Trouble with new scanner

reub2000 · Jan 23, 2007

I just received a Plustek Opticfilm 7200 film scanner. It's having trouble scanning negatives. I have a recent roll of underdeveloped pan f plus, that it renders as an almost pure black. Other prints from the roll printed just fine at grade 3 and half and grade 4. Is there any way to get more shadow detail by turning down the brightness of the light source or the gain on the sensor? If not then I plan on returning this scanner.

First attachment is the new scanners scan. Second attachment is a scan on a Canon LiDE 500 for comparison. Third attachment is better developed negative to show the loss of shadow detail. And older scan on the canon is here.

reub2000 · Jan 23, 2007

Opps must have forgotten the attachments!

reub2000 · Jan 31, 2007

I seem to be getting a better dynamic range using quickscan. The problem now is dust. This is a 100% crop from a 2400dpi scan. I'm spraying my negatives with canned air before scanning, which seems to take care of most of the dust, but there are those little specs of dust sticking to the negative.

frugal · Jan 31, 2007

Don't know about the specific scanner or the software it comes with, you might want to see if Vuescan supports it, some swear by it, some swear at it. I like it but it did take awhile to learn how to get the results I wanted, but that was a vast improvement over the software for my scanner.

Dust is a given with scanning, no matter how well you blow everything off you'll have dust. Personally, I prefer to scan the negative as a positive (depends on your software if you can do that) because I find dealing with black dust spots easier to see than white, then I just invert the image to get a proper positive image.

reub2000 · Feb 3, 2007

Is there anything better than canned air to use?

ofofhy · Feb 9, 2007

reub2000 said:
Is there anything better than canned air to use?

Reub2000, those almost look like particulate from the processing, more specifically precipitates from the fixer which stick to the emulsion. I have had small specks like that when using fixer that has had a roll or two run through it and then sat for a couple of days prior to use. I switched to using my fixer for one day only (usually two or three rolls) so that precipitates don't really have time to form. That and using distilled water for rinsing has virtually eliminated those type of specks.

Dust, however will always be a problem, I use canned air and sometimes I charge a piece of plastic film sleeve by rubbing it against my shirt. It acts as a little dust magnet and will pull the dust paricles off the negative.

reub2000 · Feb 11, 2007

I mixed my current fixer a little over a month ago. It's one gallon of kodak rapid fixer with the hardner. I've fixed about a half dozen rolls in it. Is that the problem?

ofofhy · Feb 12, 2007

reub2000 said:
I mixed my current fixer a little over a month ago. It's one gallon of kodak rapid fixer with the hardner. I've fixed about a half dozen rolls in it. Is that the problem?

I find the spots of precipitate if my fixer has sat around for a week or so after doing two to three rolls. Try fresh fixer for your next roll with a DI final rinse, and see if you still see the spots.

reub2000 · Feb 13, 2007

ofofhy said:
I find the spots of precipitate if my fixer has sat around for a week or so after doing two to three rolls. Try fresh fixer for your next roll with a DI final rinse, and see if you still see the spots.

What do you suggest for a low volume darkroom? I can't possibly exhaust a gallon of fixer in a couple of days.

Edit: Continuing discussion on (there was a url link here which no longer exists).

ofofhy · Feb 14, 2007

reub2000 said:
What do you suggest for a low volume darkroom? I can't possibly exhaust a gallon of fixer in a couple of days.

Edit: Continuing discussion on (there was a url link here which no longer exists).

I'll usually process two or three rolls in one day. That's usually a weekend's worth of shooting. Then I just mix up fresh fixer for each darkroom session. I use Kodak's Rapid Fixer, which I mix from liquid concentrate. I only make up what I need for that session, use it and dispose of it after the session. I used to not believe people who said to use fixer as one shot (I still get 2-3 rolls out of it), but it made a huge difference in time spent in post-processing. Well worth the little bit (and it really is a little bit) of extra money I spend.

OldBikerPete · Feb 14, 2007

reub2000 said:
What do you suggest for a low volume darkroom? I can't possibly exhaust a gallon of fixer in a couple of days.

Edit: Continuing discussion on (there was a url link here which no longer exists).

Filter your fixer just before you use it. I use Melitta coffee filter from the supermarket.

menglert · Feb 14, 2007

I know this thread is more about the problems you've run into using the film scanner, but I'd like to get your general opinion about it now that you've worked with it a while. So, what do you think about it in general? Is it fairly good at scanning both color and B&W negs and slides? What print sizes are you able to obtain?

The reason I ask is, I'm considering this scanner, but wondering if it might be better to wait and get a Nikon V.

Thanks,
Martin

reub2000 · Feb 17, 2007

I don't know why you'd want to scan and print when you can print stuff optically. I personally haven't tried to print any scans.

I posted some scans of slides here. Basically when shooting the slides, overexpose a little so the slides don't get to dense and exceed the scanner's dmax. Also expose another frame normally so that you can project it onto your wall.

Negatives get much better results.

livemoa · Feb 17, 2007

reub2000 said:
I don't know why you'd want to scan and print when you can print stuff optically. I personally haven't tried to print any scans.

one reason, and the reason I scan and print, is lack of darkroom access. I can proof up b&w negs and give lab printer a reasonable idea of what i want in a final print.

different horses, different courses.

Trouble with new scanner

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