subject: Analog Isn't Dead, Film Scanners Live On [print this page] Analog Isn't Dead, Film Scanners Live On Analog Isn't Dead, Film Scanners Live On
In an age where cameras are increasingly all-digital, and many places that develop photographs offer memory card readers and USB ports, there is one aspect of photography that can still not be forgotten: the film scanner.
Film scanners are an absolute must when it comes to Photo Film Equipment (PFE). They provide a way to get a film image into a computer without any intermediate development steps, meaning they are a must-have item for professional photographers who want to preserve the raw integrity of their film and their pictures. Unlike a flatbed scanner, the film scanner imports the picture without it having been developed, giving the photographer control over the image's cropping, aspect ratio, and the size of the print.
Scanners typically accept 35 millimeter or 220 film, as well as individual slides. However, it is important to keep in mind that in this category of electronics, like most others, you get what you pay for. The lower-end and more affordable film scanners typically accept only 35-millimeter film. Photographers will have to pay a little more out of pocket for one that accepts the more unusual 220 format and single slides, but it's a worthwhile expenditure for anyone who enjoys taking photos with a wide array of films.
One thing to keep in mind is that, when scanning film, it should be in perfect or near-perfect condition. The biggest perk of scanners is that they take a very small image on film and blow it up to absolutely stunning, large proportions. But this means that any fleck of dust, or any scratch, instantly becomes a monstrosity that can ruin an otherwise stunning picture. Many techniques have been developed to either prevent this from occurring or to minimize the appearance of dust and scratches once they appear. Popular photo manipulation programs, like GIMP or Adobe's industry-leading Photoshop, offer filters that use the colors surrounding dust specks, or scratches, to fill in with a matching color and thus cause the scratch to "disappear."
Many film scanner manufacturers also have individual techniques to tackle this issue, so you may want to refer to the instruction manual that came with your scanner model in order to best fix any issues that may arise from these problems. Remember, because these type of scanners work between such small and large proportions, even dust that is unseen by the naked eye can cause an issue.
Overall, film scanners are a must-have item for a photographer's PFE. Their tenuous relationship with dust and scratches notwithstanding, they are an absolutely essential piece of equipment for those who prefer to manipulate their own raw photographs rather than taking the chance of having them developed at a photography shop, or switching to digital photography at the expense of photo quality.
Analog photography is no longer the main way of taking pictures in our increasingly-digital world; but with film scanners made by the likes of Kodak, Nikon, and Canon, it is easy to maintain the high quality of film photography while getting all of the perks of digital photo manipulation and online photo sharing.
For more information on film scanners, visithttp://pfe.com/p174510-superior-film-scanners.cfm
