Alternatives to Epson V7xx

[DJ]

For those who are in the market for a scanner, and looking at the options, I've just been made aware of a scanner which might appeal to large format film users. I wasn't aware of this scanner before, and whilst I have no need for more scanners I thought it might be interesting to anyone else thinking of jumping in.

The scanner is the Microtek Artixscan F1, I have not seen this available in the UK, but it is available in Europe, and in the USA under the model number "M1". The US version does not have ICE facility due to legal constraints, whereas the European F1 does.

It is considerably more expensive than the V750! It seems to be about 200 euros more than a V750 Pro.

What sets it apart from the Epson is that it has a drawer for the film holders, which goes under the glass, so the film is not scanned through the flatbed glass, and that it has autofocus. The lenses on the Epson scanners do not focus, they are fixed. The Artixscan F1 appears to be the only focusing flatbed scanner on the market capable of scanning LF film, unless anyone has heard of any others...

It comes with a holder for two 4x5" sheets, amongst other sizes. Ability to scan larger (8x10") may have implications. DYOR.

There are reviews here : http://www.naturephotographers.net/arti ... 308-1.html and http://www.filmscanner.info/en/MicrotekArtixScanF1.html

Just FYI.

[Tom Kershaw]

DJ,

I think I've seen posts referencing the Microtek scanners indicating some potential issues. Anyone interested might do well to search around on www.hybridphoto.com

Tom

[scovell001]

Dare I mention the dreaded 'colalaborative large format scanner comparison' http://www.largeformatphotography.info/scan-comparison/

Cue: 'ripley's believe it or not music & a deep husky voice' : We sent a single 5x4 transparency all around on the world on an adventure, to find people who own different scanners and in the majority of cases have no idea how they work'. 'We've posted the highly variable results here, so you could try and make some sort of sense of this complete bewildering nonsense!

woo, oooh, woo, oooh woo, oooh woo, oooh

Tune in next week when we compare the weather on the same day on the same month in different years and ask, 'Why isn't it the same....................'

[Trail Images]

I've had Microtek scanners for many years now. I presently have been using the i900 which was the predecessor to the newer M1 unit from what I understand. One of the key purchase factors for me a few years back now with regard to the i900 was the glassless scan area feature for material up to and including 4x5. The open tray area will hold up to (12) 35mm, (4) 120, or (2) 4x5 transparencies with the slide in plastic retainers.
I know of other Microtek users who have the later M1's as well as the older 1800f units too. One of those M1 users, Guy Tal, has provided a nice write up on the unit and posted it on the NPN site which has been linked in a comment above. To date I've not heard of any operational complaints from the users. I will say, I do wish they would have allowed the ICE provision to be sold here in the U.S.