Shadows and colours in slide film - Nikon Scan v Silverfast

[UPJSM]

I refer to:

Re: Shadows and colours in slide film - Nikon Scan v Silverfast
von LSI_Morales » 7. Juni 2010, 17:30
Dear Bob,
Version 6.4 is not compatible with the patch presented in the forum, all changes made with the patch have already been implemented into the latest version of SilverFast (6.1.1r7).
Kind regards
Alejandro Morales

In the Silverfast overview to the different versions I find in the german edition:

Version 6.6.1r7: (2010-04-06)
NEW:
Reflecta ProScan 7200: Eigene NegaFix Profile für den Reflecta ProScan 7200 hinzugefügt.
IMPROVEMENT:
Nikon LS 5000ED / Super Coolscan 5000 ED: Drei NegaFix Profile für den Nikon LS-5000 hinzugefügt: Agfa Futura 200 APS, Agfa Futura 400 APS, und Fuji Nexia 800 APS.

There is no comment about the discussed patch to vary the lamp intensity.

In the options-dialogue für Coolscan LS 50 is a range of adjustement from -20 to +20.
What does this scale mean ?
Will the lamp`s brightness be 20times stronger at +20 as compared to 0 ?

When I calibrate at different intensity`s of lamp-brightness, can I save thess calibrations as profiles ?

Thank you for your answers

Ulrich Seidl

[LSI_Heidorn]

Dear Mr. Seidl,
this thread was about the newly added Lamp Control for the NikonSF ( Mac OSX version ).
In the OSX version the LampControl ranges from -50 to 200 which is meant as "percent".
So a setting of 200% adds 200% lightness resulting in 300% lightness.
This is not stricly linear as the sensors are not strictly linear but it is quite close for such a well engineered product as a Nikon Scanner...

So i am not exactly sure where the +-20 come from ?
Are you by chance using the NikonM (M = Nikon Maid) version on Windows ?
If so, i can not know what those values exactly mean, they are interpreted & set by the Nikon driver Interface...

On Mac as on PC you *should* do a new calibration if you change those settings. On PC you should also switch off the auto exposure mode as this also moves the exposure factors...
This is the main reason why we left out the auto exposure on the Mac, where we have ultimate control over the scanner compared to the Maid driven PC version...


By the way, as those values do not actually change the lamp brightness but the exposure time, they should not affect lamp lifespan...

best regards,

Nils Heidorn, R & D

[UPJSM]

Dear Mr. Heidorn,

Thank you for your quick answer.
You ask me

So i am not exactly sure where the +-20 come from ?
Are you by chance using the NikonM (M = Nikon Maid) version on Windows ?
If so, i can not know what those values exactly mean, they are interpreted & set by the Nikon driver Interface...

.

I work with PC, AI Studio for Nikon LS 50.
" +20 " I find in the main Silverfast dialogue under Frames/Options/Spezial/lamp brightness.
An IT8 calibration works only with a value up to +5, by not with +7 or more.

Another question from me to

On PC you should also switch off the auto exposure mode as this also moves the exposure factors...

.
Where can I switch the auto exposure off on PC ?
Can I make differences to the length of exposure , wenn scanning in the HDR Mode ?

Thank you for your answers.

Ulrich Seidl

[LSI_Heidorn]

Dear Mr. Seidl,
as i wrote in my last post --> the -20 <--> +20 in the PC version have an unknown definition as the range is defined by Nikon.
One could measure and make an educated guess but it is not known if the values are even linear or logarithmic or ...
The IT8 will not work with high values as the bright patches are "burned out" if you overdo the brighness. This is not only bad for the calibration but also "hurts" your well exposed images, so do not do it unless you must do so !
We basically agreed to allow lamp setting in the Mac version as some customers experienced that their old scanners visibly "darkened" up to now.

The auto exposure is the "bulb" icon at the left side of the preview area.
The HDR mode DOES use the exposure setting, the same rules apply --> do not use it harshly, know what you're doing !
If you do not know the consequences, stick with thw default value.
If you use a new exposure base setting, you have to redo the IT8 profiling, if you cannot do so for extreme exposures you have to work without CMS OR you have to use a profile done with a different exposure, both will not result in precise reults, you have to look at the images to judge what is better...

Greetings,

Nils Heidorn, R & D

[Steve K]

Hi Hellototo

I have just come across your very interesting scan comparisons article you posted way back in January!

I am going through the same exasperating evaluation myself now and have an enormous archive of velvia and kodakchromes as I'm sure you have.

By now you will be well into your scanning project and so I thought you'd have a very considered opinion of which you prefer using-including v**s**n if you've used this too.

I am having all sorts of such shadow issues with many of my dark scans : As a wild life photographer much of my work was shot at dawn dusk low light and so I have been using Nikon scans DEE extensively with a fair bit of success albeit with noise removal by noiseware done post processing.

Should I splurge on SIlverfast I wonder. So far after extensive tests using ai i just havent managed to produce better slides. Your two images said it all!

What version of SIlverfast should I be getting too-It seems its between AI studio or SE plus ? I have the LS5000ED.

Any help would be really appreciated,

Kind regards

Steve Knott
Bulls-Eye Photography