EPpson Expression 1680

TEST RESULTS: Resolution: very high (53.3 lp/mm). Color Accuracy: extremely high (overall Delta E: 8.28, best 90%: 6.14, worst 10%: 26.9). Shadow Detail: normal. Highlight Detail: normal. Image Quality Rating: high. Speed: extremely fast.

FEATURES & COMMENTS: Nikon has dubbed this scanner "An SLR Accessory" and we think that's a fitting term for a high res film scanner that's priced less than most 3.3 MP cameras. This scanner is one of the best values in this roundup, and shares many features with the more expensive CoolScan 4000 ED. Among those are supersharp internal optics using several Nikkor ED lenses, a whopping 4.2 density range, and the scanner's inclusion of Digital ICE 3 (cubed) technology (ICE, ROC, and GEM). It ships with a mechanical film loader for color neg film and holders for slides, plus it accepts several optional holders including an APS adapter, microscope slide holder, auto roll film feeder, and an auto slide feeder that holds up to 50 slides. It's a very fast scanner with a hot swappable USB connector for Macs and PCs.

The scanner uses its own Nikon Scan 3 software (a stand-alone application or a plug-in) that includes sophisticated color curve correction tools as well as a scalable preview window and color management support. There's also an autofocus adjustment that lets you target the focus area, unsharp masking tools, and a processed/natural tab that jumps between the original preview image and adjusted image. The scanner doesn't offer a multisampling mode so shadow areas are less detailed and a bit noisier than on the CoolPix 4000 ED. But otherwise this unit is a real bargain.

NIKON COOLSCAN 4000 ED
SPECIFICATIONS: Price: $1,700 (street). Resolution: 4,000 ppi optical. Color bit depth: 48-bit color. D-Range: 4.2. Film size: 35mm and APS (adapter optional). Scan speed: 1 min 4 sec preview, 2min 55sec for 4,000 ppi scan (no multi-sampling). Connector: IEEE1394 (comes with Firewire card for Mac and PC). Dimensions (LxWxH): 12.4x3.7x6.6 inches. Compatibility: WIN 98, ME, 2000, Mac OS 8.6 or later. Bundled software: Nikon Scan 3, Photoshop 5.0 LE, Altamira Genuine Fractals. 800-NIKON-US; www.nikonusa.com.

TEST RESULTS: Resolution: extremely high (60 lp/mm). Color Accuracy: excellent (overall Delta E: 7.39, best 90%: 5.67, worst 10%: 22.52). Shadow Detail: high. Highlight Detail: high. Image Quality Rating: extremely high. Speed: very fast.

FEATURES & COMMENTS: What the lower-priced CoolScan IV ED is missing, this scanner offers, including multisampling technology that improves shadow and highlight detail while reducing scan noise in shadow areas. It also features higher 4,000 ppi resolution (delivering the highest test results in this roundup along with the Polaroid SprintScan 120) and a 14-bit A/D converter for true 42-bit color. In fact, this scanner had the highest color accuracy results of the five dedicated film scanners tested (the Epson Expression 1680 flatbed had higher slide scan accuracy, but not color neg). The 4000 also includes Digital ICE 3 (cubed) technology (ICE, ROC, and GEM) and ships with a mechanical film loader for color neg film and holders for slides. It accepts several optional holders including an APS adapter, microscope slide holder, auto roll film feeder, and an auto slide feeder that holds up to 50 slides. Despite its high resolution scanning ability and color depth that generates rather large files from a 35mm original, this scanner can move data into a computer quickly via its hot-swappable IEEE1394 connector (and it includes a card for PCs and Macs).

The Nikon Scan 3 software features sophisticated color curve correction tools, a scalable preview window and advanced color management support. The only thing this scanner doesn't do is scan medium format film, but we hear the CoolPix 8000 ED will.