Should Leica make a film scanner?

[adan]

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Several problems with using the M9 as a "scanner" copy-camera.

 

Negs would photograph as negs, including the orange tint for color negs. Very tricky to "reverse" into positives simply using Photoshop since that orange is a mask that cannot just be white-balanced away. Scanner software is designed to read color negs and work around the orange mask, but that is not a Photoshop or Raw developer functionality.

 

Decades ago, Agfa's CN films had a clear base, easier to just 'invert" to a positive. Alas, they (and Agfa) are now history.

 

B&W negs and color slides would avoid that problem, but there would be no dust removal system for any kind of film. Lots of spotting to do. At least the chromogenic "B&W" films like XP2 will work with ICE in a scanner.

 

On the plus side, you would have the option of stopping down the lens to bring those corners into focus, and choose your own light diffusion to avoid the 'point-light-source" grain that Nikon's LEDs produce.

 

The "gripping hand" of course is - if you are paying for an M9, why not just shoot M9 originals instead of shooting a copy of a jello-colloid copy of the original scene?

______________________________

 

Out of curiousity, has anyone ever tried using a flatbed scanner as an enlarging easel? I guess you'd need one designed to work with transmitted light (i.e. film scanning in general) - but the resolution would be pretty astounding, since the enlarged image would be as big as a print.

 

And you'd need an enlarger, which as Andy points out, not everyone does.

 

Even if your flatbed only has a real resolution of 1600 dpi or so (about what the Epsons can do, despite their 3200 dpi rating, due to the lens quality) - that's 1600 x 10 or 11 inches, or 16,000 - 17,000 dpi scans using the whole letter-sized area.

 

And the newer Epsons have ICE technology.

 

All this from an M9 user who still turns on his 5000ED once a month or so - just hoping...

 

(BTW, the Coolscan 4 software no longer works as a plugin with Photoshop CS4 - but the stand-alone scanning software seems to work very well under Snow Leopard + Rosetta, and even has the option for saving as an .NEF RAW file. Kind of a kick to open a scan in Adobe Camera Raw and have all those tools for white balance and lens corrections and profiling and so on readily available. It can even resave the scans as .DNGs)

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[nhabedi]

There's mention in the PDF about custom holders being available.

 

Ah, thanks, I didn't really read the PDF (should have done) and only looked at the pictures. Nice service! But then again, at that price you almost expect that.

[nhabedi]

Several problems with using the M9 as a "scanner" copy-camera.

 

There were some discussion about using digital cameras as "film scanners" in the German forum a few days ago. Some people claimed that using current full format dSLRs you can achieve results that rival those from Nikon scanners or (in the case of classical b/w film) are even better. The important points seem to be to have a very good 1:1 macro lens and a very precise setup. (I'm only reporting here, I never tried that.)

 

The problem with using the M9 for this would probably be the macro lens. If I understand correctly, the only macro lens currently in production is the 90/4 which is "only" 1:3. (Is that right?) So, if they were going that route, Leica would probably need to introduce some kind of "set" with a macro lens, coupled negative/slide holders, and a macro focusing aid. If they can sell that for a price around that of the best Nikon scanners, I'm sure some people would be happy to use this combination - especially as you'd get a macro lens "for free" in addition to the "scanner".

[andybarton]

 

(BTW, the Coolscan 4 software no longer works as a plugin with Photoshop CS4 - but the stand-alone scanning software seems to work very well under Snow Leopard + Rosetta, and even has the option for saving as an .NEF RAW file. Kind of a kick to open a scan in Adobe Camera Raw and have all those tools for white balance and lens corrections and profiling and so on readily available. It can even resave the scans as .DNGs)

 

That's what I do with Vuescan - ACR will open Vuescan RAW files. Very handy.

[dicko101]

Just as an aside, Adorama have Coolscan 5000 refurbs in stock. I wouldn't hold my breath for new stock coming in anytime soon.

[adan]

nhabedi, the original suggestion for "scanning" with an M9 mentioned using a Visoflex - which is indeed a "set," dating from 35 years ago and more, that essentially converts any Leica M into an SLR (flipping mirror, focusing screen, 1:1 macro lens and bellows capability (or regular telephoto capability) - the works).

 

Visoflex: Visoflex I

 

So one is not limited to the 90 macro.

[nhabedi]

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the original suggestion for "scanning" with an M9 mentioned using a Visoflex

 

Yes, I was aware of the Visoflex although I've never used it myself. But I think the current discussion is about Leica offering a film scanner or some kind of equivalent to its customers today. If I already had an M9 and if Leica offered a complete "set" (focusing screen, bellows, macro lens, slide/negative holder) to turn the camera into a macro camera as well as a state-of-the-art scanner for 35mm film, I'd be happy to buy it (for a reasonable price). It might also influence my decision to buy an M9 if I don't have one already.

 

However, if I have to hunt for this equipment on eBay or flea markets without really knowing if it'll work, that's a different story.

[thomasw_]

Because not everyone has a darkroom and the means to wet print.

 

Andy, I was answering the OP's query solely for myself. I am aware others have reasons for desiring/needing a super high quality scanner, but those reasons do not apply to me -- thus I used the first person for this very reason in my comment. Regards, Thomas

[pleeson]

Vuescan - VueScan Scanning Software - satisfies all of those IMHO. A complex interface but versatile. I don't think I've ever had it crash on me using either Windows or Mac

 

Agreed; this is the most flexible software; and has worked great for me with several different scanners and computers.

 

But, to answer the original question: No

Sadly, the demand for these things is miniscule and shrinking fast.

If Leica comes up with a steam-powered, gold-plated, limited edition, leather-cased unit, it still won't sell.

;-)

[cmatter]

I sold my Imacon 343 when I purchased a Hasselblad H3DII-39. I got the Hasselblad 120 macro lens for the camera as well, and now use it to 'scan' my M2 Tri-X negs (plus any other odd film scanning that may crop up.. no pun intended). Works great.

Before Hasselblad came out with their Phocus software, I used Imacon's Flexcolor with the camera.. which was the identical software the scanner used. Flexcolor could automatically recognize whether it was hooked to a camera or scanner.

 

Of course the current 'top of the line' Hasselblad is now (or soon will be) the H4D-60, lol... but...

 

I doubt Leica will ever produce a scanner. Scanners are a dying item... more and more. If you want one you'll find a number of used Imacon's out there. Just make sure it's a current enough model to support a recent version of Flexcolor. When Imacon and Hasselblad merged, they immediately started scaling back scanner development / production.

[cmatter]

... and I heartily agree about VueScan.. (download the Pro version for $90. +-.. has lifetime updates, etc.). I use it exclusively with my UXax Powerlook 3 flatbed I still use occasionally. There isn't a better scanner driver out there.. especially for negs.. EXCEPT Flexcolor (or Phocus) with an Imacon/Hasselblad scanner