Depending on the volume of film scanning and whether you must scan all
or most shots at maximum, don't underestimate the quality of
state-of-the-art flatbed scanners now available at circa $200.
Performance equal to the N'kon film scanner can be achieved with
individual images. I concur with your assessment that the technology
curve remains steep in this product line. Forecast is for a plateau
in
the technology with decreasing prices from new competition such as the
Reflecta, etc. within a year. Flatbeds don't provide my 'lazy' ideal
of starting the feed of a film roll punching the button and going off
to do something else, but quality they CAN deliver leaving funds for a
good bottle of wine or another Zuiko.
The output link is the most difficult to predict at this time. The top
Epson Prosumer inkjets with custom inks and careful fussing can
produce
awesome prints - - albeit at significant capital and material costs.
Competition from HP may lower costs slightly. Color laser printers
improve, but remain expensive. Color printing opportunities, either
DYI or an outside lab may remain largely unchanged for the next few
years. Gates may be right. The plummeting cost of LCD, improving
prospects for OLED and concept of e-paper may create a world where our
photo collection is viewed with a 'channel surfer' button. Only very
select prints will become hard copy in large sizes while the snapshot
market migrates to snapshot printers from HP.
Long live the Jetsons.....
Bill
P. S. Post this as an after thought to the prior note re digital
storage. Might add that my hope / prediction is for blue laser
storage
on "mini"-optical disks built into a digital camera. The storage
density / cost /ease of use factors are ideal for this technology.
On Saturday, August 23, 2003, at 02:08 PM, Jeff Keller wrote:
Some very experienced people also prefer Spr*ntScan to either Min*lta
or
Ni*on. By the time most people could learn to use three different
scanners near their capability, newer better stuff is available. I
don't
see much alternative to reading biased opinions to learn about the
differences, then placing a fairly big bet on one.
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