bit color it captures all the detail.

My only other experience with scanners was with an Epson 4990, which I thought worked marvelously.

Any thoughts?

 

[PHOTOTONE]

All microtek flatbed scanners are similar. i have the Microtek Artixscan 2500f, which is a combination reflected and transmitted light scanner, with a film drawer. I have absolutely zero problems capturing all the image data on my 8x10 b/w negatives, as well as 4x5 color and b/w film. Check out my scan of an 8x10 negative of "Doug as Musician" in my gallery here.
Do you have the latest software? You can go to Microtek web site and download for free.

 

[couldabin]

I haven't checked the software versions -- it's ScanWizard 5.x. I'll check for an update when I get home. When you scan your LF negs, can you control the density so that you can detect the edge of the neg?

 

[PHOTOTONE]

I haven't checked the software versions -- it's ScanWizard 5.x. I'll check for an update when I get home. When you scan your LF negs, can you control the density so that you can detect the edge of the neg?

Absolutely. There are pop-up menu's available in the software that show histrograms and allow you to move sliders to cover all tones in the negative.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

We're asking that scanner discussion be taken over to APUG's sister site, hybridphoto.com.

Thanks.