An APS-C Sensor Advantage

For more than 2 years I've been using Canon DSLR cameras with the smaller APS-C size sensor rather than the 'full-frame' sensor that is about the size of a 35mm frame. While I wouldn't quarrel with anybody who chose to go with the larger sensor, I made a very deliberate decision to go with the smaller sensor.

One reason that I chose to build my system around the APS-C sensor is that the lenses used with APS-C have shorter focal lengths for equivalent fields of view than the lenses made for full frame sensors. The advantage is that the shorter lenses have greater depth of field, everything else being equal.

I do a lot of landscape photography, and extra depth of field is a big advantage, especially when shooting scenes with wide angle lenses where I need to focus on the near foreground as well as the horizon.

More on DIGITAL ICE on the Epson V500

Using DIGITAL ICE does add a significant amount to a scan, and the amount of time added seems greater on some photos than others. For example, on a simple 645 size transparency that I scanned recently, the scan without DIGITAL ICE took 43 seconds and the scan with DIGITAL ICE took 155 seconds.

The scanner resolution was set at 1200 dpi, 24 bit color, and the 'Unsharp Mask' was on; ICE was set to 'Quality' rather than 'Speed'.

DIGITAL ICE Technology in the Epson V500 Photo Scanner

The Epson V500 Photo Scanner that I'm now using came with DIGITAL ICE technology built in. This is a 'hardware-based' (and I'm not sure exactly what is meant by that phrase) process designed to automatically remove dust and scratches in film images.

I usually don't switch DIGITAL ICE on because it significantly slows down the scanning process. However, tonight I had to scan a color negative that turned out to have an incredible amount of dust imbedded in the emulsion during processing.

I re-scanned the negative with DIGITAL ICE (their caps, not mine) turned on, and the results exceeded my expectations. This post shows a 500 x 350 pixel crop from the first scan. The post below this one shows the same crop with DIGITAL ICE turned on. I did no retouching to either scan.

If you want to see the 100% size crop:

http://www.ashcreekimages.com/files/BLOG/withOUT_ICE.JPG

DIGITAL ICE Results

Here is the same crop with DIGITAL ICE employed during the scanning process. I have not done any cloning or other retouching of any kind. All spotting was done completely automatically by the DIGITAL ICE process.

Unbelievable.

Here is the 100% crop:

http://www.ashcreekimages.com/files/BLOG/with_ICE.JPG

Epson Perfection V500 Photo

More on the Epson V500:

Compared to my old Epson 1200U, the user interface on the new scanner is much quicker and easier to use. Interestingly, the menus look very similar to the ones on the 1200U, which shortens the learning curve a bunch, but somehow you get to a finished scan more quickly and easily.

I use the 'Professional' mode, which allows the user maximum control and reduces the amount of work that needs to be done in Photoshop (or in my case, GIMP). At this point, I am primarily using the machine to scan Velvia transparencies that I shot in the 90's. I need to replace some really rotten old scans on my website with better quality scans.

Typical old scan:

http://www.ashcreekimages.com/files/licfernroof.jpg

New scan:

http://www.ashcreekimages.com/FernsLicoriceRoof.html

Gee, Whiz...

This weekend I bought Epson's newest scanner, the Perfection V500 Photo.

First impressions:

It looks waaaay cooler that my old Epson 1200U, which was long overdue for replacement. On paper it's supposed to be larger than the old scanner (which went in the dumpster on the way to CompUSA to buy the new one), but on my desk it seems to take up less room and seems more compact.