New Epson scanners & wet scanning . . .

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eskorpid

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Epson has announced 2 pro-level glatbed scanners, one of which offers wet scanning geature . . . "which is especially valuable for enhanced scratch removal and grain reduction from black and white film."


Epson Announcement[/URL]

Has anyone heard of the term wet scanning and how it works?

cheers

nondas
 
It works the same way as an oil carrier in an enlarger. Basically the refractive index of the emmersion liquid is the same as the film which hides the scratches and surface imperfections. How they can claim grain reduction is a mystery.
 
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I think its very interesting new. C´mon guys comment something about this new technology. A few weeks later Minolta said that dont produces more scanners, now Epson present 2 new profesional scanners. Its a great new!!
 
I think wet scanning is actually something already known to pro-scanning equipment world. I am just not sure how it works. . .
. . .some liquid gets involved for sure :D
 
I haven't wet-scanned, though I know it's done. Glad to see new scanners-that will be the real indicator of film's staying power.
 
I've been waiting to see what new scanners, if any, would be release :D Any news from Nikon or Canon yet?

These announcements make me stare at my 5 year old computer. I can barely play with 35mm 4000dpi 16 bit scans, so how on earth will I work with 6400dpi 16 bit scans of MF negatives? :eek:

I need a luigi case and a new computer first. Alms? Alms for the poor? :D
 
Note that they also announced the V700, which appears to be the same unit but without the capability to take the wet-mount accessory, at a suggested price of $550.

I wonder how many users are going to bother with wet mounting once they encounter the difficulties of keeping everything clean...? I've worked with places that use wet-mount drum scanners, and it takes real expertise to do a good job of it.
 
jano said:
I've been waiting to see what new scanners, if any, would be release :D Any news from Nikon or Canon yet?
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Don't hold your breath -- this is a shrinking market. My local retailer says he doesn't even bother to stock film scanners anymore because there's so little demand.
 
jano said:
Perhaps I'll just save up for the minolta multi-pro then. *shrug*
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I would. That or the Nikon 8000/9000. I can't see there being any new models in the affordable range (Nikon, Canon, Minolta). Epson has encroached and with such a price difference people will be willing to compromise on quailty.

Epson will keep churning out models with inflated specifications of course. I'm willing to bet that an Epson 6400ppi will not beat the Nikon 4000ppi (or probably for that matter the Minolta's 3200ppi).
 
jlw said:
Don't hold your breath -- this is a shrinking market. My local retailer says he doesn't even bother to stock film scanners anymore because there's so little demand.
Click to expand...

Last time I was in Staples they had a bunch of film-capable scanners.....
 
With most things, it's more about the operator than the equipment and its capabilities. In scanning, this is inordinately true with wet scanning. I have chatted with a guy that has operated a Tango drum scanner and it's clear that those that have the proficiency to handle that skill set well are highly sought after.

I'm not at all saying that Joe Scannerman out there can't get it right. I'd like to think that I could do wet scanning well if I tried it. I'm just saying that Epson merely offering it is just one step. It takes a lot of dedication to get it right on a regular basis.

Having said that, if I had the $$, I'd get a Nikon 9000 or, if they're still around, a Minolta Multi-scan.

allan
 
There's a big difference in wet "fluid or oil" mounting on a drum scanner and a flat bed. I have a Fuji Finescan 5000 and from time to time fluid mount on it. First of all your scanner needs to be designed such that any fluid or oil that is placed on the platten can't get into the rest of the scanner. If it gets in many scanners are tough to disassemble and clean. Believe me, fluid mounting is a messy business at best. On a flat bed like the Fuji I just put a puddle of "Kami mounting fluid" on the glass and place the film in it. I then pot oil on top of the fil to cover the area I want to scan. I close the top and make the scan. Cleaning up is done with a special fluid made by Kami that removes the oil and then the film is cleaned with Kami film cleaner. I think I paid about $75 / liter for each of the 3 fluids. The advantages are reduction in dust and scratches in the base. In scanners that do not have auto focus it helps bring the film into better and more uniform contact with the platten and prevents newton rings. Sharpness of scan can be improved. Drum scanning with oil is the best way. I've had thousands of my images drum scanned and watched the process many times. Fluid mounting on a drum is a real skill and can be quite a disaster if not done properly. My Finescan 5000 has autofocus up to a depth of 10mm so I really don't have any gain unless there are a lot of scratches on the base. I fine the process slow and messy so I avoid it most of the time.


http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045
 
One thing I've noticed just over the last two weeks since the Epson announcement on the two new flatbeds - Nikon LS-8000 scanners have dropped significantly in price on the used market. My hunch is it is because people are holding out to see how the Epsons do. If I were in the market for a Nikon scanner I'd get one now because I think when all the reviews are in the Nikons will be back up to their pre-PMA prices.
 
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