A day spent with a new film scanner

[bmattock]

Well, the new Konica-Minolta Dimage Dual-Scan IV arrived today. Took me about ten seconds to hook it up - with Linux, I didn't even have to open the software that came with it - Vuescan is ready to deal with things.

No more lockup problems like I had with the III (at least, not yet).

Here are a few scans...

This is my new godson, Max Person. We just got back from upstate Wisconsin last weekend - we had gone for his Christening.

Camera is Cosina Voigtlander Bessa R, lens is vintage Canon 50/1.8 - this was shot at f5.6 and 1/125, bounce flash from Vivitar 285.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

Here is another...

A tire swing in front of my sister's house in Wisconsin.

 

[bmattock]

We've got professional baseball here in Wilson, North Carolina. Well, kind of. The Wilson Tobs. Short for tobacco. Kind of funny, I'm still off the smokes.

 

[bmattock]

We took a drive out to Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills this weekend, through the Great Dismal Swamp (yes, that's really what it's called). Here's a wagon wheel.

 

[bmattock]

The rest of the wagon...

 

[bmattock]

Wide-open at f1.8, hand-held 1/30 of a second, 200 ASA Kodak Gold. Not too bad...overall.

 

[bmattock]

Last one - strawberries. MMM, good.

 

[Kris]

Bill, are you going to try Minolta software as well?

I did try using trial version of Vuescan and compare the result to that of from Minolta software. As far as I can see, there is no difference in sharpness.

Vuescan gave closer to original scan of Agfa Scala while Minolta increased the contrast a lot. Setting Minolta software to scan as colour slide eliminated the problem.

To my surprise, I can scan my slides without removing them from their double glass mounts. I did comparison scans, no difference in sharpeness and the AN pattern is not visible at all!

 

[bmattock]

Kris,

I won't be running the Minolta software, since I have purged my computer of all Microsoft software, and it does not run on Linux. My only choice is Vuescan, but I'm quite happy with that.

I ran both programs when I was using my III instead of my new IV, and didn't notice much difference. The Vuescan was easier to use, but there were some negs that the Minolta software did better, some that the Vuescan did better.

I don't shoot that much slide film, and no Scala at all.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Bill,
Great scans, a little grainy on the peaches but nice. I wanted to tell you that you are in a great part of N. Carolina. I lived in Havelock (Marine Corps) for five years and there are some excellent photo opportunities in the area. If you ever get down to the coast you should check out Beaufort, it's a quiet little coastal town with a lot of charm. N.C. has some very picturesque areas out to the west as well. Good luck in your new home.

Todd

 

[Doug]

Good crisp shot on the strawberries... yummmm

 

[GeneW]

I won't be running the Minolta software, since I have purged my computer of all Microsoft software, and it does not run on Linux. My only choice is Vuescan, but I'm quite happy with that.

The new scanner is looking good, Bill. Glad to hear it hasn't hung.

That's a big step, to go Linux all the way. How are you finding it, photographically? I've been running Linux boxes for a few years, but mainly as servers (I currently have a Debian Linux server in my basement). The main reason I keep Windows is for Photoshop CS, Capture One, Irfanview and Breezebrowser, all of which I use extensively, esp with my digital cams. I use Vuescan as well on my Minolta scanner.

I've used the GIMP and it's pretty solid when it's run in Linux (the Windows version is not quite as smooth). Are there Linux equivalents of grain reducers such as Neat Image or Noise Ninja?

My hat's off to you. I admire anyone who can be Microsoft free!

Gene

 

[bmattock]

Bill,
Great scans, a little grainy on the peaches but nice. I wanted to tell you that you are in a great part of N. Carolina. I lived in Havelock (Marine Corps) for five years and there are some excellent photo opportunities in the area. If you ever get down to the coast you should check out Beaufort, it's a quiet little coastal town with a lot of charm. N.C. has some very picturesque areas out to the west as well. Good luck in your new home.

Todd

Todd,

I was in the Marines as well, and was stationed at Camp LeJeune in 1979, although I spent most of my time in the Corps on the Hollywood side. I've been to Beaufort and also Edenton - fantastic areas. Beaufort is a bit touristy these days for my tastes, but very nice nonetheless. The Great Dismal Swamp has opened my eyes to some new photo opportunities!

Semper Fi,

Bill Mattocks
former Sgt, USMC (1979-1985)

 

[bmattock]

The new scanner is looking good, Bill. Glad to hear it hasn't hung.

Not as glad as I am (grin)!

That's a big step, to go Linux all the way. How are you finding it, photographically? I've been running Linux boxes for a few years, but mainly as servers (I currently have a Debian Linux server in my basement). The main reason I keep Windows is for Photoshop CS, Capture One, Irfanview and Breezebrowser, all of which I use extensively, esp with my digital cams. I use Vuescan as well on my Minolta scanner.

I'm pretty happy so far. I still have a hard drive with my Windows XP loaded, I can swap it back in if I really want to, but so far, I'm doing fine without it. I notice that the screen fonts are not as nice in default Linux as in Windows XP, so that's a bit harder on my eyes. I may have to work with that a bit. But otherwise, it all seems to hang together rather nicely. I'm running Mandrake 10.0 at the moment, and The Gimp 2.0.

I've used the GIMP and it's pretty solid when it's run in Linux (the Windows version is not quite as smooth). Are there Linux equivalents of grain reducers such as Neat Image or Noise Ninja?

I haven't gone through it all yet! I'm still trying to find the equivalent of the 'clone' stamp to get rid of spots and scratches on negs. But otherwise, it does most of what I did in Photoshop Elements and seems to deal with it well enough. I'm pleased.

My hat's off to you. I admire anyone who can be Microsoft free!
Gene

Well, I want to build an HTPC that runs on Linux, so I needed to get my skill level up to the 'mad skilz' range. We'll see how it goes.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[oftheherd]

Bill,

As you are no doubt aware, but others may not be, http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/ has tutorials and the latest GIMP (for Mac, Win and all popular Linux's) as well as fonts and instructions on how to load them. When I get around to setting up my desktop again, or get brave enough to co-locate SuSe with XP on my laptop, I may get into GIMP some.

How about the GIMP for windows. Is is worth it to learn on and use?

Nice photos btw, except for the peaches which for some reason look quite fuzzy to me. That's not intended to be punny ( 😀 ), it really seems out of focus. Everything else is great .

 

[mothra]

The GIMP is pretty cool, and VERY impressive for something that's totally free and open source.

Like Bill, my home computer is 100% Microsoft free (except the mouse -- I like my optical Intellimouse too much to part with it.) I use the GIMP a lot. But I've got Photoshop at work and I have to say -- it's a fair bit better.

But you can apparently run Photoshop in Linux using Codeweavers' Crossover Office. I plan to investigate soon...