![]() Therefore, the scanners remain slow, relatively low quality and with software that is slowly becoming obsolete and unusable. Later models, like the current Epson v850, were released in the years to come but offered no significant improvements to the software, digital sensor, digital processing or optical system. The exemplary Epson v700 flatbed scanner, released in early 2006, evidently incorporated a successful formula as Epson flatbed scanners are still the most recommended scanners on online film forums today. This is where we find ourselves right now, with scanning technology frozen in time around 2007. However, all good things end… By the then, no one env isioned a long term future for film and the development of scanners completely stopped. In the mid-2000s, good quality scanners were produced and regularly upgraded. ![]() Imacon (later Hasselblad Imacon) Flextight scanners offered serious competition to digital workflows, being able to keep up with the best digital medium format sensors, and providing amazing quality paired with 4×5 sheet film that was so commonly used by demanding professionals. Scanners like the Coolscan 9000D (2003) were able to produce files equivalent to that created with the best digital equipment of the time. Or rather… Nothing happened! Stagnation of scanning technologyĪ decade ago, despite advances in digital technology, scanners were still able to rival digital cameras in terms of quality. The scanners were made for the home market, who could enjoy great quality and speed, for the time, at a very affordable price – considering the state of digital technology at the time. Some of the, now, iconic scanners, like the Nikon Coolscan 9000D and the Epson v700 came out in the mid 2000s. This is where digital sales peaked and analogue cameras were destined for the rubbish bin.įor a short golden era between about 20, film scanners were being updated to keep up with the increasing demands for quality in digital technology. Using cameras like the Hasselblad H3D with 40 or 50MP sensors while also getting instant feedback, was simply too tempting. By 2005, with the release of the Canon 5D mk I, even the most quality-centric professional 35mm film shooters were moving away from film – and fast! By 2010 it was hard to argue for the use of film, even for those shooting medium and large format film cameras in studios. Then, digital consumer cameras arrived in the early 2000s and by 2005 had mostly killed off film as an inter-medium for the home market. ![]() ![]() The best way to create high-quality digital images was to use film as an inter-medium. By the 90’s, digital cameras started appearing in the market, but in this period, digital copies of film were still far better than the dinky resolution of digital cameras of the time. When the digital era slowly crept into reality in the 1980’s, people started seeing the value in making digital copies of film. What is the future of scanning at home going to look like? We will explore the future of home scanning thoroughly by looking at the history of film scanning, discussing how scanners work as well as some contemporary problems with designing new scanners while providing solutions for the future. ![]()
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