Imacon Flextight Photo ??

B

bjolester

Well-known
Local time
9:44 PM
Joined
Dec 5, 2013
Messages
295
I am currently scanning my medium format films on an Epson V750, and for my use I am perfectly happy with the results that I am achieving. I mostly scan to be able to study my work on a screen, in order to improve as a film photographer, and secondly for posting images on the web. I also have had some of my images printed in A2 and A3 format.

Recently I saw an Imacon Flextight Photo scanner for sale, costing about the same as a new Epson V700 here in my country. Would there be much to gain in quality with this model Imacon vs my Epson for medium format film? I know that this scanner scans 24x26 film in 3200ppi. What kind of resolution would the Imacon Flextight Photo reach with 120 film, the same resolution?

I am grateful for any information about this Imacon scanner.

Regards
Bjørn
 
One of my colleagues has an Imacon. He paid $25,000 for it. There is no comparison between scans from it and from my V700. The Imacon is in a different league. If you can get one in good working condition for something like a V700 price, it's a bargain!
 
The older Imacons are still very good but require an SCSI connection that your more modern computer will not have. You will need to research which model is being sold and what software it requires but if you can get an operable Imacon for the price of an Epson then it is a very good deal.

The Epson may claim to out resolve it but the Imacon is still the more capable scanner, not only in terms of useful resolution but in tonal depth.
 
For that price, it's certainly a good deal (if it's in good working order.)
I bought a Flextight Precision II some time ago and the difference with my Epson V700 is huge. I still use the Epson for scanning all my negatives on a small resolution, but if I really want to see everything there is in a negative, I use the Imacon.
You'll need a computer that's about the same age as the scanner for scsi and scanning software. I got a Powermac G4 with scsi-card for 40 euro's.
 
Thank you all!

Unfortunately I was too late, the scanner was sold when I contacted the seller...

Well, the Epson V750 will have to do for now. I am really satisfied with the scans the Epson produces, and there is also the aspect of owning a brand new product with respects to product guarantees, service, parts and support. But one day (when I become rich and famous:)) I aspire to invest into an Imacon scanner.

Regards
Bjørn
 
I have the Flextight II with an old Mac.I have another mac as a bacup as there is no spares available for the old mack ( at least in Finland) The only spare part the Flextight needs is the light tubes, that are still available from fluorescent tube dealers. I plan to use it at least 10 years more ( the time I have interest in developing and scanning leica images) It is NOT the DPI but the optical resolution with Flextight. When propely calibrated the Flextight is unbelieveable in delivering sharp grain. I transfer the scan to a modern PC and work on photoshop with two big screens and Digital printer and auxliary hard drives
 
Rangefinderfreak said:
I have the Flextight II with an old Mac.I have another mac as a bacup as there is no spares available for the old mack ( at least in Finland) The only spare part the Flextight needs is the light tubes, that are still available from fluorescent tube dealers. I plan to use it at least 10 years more ( the time I have interest in developing and scanning leica images) It is NOT the DPI but the optical resolution with Flextight. When propely calibrated the Flextight is unbelieveable in delivering sharp grain. I transfer the scan to a modern PC and work on photoshop with two big screens and Digital printer and auxliary hard drives
Click to expand...

I have read somewhere that Hasselblad in Sweden have no support for the older Flextight scanners anymore. Even the firewire models like the Flextight 343 are out of the support system. How do you service (calibrate) your scanner? Are there independent workshops here in Scandinavia that service these scanners?

Regards
Bjørn
 
You are welcome Bjorn.
This old Flextight scanner are often really cheap to buy, compared to their quality and their original price nearly especially.
I used different scanners before I ended on an old Imacon.
Back to your first question about the resolution with 6x6.
This 3200dpi too, but it is not always a good idea to compare this naked numbers.
I do have a HP flatbed scanner with a resolution of 4800dpi and the files are that big, but the details are not.
Even the newest Hasselblad (Imacon) X5 for around 22000€, just scans a 6x6 with max 3200dpi, believe me that is really enough. Be sure you would see more details on that scan as on a Nikon Coolscan 9000 with 4000dpi or a new Plustek with 5300dpi.
One of the tricks with the Flextights are the filmholder which really garanties a total flat negative without puting any glas surfaces between the film and the scanner lens.
The other one is that the real resolution is very close to the theoretic resolution.
Here you can read the manual of the Imacon Flextight Photo
With 35mm negatives you can have higher resolutions with the Flextight PrecisionII (5760dpi)or the actual X1 (6400dpi) and X5 (8000dpi), but for the 120 film formats they all have max. 3200dpi and for the larger films like 4"x5" or 5"x7" max. 1800dpi.
 
Yesterday evening I procured a FlexTight Photo SCSI scanner.

No power supply came with the scanner but I was able to see the scanner in use at the sellers place, the power supply of his remaining FlexTight Precision 343 also fit the FlexTight Photo.

Downloaded the manual just now from this link and will shortly be registering at the Hasselblad website to download the ColorFlex software for Mac for it.

The folks at B23 in Kopenhagen have a power supply on the way for it, which I will buy once it arrives.

The PowerMac G4 (1.42Ghz Dual) I'm dedicating for it is ready and waiting to be picked up on Friday.

Next week, I'll be shooting some slide film around my home town in the Horseman 985 and once the adapter arrives I'll be ready to scan some serious images:cool::cool:
 
Being a CCD scanner do you think I should always scan MF at 3200ppi and the resize in PS (downsample) to the resolution I need for print? Thanks
 
bjolester said:
I have read somewhere that Hasselblad in Sweden have no support for the older Flextight scanners anymore. Even the firewire models like the Flextight 343 are out of the support system. How do you service (calibrate) your scanner? Are there independent workshops here in Scandinavia that service these scanners?

Regards
Bjørn
Click to expand...

Hallelblad/Bron USA overhauled my Flextight Photo about a year ago to original specs. Cost about $150 plus lots of shipping.


You can use Flextight Photo with either an adapter from SCSI to regular port, or an old Mac with SCSI port installed. I do the latter.
 
I get to use the Flextight 949 at work, I can post some samples tomorrow if you want, I know it uses a Magnagon f/8 lens (75mm I think), it is actually not the best enlarging lens actually, there are a tonne more that are better, but even with this since its half decent provides very good resolving power, especially compared to a flatbed.

Coincidentally, it's also powered by a 486 processor iirc that uses SDRAM. It is very much like a flatbed scanner actually, it just uses an enlarging lens instead of a on sensor lens array on the line sensor.

The only thing I don't like is the virtual drum, it causes small warps/distortions in the image at a low level (it doesn't do what it's supposed to).
 
Athiril said:
It is very much like a flatbed scanner actually, it just uses an enlarging lens instead of a on sensor lens array on the line sensor.
Click to expand...

Which flatbed scanner has an on sensor lens array configuration?

Athiril said:
The only thing I don't like is the virtual drum, it causes small warps/distortions in the image at a low level (it doesn't do what it's supposed to).
Click to expand...

I'm considering a Flextight and would love to see and example of those warps/distortions if you would be so kind...
 
I took apart one that had a pinhole lens array. I never finished that mod. I'll scan some tomorrow. I discovered it when I scanned the same bit of film twice, and tried to register the image in photoshop, only to find it wasn't that simple.
 
As an add-on to my previous post: My Flextight II stopped working: NO SUPPORT for it anymore, anywhere. Even the power supplys are sold out, so BEWARE ! The ones available in Ebay are all without power supply, so they are just expensive pile of scrap metal. This info is dated Sept.2014.
 
Ups!

I was under impression that the place in Denmark was still servicing Flextight II scanners. Huh! I guess I'm keeping my Nikon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom