scanner recommendations
11 messages in this thread
My Microtek 600z seems to have died after 3 years. The three passes are
significantly out of registration so Im shopping for a new scanner.
Questions: 1) Is 30 bit really better than 24 bit? I do require good color
fidelity.
2) Is one pass color 3 times faster than 3 pass?
3) Im under the impression that Umax, HP, and Microtek
are respected brands. Are there other brands that
work as well?
4) Why do the present generation of scanners have
different numbers for x and y resolution. For
example 400×800?
Thanks for any words of wisdom.
Ed
Ed:
If you want to dump your Microtek 600z I'd be interested in buying it for
parts. I actually just need a new bulb I think. At work the HP has been
extraordinarily stable and fast, we've now got the Scanjet II but I would think
the III is even better. Comparing the Microtek 600z to the Scanjet in speed is
about 8 to 1 in favor of the HP. I've been trying to figure out the resolution
numbers myself and can only guess that the mechanism used to scan is the only
moving part so perhaps one can vary the speed of its movement to obtain more
information in that direction. The width has to stay the same so it must have a
fixed maximum number of pixels it could scan, maybe? I really don't know what
I'm talking about but let me know about your old Microtek, I'm looking to
salvage one for home use.
– Bob Ritger
Hi Y'all!
I've got a Microtek III and its great. Can do 2400X2400 with interpolation. Its
just a step below the drum scanners.
Mark:
>> I've got a Microtek III and its great. Can do 2400X2400 with
>> interpolation. Its just a step below the drum scanners.
Drum scanners aren't just about resolution! If you compare the image quality,
colors, and shades, you'll see why people pay $50,000 for one. The Microtek
may be a great scanner (I've never seen a III, but I swore off the company when
they told my that they had no interest in coming out with NT drivers for many
in their line), but compare it to something more in it's class.
How is the output compared to the new HP?
Greg Pyros
Greg,
I have not seen the new HP, I'll try and get a demo.
About the III, for our purposes its super. I do work for a gov't organization
that does photo intel work. We've proved that the resolution of the scanner is
equal to the resolution of the film. A higher quality scanner will not improve
the output. Color depth and saturation is probably another story but that is
not of paramount importance, the resolution is, although the color photos scan
very well.
We've compared scanned photos (around 140 megs raw) to the actual negatives and
they're real real close. We end up doing most stuff at 1200×1200 and storing
them as JPEGs on CD. Above 1800 dpi the film grains start showing up anyway and
definition goes out the window. Anything I scan for 3DS I do at 600 dpi.
For MOST purposes I can't imagine spending the big bucks for a drum. Its the
same with the animation stuff. Why spend the big money on SGIs now when we will
be able to do near equivalent work with MAX and P6s or Alphas (except for
Renderman).
Drop me a note!
Mark
Mark:
>> I do work for a gov't organization…
Oh, I see, "Close enough for government work!" :^)
As you've found, resolution is much easier to come by than color depth!
>> For MOST purposes I can't imagine spending the big bucks for a drum.
>> Its the same with the animation stuff.
Depends on what you want, and what your clients will accept. That's the same
as people who are telling me that they get the same results on a PAR as on an
Accom, so why spend the money? We have both in-house, and let me tell you,
there is an obvious difference! Perhaps not as noticeable if you can't see
them side-by-side unless you really know what you are looking at, but if you
ever want to see the differences, find someone who has both!
>> Drop me a note!
I just did! :^)
Greg Pyros
Dear Greg,
Its true that that the high-end stuff will always be better. That follows the
premise of the last 20% of performance requires 80% of the effort and money.
Thats true of animation, cars, aircraft (which is how I make my main living)
and technology in general.
Plus I feel like you. If I had the money, I would go the SGI/Alias with an Onyx
renderer and drum scanners and high-end dye-sub printers and on and on. But I
can't afford that. I do 3D Studio because the price/performance breakpoint is
where I can afford it. I have a PAR board and a full Fast Machine because thats
what I can afford. I work in Beta and SVHS because thats what I can afford.
But most importantly, I position my work for my audience. Those people have TVs
and, at most, hi-fi VCRs. Whats the point of outputting to D1 if the tapes will
be viewed under poor lighting conditions on a TV from WalMart? I'm a mass
marketer, not a boutique producer.
The color depth of my scanner is adequate for 100% percent of my needs at 5% of
the high-end drum scanner price. I suspect its OK for 90% of everyone elses
needs too. My clients feel that way too. I can quote much lower rates than SGI
people.
I applaud your effort for 3DS and MAX and will convert to MAX as soon as it
comes out. But this field is becoming more mainstream and the days of elite
people doing it with one-off specialized equipment are leaving. I can put
together a 8-plex clone DEC Alpha render engine for the price of a dual P100
box from Intergraph. The clones are a'comin up here in this rarefied air too.
If I were SGI I would be shakin' in my boots.
We saw this in the late 70's/early 80's with mainstream data processing and we
will see it with this stuff too. I learned on dinosaur Univacs punching cards
doing Fortran and wasn't sorry to see the cards go when we got time-share. I
jumped to Novell 1.0 and PC's in '84 as soon as possible. Why use a mainframe
when I could do my engineering calcs on a PC with Basic? I also do Powerbuilder
consulting. Everyday the high-end stuff leaves and is replaced with PCs on a
network running Powerbuilder applications talking to a legacy database.
It will be the same with graphics and animation.
Later!
Mark
Yeah; remember Wang? <g>
SCL
Mark:
I find it interesting to note that back when I thought I needed the SGI systems
and hi-end software I couldn't afford them, now that I can afford them, I find
that I don't need them!
Long live 3DS (& MAX)!
Greg Pyros
Greg,
Sorry, didn't mean to get on a soap box the other day. Its just that most of
the people I talk to seem to be having a hard time making a living at animation
work. That puts a real crimp on upgrading equipment and software like World
Builder or a PVR board.
Granted, it is up to the person to generate the business but I sense that a lot
of people aren't getting rich. Thank heaven I do this on the side!
I think it was a smart move on SGI's part to upgrade the Indigo system and
position it as a higher-end system but with the move of some of the SGI
applications to Win NT, its a clear indication that the fallout and
bloodletting is about to start. It should be interesting! I happy to see that
3DS is being positioned to compete. For me, its still the #1 choice. I'm seeing
the same thing approaching with client/server (Novell vs. NT, Powerbuilder,
Delphi, and MS Visual Basic).
By the way, I'm going to the Autodesk MAX demo at Austin, TX. I can't wait!
Anyway, if there's anything I can help you with please drop me a note and I'll
try not to get on a soap box again.
Mark Pippin
(817) 837-2029
Mark:
>> I'll try not to get on a soap box again.
No problem with soapboxes (I've used one here often enough over the last five
years, as all the regulars know! <bg>), and I like hearing differing points of
view. I just try to jump in when someone gets a little carried away or takes
an idea to extremes!
>> I'm going to the Autodesk MAX demo at Austin, TX.
You'll love it! Make sure they do the Hershey's Kiss demo with sound that they
did at Siggraph. :^)
Greg Pyros