Plustek 120 vs Nikon 8000

[froyd]

Don't know, the Nikon looks tp have a bit more contrast (written prices in the background left and the basket in the middle). But in both I don't seem to find the film grain, so it's not really sharp. Maybe adjustments in the software or the scanners.

Did you look at the full size scans (click on the images in the original post)? Grain seems pretty evident to me.

 

[Merlijn53]

It's there, but not really sharp. A bit like the scans from my Epson V700, but unlike the ones from my Imacon, which should be about in the same league as the Nikon. But as I said, it might be in some adjustments made or not made, during scanning.

 

[wintoid]

For what it's worth, I have just tried rescanning the same negative with the multiexposure option turned on in Silverfast. I'd be interested to hear any opinions compared to the other two scans...


Hot dogs rescan with multiexposure by wintoid, on Flickr

 

[wintoid]

In case anyone is interested, I've used the Plustek to rescan three old negs that I originally scanned on a Minolta Multi Scan Pro. This time I am actually favouring the Plustek scans, although this may be because my monitor is better than the monitor I had at the time of the original scans, so I've adjusted the files better...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintoid/9824068573/

 

[Ansel]

Try using ME in silverfast if you can --- I found it wortwhile.

 

[wintoid]

Try using ME in silverfast if you can --- I found it wortwhile.

Thanks Ansel, these are scanned with ME turned on.

 

[myoptic]

In the original scans I could read the signs behind the cashier better with the Plustek than with the Nikon, also the basket and the Hot Dog & Cheese signs seemed clearer. The Nikon, in the initial scans does seem better in luminosity, but the Plustek seems its better in shadow detail and its equal in resolution. Either way, it seems like a very good comparison among equals.

 

[aldobonnard]

+1 for Silverfast. More details in the shadows.
But that's splitting hair, really. Both scans / scanners setups are at pro-level.

 

[stormy_weather]

And in Terms of resolution both scanners are "better" than the HP5 anyway.

Regards,

Sven

 

[SURF]

..I'm interested to know what people think.

Thanks wintoid for the comparison. Rescan on a Plustek is fine. One have to figure out why it is better than it's first scan.

I see the drama with the scanner that it has no autofocus while the optics is tack sharp. That leads to incosistency depending on a flatness of the original. In the first take the most of the picture is out of focus, but the borders are super sharp. On a nikon all that is reversed cause the focus was taken in the middle of the frame. Must say that agressive sharpening for plustek scan (500%, radius 0,4) makes the things nearly equal.

Overall: Plustek is a fine scanner for flat originals. And it is a little better than Nikon. With glass holder it will really shine. But if the film is happened to be slightly curved, then Nikon is better.

 

[wintoid]

For what it's worth, this is the same negative rescanned on the cheapo Plustek 8100, which is what I have ended up keeping!


Hot dogs rescanned with Plustek 8100 by wintoid, on Flickr

I've added that in to the original post too, just for ease of comparison.