Has anyone used this scanner and can report on its strengths and weaknesses?
I wouldn't spend the price of a Nikon 9000, the Minolta multi pro is too
much either.
On the other hand the Artixscan 120 seems to be the machine that was
formerly sold as Polaroid 120 Sprintscan and got favorable reviews. They
ship the Lasersoft software with it.
Precisely 'cause the ArtixScan 120 is basically the same machine as
the Polaroid SS120, I'll report about this one; hoping it can be of
some help for your decisions.
I believe I'm quite unlucky with my unit. It keeps miscalibrating,
maybe for some mechanichal issue, and so I have annoying chromatic
aberrations (color fringing) along edges.
This, and the brain-damage film holders, is the only trouble I have
with it.
I use it with Vuescan.
To summarize:
PRO
-------
1) Incredible ability to see into the densest shadows. It captures
shadow details that my Minolta SE5400 can't dream of (both with
Minolta Scan Utility and with Vuescan). So the dynamic range is very
good.
2) Very little shadow noise. Almost non-existent, even bumping the
exposure to insane levels to capture underexposed slides. And this,
without multisampling (that I think the Artixscan has: should be the
only -firmware- difference)
3) Good resolution. Not on par with SuperCoolscan 9000, I think, but
close behind what I'm able to obtain with my Minolta SE5400. Better
than my older Minolta Scan Dual III, that was a champion in its
category, resolution-wise (had a lens so sharp that outresolved the
sensor, showing a fair amount of grain aliasing)
4) Little sensitivity to dust and scratches, thanks to a diffuse
lighting source. Can't say the same for my SE5400 <g>
5) FAST! I can't remember who said that it's a slow machine... I can
assure you that attached to my ancient Symbios 53c810 (fast-scsi 10),
this scanner is *very fast*. Slow when previewing, but actually very
fast when scanning.
6) Good color reproduction. The scanner keeps a very good behaviour
when it comes to color response. Quite linear, with little casts that
are relatively easy to correct with a custom profile. No strange color
weirdness (can't say the same for my SE5400, again...)
7) Fan-cooled. It does not overheat when working hard, so the shadow
noise stays under control (guess what? Can't say the same for my
SE5400! <double grin>)
8) Can be found for cheap prices: about $1000 refurbished. 2x the
price of a good flatbed, but it eclipses any < $5000 flatbed as for
image quality.
9) Works like a charm with Vuescan, both under Linux and Windows.
CON
-------
1) My unit keeps miscalibrating. Calibration costs an arm and a leg
(maybe two). And I can't have Polaroid resolve this thing once and for
all... :-( I don't know if it's a common problem. I hope not...
2) Film holders are BRAIN-DAMAGE. Can't believe someone could conceive
such a thing. 35mm slides holder is OK, but it's the only one...
Can't keep the film flat, no matter what. And it eats away frames
margins.
3) Noisy. At night, you can rest assured the whole house will hear it
scanning... ;-)
4) No IR for dust/scratch removal. But, thanks to the diffuse
illumination, it's not as big a problem as with other scanners.
Bye!
Fernando
