Buying a Scitex Eversmart Jazz: Am I Nuts?

[amateriat]

I've been known to do a serious Don Quixote move now and then on the technology front, starting when, as a kid, I lashed the speedometer from a friend's 1957 Chevy Bel Aire and lashed it to the front rack of my three-speed bicycle and managed to make it work, albeit erratically. (I'll admit I watched way too many Saturday-morning cartoons, which might also explain why I next to never go near the tube–flat screen?–now.)

My most recent Quixotic act: someone has a Scitex Eversmart Jazz flatbed scanner up for sale on CL (don't bother; I'm going to see it on Saturday). This was sort of the Grand Poobah of flatbeds in the day (c. 2000), has specs that blow away almost anything short of a drum scanner, and cost about as much then as a Hyundai Sonata does now, give or take a few grand. I can take this scanner home for a a song, relatively speaking. But, other than the weight, here's the catch: near as I can tell, either it was never supported past Mac OS 9, or had limited support early in the OS X era, but good luck finding the software. (According to the owner, it works just fine.)

Funny thing is, I do still keep a beige-box Mac (hot-rodded Power Mac 7600 with aftermarket 500mHz G3 processor) running both OS 9 and OS X 10.3.9. Both this Mac and my current Big Iron (last-generation Power Mac G4 tower) handle SCSI just fine, so I've got the interface thang down as well. I'm just nervous about how to handle the drivers. Hamrick's VueScan site doesn't mention the scanner (even under the brand's various owners), so I might be out there. But the possibility of crazy-high-resolution flatbed scans has me, if you'll forgive the nasty pun, jazzed.

The only other issue is that the thing will be a pig to get home. Never mind the space it'll likely take up in Tiny Ateliér.

Am I more than just a little nuts to take this thing on?


- Barrett

 

[Frank Petronio]

There are several Jazz users over on the Large Format Photography dot Info forum that will be helpful. There may be new software options and you'll want to network simply to find parts and Q&As.

IDK how it will do for 35mm compared to a late model Coolscan 5000 but it should be significantly better than an Epson for larger film.

 

[Ranchu]

Worth a shot!

 

[amateriat]

Frank: Thanks for that info. I'll check 'em out right now.

I do vaguely recall seeing one of these in Joel Meyerowitz' home/studio several years back. A bit of a monster, but offered detail and resolution up the proverbial yin-yang. I'll know how I feel come Saturday morning (oh, Lord, now I have that old song running 'round in my head...)

Edit: I'm not necessarily going for better-than-dedicated-scanner results (I like my Minolta 5400 just fine, thanks), but being able to lay down a passel of mounted slides or film strips and get oodles of detail can come in handy on more than one front.

And, I can make killer MF/LF scans. (Maybe I'd better take a cold shower on that prospect...)


- Barrett

 

[Frank Petronio]

There are stories of people getting them for $1500 or so, which is a huge bargain. Except you'll also want to get a second one for parts.

There are independent service providers who will do maintenance and service contracts (they used to work for Kodak/Creo/Scitex/Leaf in the past). I think Kodak dropped support for the Jazz but the same people are out there. I used to own an Iris and a Leafscan, the service can be pretty expensive.

 

[amateriat]

Hmm...it weighs approximately three times (156lbs!) what my UMAX PowerLook 2100XL does. And the UMAX, compared to your average flatbed, is a bruiser.

Likely built to last. May main concern will be replacing burnt-out lamps (whenever they burn out, that is; this scanner is supposed to be in working order). Have to sleep on this one. 🙂


- Barrett

 

[bagdadchild]

For $50, yes most definetly. But how will you get spare lamps? Kodak recently dropped support for Eversmart scanners so you would want to keep an eye out for spare lamps. I have no user experience with that scanner but with other pro flatbeds. These scanners produce top notch results if they are clean and in good shape and the ease of use and productivity is fantastic. There are some typical problems with flare or banding which may occur with old pro flatbeds. Check out this link, it is really helpful for scanning with these machines and has solutions to potential problems. The best places to ask for advice are the Large format forum and the Scan Hi end yahoo group. Has the scanner got an anti-newton tray or neg holder? Those are most useful accessories.