LaserSoft Imaging

In considering the purchase of my first film scanner, I'm struggling with the price/feature tradeoff between an Acer Scanwit 2720 without ICE for around $200-$250 and a 2740 with ICE for around $370 - $400. I'm an amateur/hobbyist on a budget, but I'd pay the extra for ICE if I knew it was worth it. At this point I don't know enough to make my purchase decision. I want some simple, basic tools to improve my scanned images. I particularly like the Pilot feature of your latest version 6, as well as the similar guided steps in Photoshop Elements. In this vein, the automatic nature of defect removal with ICE is particularly attractive. The necessity, with SRD, to view each image and select which defects, and to which degree, to repair is a bit off-putting, but I'd accept it if I can achieve quality results with the 2720 while saving 1/3 to 1/2 the cost compared with the 2740. Any insight or education you can provide as to pros/cons of ICE vs (or in addition to) SRD would be appreciated. What else do I need to know, what have I missed?

ICE is a powerful feature, but it has a few drawbacks. That's why LaserSoft developed SRD which can also be used with B&W negatives (not ICE) and supplies a full control to the user. But SRD needs a manual tuning, whereas ICE is automatic.

You can have a look at some previous comments, for example:

viewtopic.php?t=1180&highlight=srd

Thomas

Also ICE does not work with Kodachrome. So if you have lots of these to scan ICE will not be of much use.

Thanks, this info was helpful. I posted a new, question under topic Soverfast and ICE.

ICE does work with some Kodachromes. i have scanned about 1000 from the late 1950s and early 1960s with less than 10% having problems. Other users have reported problems on all their Kodachromes. So i think it depends on the vintage and the image.

Frank