Microtek ArtixScan F1/M1
Filed in Scanning - December 25, 2007Stefan from Stockholmviews.com left a comment on an older post about scanning a few days ago and as I drifted across his website (various good scanner stuff) I noticed that the long awaited Microtek ArtixScan F1 (or M1 depending on market) scanner has finally started shipping.
This is, I think, the most significant new entrant into the film scanner market in a long time – it also shows that innovation in film scanning isn’t quite dead.
The scanner is a logical development from previous Microtek models and is a hybrid film and document scanner. Not hybrid in the way that the Epson v700 or v750 is (these are flatbed document scanners that have been coerced into being film scanners), but genuine hydrids. Film scanning is done below the glass, whilst document scanning is done in the traditional flatbed manner.
For a flatbed this is an expensive device (although pretty cheap at B&H prices for you lucky Americans), but even so it is about a third of the price of the Nikon 9000, to which it offers a much more significant alternative than do the two Epson models.
Epson flatbed film-ish scanners suffer from three major drawbacks. These are: the lack of a focussable lens; scanning takes place through the flatbed glass; and the film holders are so flimsy and unflat that they are manifestly unsuited to the task.
The Microtek overcomes two of these problems – the lens is an autofocus design and the scanning path excludes the glass. What I can’t tell about is the quality of the film holders, and as there is nothing approaching a serious review online at the moment, everything that I’ve seen on this subject is speculation.
My Nikon 8000 is coming up for retirement (the mechanism for holding and moving the film holders is wearing out) and the 9000 looks overpriced given its similarity to the 8000 and the inherent problems with the design.
So, a Microtek F1 as a late Christmas present? Dunno. Haven’t decided yet.
Hmm, I would not claim M1 is superior to Epsons just because theoretically it looks better. At some moment Epson already produced scanner with design similar to M1 that turned out to be nothing remarcable. Do you have any direct experience with M1? Do you have any comparable scans to take a look? I replaced broken medium format Dimage by V750 (Sony paid me money instead of repairing Dimage) and I was pleasantly surprised by quality of scans it delivers. I do have comparable scans from Dimage and V750. With easy self made improvements holders in V750 are acceptable enough and in my opinion there is no need to buy expensive third party holders. I did have Doug Fisher’s holder and returned it.
I shoot medium format and in my practice only very small fraction of film frames requires scanning better than 1600/2400 dpi. I could print 13×19 from Epson scans, and when I need better resolution, I outsource it to professionals. In US I could have maximum resolution Nikon 9000 scans from 6×7 for $15 each. After almost two years with V750 I don’t see any practical need in better scanner. If M1 could deliver same performance, it could be good alternative when someone looks for a scanner, but I doubt I will consider it as a replacement for my V750.
December 26, 2007 @ 6:09 am
Sergei,
You should note that nowhere have I said that the ‘M1 is superior to Epsons’.
I do, however, stand by my observation that the v700/750 models are flawed by design.
I have a V750 and as shipped it is not acceptable (to me) for film scanning – despite the formidable specification.
I don’t intend to make parts to force it to work, and whilst the third party holders are better than nothing they are a) expensive and b) a clunky compromise.
As always, I can only speak from my own experience.
December 26, 2007 @ 10:24 am
a couple of links with users comments on the new M1 / F1 scanner
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=27341&page=9
http://www.hasselbladinfo.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?10/38651
December 26, 2007 @ 10:36 am
Andrew,
Thanks. I was familiar with one, but not the other, of those threads.
The debate about ICE doesn’t concern me (mono scans mostly). The reported slowness does a bit. But mostly it is the results that count and reports are too few so far. I’m also waiting to ensure that the scanner will be fully supported by VueScan as I’m now well used to the raw scanning workflow and VueScan makes that easy.
December 26, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
Your post prompted me to do a thing I wanted to do for some times. I just posted an example of 35mm scanning with the Epson on my blog.
I really think the V750 is good enough for film scanning, provided one knows the limitations, mainly in terms of output size.
I somewhat agree about the Epson film holders, but I don’t think the holders from betterscanning.com are really expensive. The medium format one makes a big difference in the result.
December 26, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Stephane,
As you modestly didn’t post the link, here it is for anybody else to see:
http://lumieredargent.com/wp/?p=76
My gripe about the V750 isn’t based upon resolution. To be honest I’ve not tested it in that much detail. It was bought for 4×5 wet scans and that is what I’ve mostly used it for.
My gripe with the V750 is, though, the lack of focus and the lack of flatness.
I have bought the wet scan adapters from betterscanning and they are undoubtedly better than the Epson version. However, mine turned up broken (no problems in support from betterscanning – immediate replacements), and my experience in destroying the holders for the benefit of betterscanning’s insurance photo is that they are very fragile, and have a number of weak points in their design that lead me to hope that I never drop the ones that I now use.
Even the little screw-in feet that the betterscanning holders use has to be regarded as cludgy and potentially error prone method of focussing.
To repeat – I’m not familiar with the betterscanning holders for dry scanning. My first experience with the company’s products was off-putting.
December 26, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
As a historical note, the Agfa DuoScan had a similar concept wrt film scanning as the F1/M1 seems to have.
I have the el-cheapo version of the DuoScan, the Arcus 1200, gathering dust. That was not one of Agfa’s brightest moments quality-wise (it’s rumored to be a rebranded Acer or something), but I think the real DuoScans were better. The film holder plate replaces the glass plate in the Arcus. If I remember correctly, in the real DuoScans, the film holder goes near the scan head as it seems in the Microtek.
December 27, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
Colin,
In case you haven’t seen the more recent comment about the M1, it doesn’t sound like it’s going to surpass the V750 by much, despite the focusable lens and glassless path for 4×5.
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showpost.php?p=303415&postcount=215
I’m more concerned with the reliability of Microtek products. Have you ever used one in the past? Their service sounds spotty.
January 3, 2008 @ 2:48 am
Imaging-Resource has started an M1 diary:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/SCAN/M1/M1.HTM
January 3, 2008 @ 5:17 am
Sam,
Trouble is the ‘diary’ has been stuck at day one for while. One of their comments somewhere on the site suggests that they have a problem and are in communication/negotiation with microtek.
January 3, 2008 @ 7:40 am
Kent,
I’m aware of Microtek’s reputation. That is why I wouldn’t buy a US version of the machine. If I get one I will use the best UK retailer that I know of in the expectation of needing support.
The issue isn’t really whether it is better than an Epson v750, as given the similarity of the components it is unlikely to be lot different, but more whether it can achieve what a v750 ought to be able to achieve without the grief of using silly little shims and neg holder stiffeners like the v750 requires. Because both those things, in practice, mean that the v750 isn’t as good as the v750.
Nobody has yet posted a test (that I’ve seen) that a) is software independent (issues like contrast and sharpening) or b) substantially comments on the flatness issue.
January 3, 2008 @ 7:51 am
The Imaging-Resource M1 diary has been updated
http://www.imaging-resource.com/SCAN/M1/M1B.HTM
January 4, 2008 @ 7:30 pm