Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro Film Scanner

by Minolta

Product Details

Product Manual [2.25mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 20 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005QBXX
• Item model number: 2887-301
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #43 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Printers & Scanners > Slide & Film Scanners
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 30, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

With capabilities that will surprise even advanced users, the DiMage multiformat scanner provides the top performance and extensive features that businesses and photography professionals demand.

A quick overview of the scanner's extensive specs reveals a fixed-film moving sensor for single-pass scanning of 35mm and 120/220 film at resolutions up to 4,800 x 4,800 dpi. A closer look shows that the DiMage offers "ICE3" image enhancement, which corrects flaws such as fading and scratches by using Digital Image Correction and Enhancement, Digital Reconstruction of Color, and Digital Grain Equalization and Management. The end result is that imperfect photos can be improved before you even open PhotoShop.

Those obsessed with color reproduction will appreciate Color Matching options, which include sRGB, Apple RGB, SMPTEC-C, and PAL/SECAM, for the ultimate in color matching, regardless of whether you use more than one monitor. The DiMage offers a color depth of 8-bit and 16-bit.

Slide- and filmstrip holders position a wide variety of film types and include a 35mm Film Holder FH-P1, Slide Mount Holder SH-P1, Universal Holder UH-P1, Standard Attachment HA-P1, Glassless Attachment HA-P2, and Film Mask Set FM-P1, which contains most medium-format masks.

With two interfaces, Ultra SCSI and IEEE1394, the DiMage reduces overall scanning time, typically scanning 35mm film in 45 seconds, 6-by-9 film in just under four minutes (230 seconds).

The included bundled software is remarkably intuitive, despite the many controls available, such as tone curves, brightness, contrast, color, hue, saturation, lightness, selective color, and pre/post correction comparison display.

The DiMage clearly stands out as an exceptional scanner for professionals who demand the highest in image quality, speed, and usability. The unit carries a one-year parts and labor warranty.

From the Manufacturer

The Minolta DiMAGE Scan Multi Pro film scanner is equipped with 4,800 dpi optical resolution for 35mm. With a pixel count of more than 33 million, an A3-size output can retain a resolution of more than 400 dpi. Medium format film also can have a 4,800 dpi interpolated resolution for up to 6 x 9cm high-resolution, clear and crisp images with 169 million pixels and a 600 dpi. The scanner's core component, a 7,260-pixel, three-line color CCD, is enhanced by the inclusion of a dual focus-length lens system. The result: photographers can produce files suitable for fine exhibition-quality output with the DiMAGE Scan Multi PRO.

The DiMAGE Scan Multi PRO features Applied Science Fiction TM's (ASF TM) Digital ICE3 (pronounced Digital ICE "cubed") image enhancing technology for automatic image correction and restoration. Digital ICE3 is the combination of three digital enhancement tools: Digital ICETM (Image Correction and Enhancement), Digital ROCTM (Reconstruction of Color) and Digital GEMTM (Grain Equalization and Management). With easy-to-use settings, Digital ICE3 eliminates scratches on photographic film or slides, restores faded colors and improves on a photograph's overall appearance by minimizing grain, quickly and automatically during the scanning process. This trio of image processing tools can be selected individually or in combination. Digital ICE3 is applicable to color film only and is not recommended for use with Kodachrome film.

When working with the data from one image, even on multiple monitors sometimes in different operating environments, it's important to retain the same color reproduction. The Minolta DiMAGE Scan Multi PRO's Color Matching capability offers sRGB, Apple RGB, SMPTEC-C, PAL/SECAM and other color space settings so the images on one monitor will display the same color on another. In combination with photo-retouching applications featuring color management systems, scanned images retain virtually the same colors when used with different monitors and operating systems.

The DiMAGE Scan Multi PRO features a universal holder for glass-less and with glass scanning. This film scanner also features a Slide Mount Holder that functions as a four-slide batch-scanning holder as well as a one-slide holder. This film scanner is also capable of batch scanning up to six frames in a strip of 35mm film with the 35mm film holder.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Photos I've Ever Taken -- or Printed -- In My Life!, September 26, 2002

By 

MartyHansen (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro Film Scanner (Office Product)

Being an avid film photographer, I wanted to make beautiful 8 x 10 enlargements -- from film -- rather than from digital. The Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro film scanner (along with my home PC and printer) has enabled me to do just that. I couldn't be happier!

The enlargements I've made (using the scanned images of my 35 mm negatives) are just phenomenal! Not only are they sharp and crisp -- but the Minolta brings out all of the shadow detail normally lost in the typical prints one gets back from a regular photo finisher. Pictures that I would've normally dismissed as being "too dark" now come alive with color and detail -- just as I remembered the original scene to be.

I once read that 35 mm film contains between 11 and 13 megapixels of information -- which is far in excess of the capacity available in today's most advanced digital cameras. After seeing the photos created by my Minolta film scanner -- I have no doubt that this comparison is absolutely true.

The enlargements I've made using my Minolta film scanner are vastly superior to my previous efforts:

- Using a digital camera -- where the color range and image resolution are definitely inferior.
- Making professional enlargements from my 35 mm film -- which doesn't adequately bring out the shadow detail (without dodging and burning) since the process isn't digital.

As background, I selected the Minolta Scan Multi Pro since it was the only film scanner that I found which could do all of the following:

1) Accept both 35 mm and 120/220 (medium format) size film.
2) Scan up to 4,800 dpi for higher resolution.
3) Connect via Firewire (as a faster option than USB), which I have on my Sony Vaio (desktop) computer.
4) Scan using Digital ICE, ROC and GEM (from Applied Science Fiction), which removes dust and scratches, and restores and adjusts the color automatically.
5) Is Windows XP compatible (which many film scanners, particularly the older models, aren't).

The Minolta software that came with the unit was very easy to load. And the screen interface is very intuitive.

The Minolta program is intended for scanning images only -- and opens as an import into Photoshop and Photoshop Elements (which I use), and other major photo editing programs. Since all of the retouching takes place in the host photo editing program, this allows the Minolta scanning software to be much simpler -- and much more reliable.

There is an index scanning feature (at lower resolution) which provides for fast (initial) image viewing. Photo uploads -- at the highest 4,800 dpi setting with all of the filters turned on -- takes about five minutes. (I drink coffee while I'm waiting.) And the photos, once captured, normally require only minimal retouching or color adjustment (if at all).

Since I shoot mainly with zoom lenses (and without a tripod), I was also worried that my 35 mm negatives woudn't be sufficiently sharp for making nice 8 x 10's. I was therefore pleasantly surprised to discover the following:

- That my 35 mm photos had much more resolution than I ever knew existed (particularly in the shadows and fine details).
- That I didn't need to change my equipment (to fixed focal length lenses) or use a tripod to make sharp pictures.
- And, most importantly, that I didn't need to buy an expensive higher-megapixel digital camera to make excellent 8 x 10 enlargements.

The level of detail (and drama) that I now see in my scenics and portraits is truly exceptional! I couldn't be more satisfied.

Granted, this Minolta Multi Scan Pro isn't cheap. And a less expensive film scanner can probably be had, especially if one can do without some of the options listed above (in particular, the 120/220 film capability, the faster Firewire connection, or the 4,800 dpi).

I love, however, that my photo albums are now filled with page-after-page of beautiful -- and richly detailed -- 8 x 10 blow-ups. And I'm even happier knowing that I can continue to shoot using the highest resolution photo medium yet available today. Film!

Get a Minolta Multi Scan Pro film scanner -- and discover just how good your 35 mm pictures really are! You'll be truly amazed!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works great with B&W and Underwater Photos, November 18, 2002

By 

MartyHansen (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro Film Scanner (Office Product)

After confirming that the Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro film scanner works wonderfully with color film, I thought I'd branch out. I soon discovered that the Minolta also works superbly for both my 1) black & white and 2) underwater photography.

For black & white photos, I use Kodak's black & white film for color print (C-41) processing, the film recommended for use in the Minolta film scanner (due to limitations in how the Applied Science Fiction image enhancing software works). The results, nevertheless, were fantastic.

The images were sharp -- with tremendous amounts of detail in both the highlights and the shadows. And digitizing them allowed me to use my PC to control the tonal range better than I ever could using a professional print service or my own home darkroom. Shooting -- and printing -- b&w photos has never been more satisfying. For once, I really felt like Ansel Adams!

For underwater photography, I use Canon's A-1, a very affordable autofocus camera that's good down to 11 feet -- a sufficient depth for snorkeling or taking photos of my kids swimming below-the-surface in the pool.

When I scanned some kids-playing-underwater shots into the Minolta, I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw the results. The original photos (from the photo lab) were very bluish, as would be expected. But the prints made from the Minolta-scanned images had flesh tones and bathing suits that looked as natural and as colorful as if the photos had been taken on land! It was truly amazing. It made me immediately want to go out and enroll in scuba diving lessons -- to take underwater photos of very colorful fish. Jacques Cousteau, here I come!

In both cases -- for b&w and underwater photography -- the Minolta allowed me to create the most sensational images I've ever authored in either medium.

The Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro film scanner continues to delightfully expand my photographic horizons. I'm sure it can easily do the same for you.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice scanner, March 9, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro Film Scanner (Office Product)

I'm quite pleased with this scanner. The scanner is fast and the digital ICE does a nice job in removing dust specs. I use it mainly to scan my 6x6 color negatives. When I use the scanner firewire connection with two different XP PCs it is not a simple "plug and play" operation. I have to go through an involved turn-on sequence to get the scanner to work with the PC. The exact sequence differs between both PCs. Others on the Yahoo Minolta Multi Pro Scanner Group have reported this same problem with firewire and XP. I now use the scanner scsi interface with a fast scsi or an ultra scsi card in both PCs and it always works as long as I power the scanner on first and wait for it to settle down before powering on the PC. The scan time is the same with firewire or scsi. 35mm scans look great, but medium format scans are somewhat grainy. It's like color prints made on a condenser enlarger instead of a diffusion enlarger.