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QUICK
GUIDE TO WHAT'S IMPORTANT
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Smaller
and more affordable than any drum scanner.
Handles up to 6x9 and even panoramic
film
4,000 ppi resolution produces scan file
sizes up to 790MB at 48-bit color depth
Uses
Nikkor ED (extra-low dispersion) glass
lens, 30,000 pixel tri-linear CCD, 4
LED light sources
Dynamic
range up to 4.2 for greater shadow detail
Features
Nikon Scan 3.1 software and ASF's Digital
ICE, ROC, and GEM scanning technologies
Fast Firewire (IEEE1394) interface
(includes Firewire card for Mac and
PCs)
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When
it comes to scanning film, 35mm shooters have
it made. For do-it-your-selfers, over a dozen
scanners, ranging in price from $400 to $1,700,
offer resolutions from 1,800-4,000 ppi. But until
recently, medium-format photographers had very
few choices when it came to getting their film
scanned at the higher-quality end of 4,000 ppi—either
they had to send it out to a service bureau for
an expensive drum scan, or shell out $10,000-plus
for their own desktop unit.
A
few months back, we reviewed the Polaroid SprintScan
120, the first medium-format scanner to offer
4,000 ppi res at an affordable price (around
$3,000 with the Plus software package). We gave
it rave reviews on image quality and overall
performance. Now, hot on its heels comes Nikon's
Super Coolscan 8000 ED, a similarly priced scanner
($2,995) offering 4,000 ppi resolution, multisampling
capability, and several features that were missing
on the Polaroid. Do we have a new medium-format
scanner champ? Let's take a close look at the
8000 ED's features and performance before crowning
the winner.
The
Coolscan 8000 ED has an impressive list of specs:
In addition to 4000 ppi res, it also features
48-bit color, and it handles film formats from
35mm to 6x9 (including microscope slides for
all you medical techs out there). But there
are several major differences. On the hardware
side, the Coolscan features a dynamic range
of 4.2, while the Polaroid SprintScan 120 delivers
a dynamic range of only 3.9. The SprintScan
120, on the other hand, has both SCSI and Firewire
(IEEE1394) connectors. The Coolscan 8000 ED's output is limited to
a single Firewire connector, but to compensate
it ships with a Firewire card for Mac and Windows-based
PCs. When we tested them on the Sprintscan 120,
we found that both interfaces offer similar
real-world scanning times, but we suggest that
those of you with SCSI-based systems stick with
a SCSI scanner unless you plan to upgrade your
computer system (most new top-end PCs and all
new Macs sport Firewire connectors). Otherwise,
you'll run the risk of dealing with annoying
system and extension conflicts.
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