POLAROID
SPRINTSCAN 120
SPECIFICATIONS:
Price:
$2,700 (street) without bundled software. $3,250
(street) with software. Resolution: 4,000
ppi optical. Color bit depth: 48-bit
color. D-Max: 4.2. Film size:
35mm, medium format up to 6x9. Scan speed:
1min 6sec preview, 4 min 3 sec for 4,000 ppi
35mm scan. Connector: SCSI II and IEEE1394
(Firewire). Dimensions (LxWxH): 19.2x10.7x5.5
inches. Compatibility: WIN 95, 98, ME
or NT, Mac OS 8.6 or later. Bundled Plus
software: LaserSoft SilverFast Ai5, and
BinuScan Photo Perfect. 800-343-5000; www.polaroid.com.
TEST
RESULTS: Resolution:
extremely high (60 lp/mm). Color Accuracy:
extremely high (overall Delta E: 8.6, best 90%:
6.68, worst 10%: 25.39). Shadow Detail:
very high. Highlight Detail: high. Image
Quality Rating: extremely high. Speed:
fast.
FEATURES
& COMMENTS:
Until you scan a 35mm, 129, 220 or 6x9 medium
format film original with a scanner such as
the SprintScan 120, you'll never be completely
satisfied with your results. This beauty delivers
extremely high resolution and image quality
from even the most meticulously focused image.
If you can afford this one, buy it! Especially
if you have a shoebox (or more likely, a filecabinet)
full of medium-format film. We'd also suggest
that you go the extra mile and get the Plus
software bundle. While the scanner ships with
pretty decent PolaColor Insight Pro software,
which features plenty of scanning controls,
a scalable preview window, and basic support
for color management profiles, we really fell
for the LaserSoft SilverFast Ai5 software that
comes in the Plus bundle. This sophisticated
program helps you generate accurate color profiles
of the scanner. It also features incredibly
sophisticated controls on par with those found
in drum scanners. Among these are local color
corrections, and precise control of 1/4 tones
and shadow densities.
This
scanner will really appeal to professional photographers,
commercial labs, and digital darkroom experts.
The only feature missing is an adequate dust
removal setting or utility, so you may have
to spend a bit more time retouching dirty film
scans made with this one. But you keep your
film clean, don't you?
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