Neg Scans supermarket vs flatbed Vs camera Vs etc...

[philslizzy]

Neg scans have interested me as I am using more film than ever before.

I have scanned the same neg in different ways. I chose a well exposed negative taken on a 1957 Fujuca 35ML with an electronic flash. The camera was focused by guesstimate and the aperture was f5.6. I have not changed anything and applied no PP apart from the camera scan which required reversing and orange mask removal.

I have provided a full image and crops from the same area of image to compare sharpness etc.
Lets see the result.

The original image, full size. This is the Asda scan:



ASDA scan:





Camera Scan





Cheapo scanner





Flatbed with the neg in the holder





the same but with the neg on the glass (emulsion side up)



lastly a scan of the 10 x15 cm silk finish print

[Excalibur]

Thank for posting this...IMO the resolution of the Asda is very good in comparison (if not the best) and just let done by the pixel count and slight clipping of the black detail.
In my own test Asda versus an Epson V750:- the resolution was the same, so I don't use my scanner as the Asda scan is OK for posting on forums, but because an Asda scan is only 1800 X 1200 pixels it's crap for any cropping of if wanting a large print....and the annoying thing is the Fuji Frontier machine they use can go higher, and I've asked the operator if she could do this, but the girl said "the machine is set by the engineers". Wouldn't it be great if Asda gave you a choice of a higher scan for say 50p more.
....also the Asda Fuji gear can dev and scan medium format if only.....................................................

http://craig-stephen.co.uk/2012/10/fuji-frontier-or-noritsu-film-scans/

http://www.richardphotolab.com/wordpress/category/nvsf/

[iangreenhalgh1]

The Asda scan is clearly the worst, the resolution is much lower and the dynamic range is much less, also the colours are the least accurate. This bears out my own experience. I think the Asda scans are only useful for seeing which frames are worth re-scanning at better quality, unless the pictures are only intended to be used on Facebook or other social media where quality is a moot thing anyways.

The Frontier may be capable of much better, but in reality, we're only going to get this level of quality from Asda and no more.

Here's one example of Asda scan vs a scan from my Plustek 7600i, the difference in quality is pretty clear:

[Excalibur]

Well I don't know which is which but the first one is too bright (on my monitor) and needed adjusting in Photoshop. With my Asda they give consistent results in that they are usually too bright, maybe contrast a bit high, and annoyingly in shots that show it...over sharpened. Well I know exactly what to do and correct in Photoshop in about a 1min, but there is nothing I can do about over sharpening.

What's wrong with these Asda dev and scans adjusted for above faults in Photoshop, is it necessary to see the shadow detail in the chair, pushchair or if the dark seaweed in the scan is clipped who cares.

[philslizzy]

Ian your Plustek scan is really good. I spoke to the Asda operator and he tells me that all the settings are greyed out bearing out what Excalibur said.

I use them anyway, its good to see what the pic looks like and they do an excellent job when the neg is under exposed, better than i could.

I went to Max Spielmann and used them to see what the scan quality was like.

Never again - I never learn. EVERY single time I have had a film developed, its covered in scratches. EVERY time since the early 90's. In fact here at Birchwood they still use a machine that does APS and has 110 and 126 carriers.

Here is a scan from Jessops. The contrast is a little flat. It was taken on an Altix N with a Tessar lens.

See the scratch lines and white patch above the piano player, this is the shite that Max puts all over your negatives.

But close up its not too bad, a tad better than Asda in my opinion, with little or no sharpening but full of unwanted crap. Even my cack-handed handling of negatives can't produce this sort of rubbish.

[Excalibur]

Well the only thing better than a fuji frontier and similar machines is a ...............................drum scanner and I don't think Max Spielmann used that for your shot

[philslizzy]

The negs are pushed into a slot near the bottom of the machine and supplied cut in a loose bag. At least Asda puts them in sleeves. The staff at Speilmanns are great and the large print quality (from digital) is beautiful - and cheap. But the neg service is diabolical.

Going back to my original post, I think the best scan here is from the print.

[Excalibur]

[philslizzy]

Glossy prints scan better but mine isn't bad scanned I think at 400 dpi.

I'm looking for a couple of old Kodak Photo CD's I have from the 90's. The scan quality on them was awesome.

[Excalibur]

[iangreenhalgh1]

[Excalibur]

[iangreenhalgh1]

The edge markings on Vista Plus 200 are the same as Superia, which is what I said months ago.

[Excalibur]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Look at a strip of superia side by side with a strip of vista plus, then you might figure it out....

[Excalibur]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Lightbox my bottom, use your monitor with a white screen displayed. My local poundland had the Vista Plus 400 in stock, only 24exp rolls, but I grabbed 20, we shall see what it is.

[Excalibur]

[philslizzy]

Poundland have told me they are not getting any more Vista when this runs out. The managers in six shops told me this.

[Excalibur]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Oh well, I have nearly 100 rolls of 200 and 19 rolls of 400 in the fridge.

Shot my first roll of 400 today, will get it developed next week.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Got my last roll of Kodak Gold 100 back from Asda today.

I think this answers the question of how do supermarkets scans compare to a good scanner.

The difference in colours and dynamic range is very clear.

[Excalibur]

Well on my monitor they both have colour casts and the Asda scan needs adjusting, but still your scan is better although the Asda looks sharper...which is not surprising as they over sharpen.

[iangreenhalgh1]

[Excalibur]