Fernando Gonzalez Gentile wrote:
> Well I've done it. Bought it second hand, and well but heavily used. Paid
> USD400 and waiting for a new MA-20 replacement, soon to arrive.
> While testing it I rised a couple of questions:
> 1- while scanning, the machine makes some continuous noise. I don't know if
> too loud a noise, but certainly more noise than I had supposed it to make.
> Not a silent machine anyway. Seems that it's noisier when the computer is on
> the low-power side ('processor dependent noise' firewire [IEEE1394]
> connnection). Wasn't able to compare it to the new 5000 at its side.
>
Scanners are generally not silent, there is a stepper motor moving the
film in precise little steps. I san't speak specifically for the Nikons,
though
> 2- how is it that the software has a separate option available for scanning
> Kodachrome positives ....
>
The 4000ED has hardware based dist removal capability, the software part
being called Digital ICE. This works by making a second pass over the
film measuring transmission of Infra-red light, which mostly passes
through the film with out much variation, but doesn't pas through dust
and dirt and is also affected by scratches. With this info, the
software can do something much like the healing brush in PS to remove
the dust, etc. effects.
However, IR doesn't pass through the silver particles of B&W negatives
at all and doesn't pass through the dyes of Kodachrome very well, so it
can't differentiate between what should and what shouldn't be there. So,
the Nikon software operates tehe scanner differently for Kodachrome and
B&W neg films.
In spite of all this, many people have reported that ICE does a pretty
good job with Kodachromes for them. So I may be worth a try to lie to it
and say it's really some other slide film and check the results. My
personal theory is that dust is most a problem in bright areas of the
image where, coincidently, the amount of dye is the lowest, so ICE may
not work overal as well on Kodachrome, but can still help.
The IR dust removal on my Canon FS4000 seems to work pretty well on
Kodachrome, too. Dust making black marks on dark areas isn't all that
much of a problem.
Moose
> No answers to my questions, so please help. You all know how does one feel
> when buying one of this second hand thingies, don't you. Well it feels worse
> if you were in my shoes :)
>
Hope you are feeling a little more comfortable now. I bought my FS4000
used and it's been great.
Moose
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