Karim D. Ghantous Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 In the real world, regardless of specifications, photographic scanning is terrible. The labs don't give you anything like a DPX file, and they use scanners which do not seem to show the film's best qualities. Every time I see a scanned frame of 8mm or 16mm, I'm amazed. They are better than 135 files from scanners like Noritsus or Pakons. So I wonder, is anyone willing to try an experiment? Here's the basic deal: get a good camera. Put a really good lens on it. E.g. Nikon F5 with a Zeiss Otus 55mm. Shoot a variety of 35mm emulsions in a variety of lighting conditions. Scan them all on both a photo scanner and a cine scanner. Compare and contrast the results. Maybe this is all moot, because no photo lab that I know of is going to use a cine grade scanner. But, if someone wants to perform this experiment, I'll help fund it if we get at least one or two others to help. It shouldn't cost that much. Maybe it might inspire someone to start a photo lab that scans film properly for once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heikki Repo Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 I have both a Nikon Coolscan LS-2000 and 35mm Vision3 200T & 500T scanned with a cine scanner (Silbersalz35). I could scan some frames with my own scanner and compare them. I'd just have to get film strip containers and get scissoring, since currently that film is on a core! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member David Sekanina Posted February 17, 2022 Premium Member Share Posted February 17, 2022 Silbersalz uses a Cintel Blackmagic scanner - not a great scanner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heikki Repo Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 2 hours ago, David Sekanina said: Silbersalz uses a Cintel Blackmagic scanner - not a great scanner Ah, right. I hadn't realized it was the Blackmagic scanner. Well, should be even more interesting to compare the scans. The LS-2000 isn't a drum scanner either, but definitely better than flatbeds and has higher resolution than the Pakon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Site Sponsor Robert Houllahan Posted February 17, 2022 Site Sponsor Share Posted February 17, 2022 Most Cine scanners won't scan the 8-perf stills / VistaVision format 35mm, some will like my Spirit 2k/4K series but the Scan Station won't nor will the BMD. So you would have to shoot with a Pen-F or similar half frame camera or scan half frames and do some stitching to compare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heikki Repo Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 20 minutes ago, Robert Houllahan said: nor will the BMD I guess Silbersalz does stitching then for everything they scan? They do also xpan and panorama. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member David Sekanina Posted February 17, 2022 Premium Member Share Posted February 17, 2022 hmmm.. curious this is from their FAQ on their website: what are the techical specs of my scans? 21.4 Megapixels, 13 stops of dynamic range and 16 bit color depth. JPG, JP2 and JP2 RAW files. Your images are scanned using our state-of-the-art Cintel scanners. RAW files are converted into JPG and JP2 files using our unique SILBERSALZ35 color science. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heikki Repo Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 28 minutes ago, David Sekanina said: hmmm.. curious this is from their FAQ on their website: what are the techical specs of my scans? 21.4 Megapixels, 13 stops of dynamic range and 16 bit color depth. JPG, JP2 and JP2 RAW files. Your images are scanned using our state-of-the-art Cintel scanners. RAW files are converted into JPG and JP2 files using our unique SILBERSALZ35 color science. Yes, somehow that lead me to think of the non-BMD Cintel originally. Could they have some kind DIY modified Cintel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member David Sekanina Posted February 17, 2022 Premium Member Share Posted February 17, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heikki Repo Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 13 minutes ago, David Sekanina said: Thanks! Must like stitching then. ...btw, much faster scanner than mine ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karim D. Ghantous Posted February 18, 2022 Author Share Posted February 18, 2022 8 hours ago, Robert Houllahan said: Most Cine scanners won't scan the 8-perf stills / VistaVision format 35mm, some will like my Spirit 2k/4K series but the Scan Station won't nor will the BMD. So you would have to shoot with a Pen-F or similar half frame camera or scan half frames and do some stitching to compare. That could work for sure. It's about comparing like with like, so format isn't that important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Site Sponsor Robert Houllahan Posted February 18, 2022 Site Sponsor Share Posted February 18, 2022 8 hours ago, Heikki Repo said: I guess Silbersalz does stitching then for everything they scan? They do also xpan and panorama. I don't really know but I can only assume that they do if they are scanning on a BMD Cintel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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