v700 thinking swtiching it for a plustek 120

T

tommyw

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So I know scanning is an art form I know that every scan needs tweaks here and there but I find the v700 gives me murky looking results.

Is the Plustek any better when scanning in colour negatives, with no tweaks?
Is the tonal range any better?

I've tried the colorperfect workflow with the v700 but I find it makes my files look bland and brings at the highlights out in the wrong places not sure why?

My other option is to save the money and have a lab to scan in my files and just tweak them from there....

I currently shoot around 8 rolls a week.
 
What format(s) are you scanning? From my experience the V700 doesn't scan 35mm well but for me it's fine for 120
 
Just switched from 120 to 35mm as I needed to shoot at a much quicker pace.
I've noticed the 35mm scans are really soft on the V700 too.
 
From my experience scanning color negative film, most of the trouble comes from how the film changes depending on exposure. You can't really just make a profile and then use it without making adjustments. A Plustek 120 will get you better resolution, but you will still have the software issue of converting from negative to positive. AFAIK, it won't really solve the issue for you.
Have you tried this method using Epson Scan?
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/107-film-processing-scanning-darkroom/273685-scanning-ektar-my-method.html
 
Thanks not tried that method. I'll give it a twirl .:)
I mean silverfast + the v700 it scans in very magenta it's so far off spectrum not sure if it was my scanner playing up as did buy it second hand?
I normally use a light meter my shots everytime I move and only work indoors with flash.
 
tommyw said:
Thanks not tried that method. I'll give it a twirl .:)
I mean silverfast + the v700 it scans in very magenta it's so far off spectrum not sure if it was my scanner playing up as did buy it second hand?
I normally use a light meter my shots everytime I move and only work indoors with flash.
Click to expand...

What film are you normally scanning? Sounds like Fuji Pro 160.
 
tommyw said:
Yep been using Fuji Pro 160s.
Click to expand...

:)
I've found Fuji Pro 160 to be somewhat difficult to scan, and it often has a magenta cast that you need to adjust for. If you're shooting 8 rolls a week under controlled lighting, it would be worth shooting a color chart and then use that to set up a profile in Epson Scan.
 
profiling is always a good idea. And Swift1 is right, Color Negative film changes it its color depending on how accurate the exposure is for a given part of the image.

Thats not a problem just with scanning, in wet printing you have to adjust filtration for individual images too.

I switched from an Epson 4990 + Coolscan 4000 to the Plustek 120. The Plustek is fast, resultion is higher than what the Coolscan offered and heaps and bounds above the Epson. The only thing I miss is the option to scan full rolls a time.

I never get the "it is good enough for 120" thing. Thats a joke, right? it is just as bad with 120 as it is with 35mm, the negative is just bigger.
You shoot 120 to get more resolution for bigger enlargements or more room for cropping. And then you waste that by going with a flatbed.
Just shoot 35mm and get a decent scanner then.
 
taemo said:
if you're looking to scan 35mm only my advise is to get a pakon f135+
Click to expand...

+1 on the Pakon. I have gotten mine a month or so ago and never looked back. Scans really fast, which is what you need from what I hear!
Quality is decent too!

Ben
 
For the money I will give it a test and just ordered one... I'm over in the UK so have to wait till earlier December before it comes.

Just seen some blog examples of it looks great!
Do you think you can get away with printing up to A3 at 150dpi?

kanzlr glad to see you have experience with both machines and it's not just me who's not a big fan of it. How did you find the tonal range any better? Or did you just really notice the sharpness?
 
tommyw said:
For the money I will give it a test and just ordered one... I'm over in the UK so have to wait till earlier December before it comes.

Just seen some blog examples of it looks great!
Do you think you can get away with printing up to A3 at 150dpi?
Click to expand...

If you have a FB account, go and search for the Pakon group. Add it in, once the admin accepts you you'll have access to the best source of information on the Pakon. There are about 1000 of us there - all likeminded - all trying to make it work the best way it can.

The Pakon isn't without trouble, you'll need a Windows XP machine or a virtual machine at least but once all sorted, it works great.

Don't know the A3 printing stuff, the group will have better info.

Good luck,
Ben
 
I doubt you will be too happy with A3 prints if you examine them closely.
6MP Digicam files never printed that nicely on anything more than A4, if closely inspected.

Maybe somebody owning a Pakon can send you a file for you to print?
 
tommyw said:
Is the Plustek any better when scanning in colour negatives, with no tweaks?
Is the tonal range any better?

I've tried the colorperfect workflow with the v700 but I find it makes my files look bland and brings at the highlights out in the wrong places not sure why?
Click to expand...

The Plustek 120 is vastly better than the V700 (which I also have), and especially for 35mm. The problems with the V700 and 35mm are because of the diffuse light source and even with better aftermarket holders you aren't going to get much better than 'average'. A Plustek 8000 series scanner would be ideal if you don't do medium format.

But fundamentally while it is true you need a new scanner for 35mm, you are also trying too hard to get a perfect scan straight out of the scanner. Ideally you want a low contrast scan with no clipping and colour balance that is in the ballpark, but use the much more controllable software of Lightroom or Photoshop to sort out colour balance and contrast etc. A good general guide is here

http://www.johnbcrane.com/blog/2014/3/color-negative-c41-scanning-workflow


V
 
Agree with V. With my Imacon I just try to get the equivalent of a raw file, with low contrast and all data registering from all three channels.

LR, ACR, &/or PS can do a better job than scanning software on all subsequent refinements.

Kirk
 
I have a Pakon F135, Epson V700, and Nikon Coolscan V ed. The V700 is used for 120 and 4x5 only now.
For 35mm I use the Pakon to preview full rolls and then scan the keepers on the Nikon.
I like the look of the Pakon files on screen and for small prints.... better than the V700 for 35mm!
The Pakon files begin to look flat and dimensionless when printed larger.
They really are limited by their native small size (2000x3000).
A3 might look ok in B+W but for color I think you will be disappointed.
It's a handy tool for preview and saves tons of time not to mention life span of the now discontinued Nikon.
The nikon is a grain level scanner at a true 4000dpi. It's hard to beat for 35mm.

Cheers!
 
I use a V700 and I use a piece of Anti Newton Ring Glass in my stock carrier. It helps immensely with sharpness. Colorwise, I find scanning hard to get the color "just right" in 35mm. I prefer portra 400 and I use Silverfast SE for my scans.





 
I've used a few spacers (i.e. pieces of tape) to lift the negative carrier slightly to try to dial in the sharpness on the V700. When dialed in, you'll witness the true power of this battle station!!!!!... I mean, you'll get decent scans on the V700 :)
 
I feel the colour with the Plustek 120 and 8100 is better than that of the V700. Somehow, I could never get decent reds with the Epson unless using EpsonScan.
Resolution is noticeably better.
Pete
 
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