Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III: A Quick Review
Text and photography copyright James Hutchison If you're already familiar with budget scanners, you'll know that scanning film on flatbed scanners costing under $500 is pretty well a waste of time. Assuming that 4800 DPI is adequate to scan film is wrong, because it comes down to the quality of the optical system that delivers the image to the CCD. Keep in mind you get what you pay for. So on that note, I'd like to say I am extremely pleased with Minolta's Dimage Dual Scan III. They didn't sacrifice features or quality on this one. This scanner caught my eye while surfing various photography web sites. All of the reviews gave glowing remarks on its ease of use, software, and picture quality. When I figured out it could be purchased for less than $500, it didn't take long to make arrangements to visit a local photo superstore while on a business trip in Toronto. After a live demo and a surprise instore discount, I walked out with scanner in hand, anxious to get home and finally release my hundreds of slides into the digital ether.
Minolta's Dimage Scan Dual III film scanner.
Set-up was a cinch. It took no time at all to install the software, plug the USB cable into my PC, and scan a slide. I was impressed with the results of my very first attempt. Two nice features - something Minolta calls Pixel Polish and Auto Dust Brush - helped render an accurate and clean scan. The brilliance and sharpness of transparencies is also rendered truthfully. An 8 X 10 printout of the scan on my HP 7550 was stunning. Because I had been waiting for quite a while to digitize my collection of transparencies, my wife had to pry me away from the office for the next 2 weeks. Scan print; scan print, and on and on I went. Compared to my previous flatbed scans, the difference was obvious. Scanning a slide on my Microtek Scanmaker 5900 flatbed at 4800 DPI yields a 95 MB image that lacks in detail. The optics simply do not deliver a crisp image to the CCD. Compare that to a 30 MB clear image from the Minolta - no contest! Minolta's Dimage Dual Scan III Specifications From a technical standpoint, anyone can get the specs for this baby on the net quite easily, so I won't bore you with them all. But the major ones you'd probably be interested in are the following:
2840 DPI Scans 35mm positive and negative, and APS with optional adaptor 4.8 DMAX in 16 bit mode 8 bit, 16 bit, and 16 bit linear options Multiple sampling for noise reduction - up to 8X Auto and manual focus Comes with driver, scanning software, Photoshop Elements, and 2 film trays (film strips and mounted slides) Operating systems: Apple and Windows
Workflow There are two ways to scan; via the twain capture option in Photoshop (or whatever program you use), and the utility itself. If you wish to do batch
Compared to the results from a flatbed scanner (left), the Dimage Scan Dual III produced clear, well-detailed scans.
scanning, use the utility. That way you don't have to exit out of the software if you plan on touching up each scan. I use the twain capture feature if I'm only doing one slide, as the scanning software must be closed for the image to appear in Photoshop. There are three basic steps, starting with an index scan that creates thumbnails of each slide. After highlighting which slide to scan, it will then perform a pre-scan, which is a more detailed capture. It will invoke auto-focus at this point if that feature is chosen in the preferences window. Here's where you crop as well, or use auto-crop, which works quite well if you wish to use the entire frame of the picture. Then the final scan takes place after you're done tweaking colors, etc. If the scanner is set to sample 8 times in 16 bit mode, find something else to do for a few minutes. It's a bit slow, but for slides with alot of dark shadow detail, it can't be beat (see canon photo). Some of the finer points when scanning are actually fun, like the manual focus. Pick a spot on the film or slide you want dead-on, move a slider back and forth until a black bar is the longest, and you now have that point in fine focus. The scanner does a pretty good job in auto-focus mode, so I just let the unit do its thing. There are other "nerd buttons" to play with as well, including a barrage of image manipulation options such as histograms, color balance, etc. I tend to play with the final product in Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, instead of using the scanner software. But Minolta's software is very capable, it's just that the pre-scan image is a bit grainy, so I make my adjustments on the final scan. Any Negatives? Pun unintended, but maybe just a couple:

1. It doesn't have Applied Science Fiction's Digital ICE for dust and scratch removal. There were some slides that required
manual intervention - long scratches are only partially removed with the dust brush feature.
2. The scanner is actually rather light, so pushing the film tray into the opening is a two-handed operation as you must hold the
unit down with your other hand. I did manage with just one hand, wiggling the tray just a bit side-to-side until the gears caught and took over, but it takes more time fiddling to avoid pushing the scanner away from me. Conclusions It's a Great Value! If you want a great scanner at an even greater price, in my opinion this product will suite both the casual user and professional quite adequately. Minolta released a Scan Dual IV, which scans at 3200 DPI with all the same features and software, so if it's like the III, I'd nab it right away if you're looking for a well-priced, well-performing film scanner. JH-NPN 1257 About the author. Jim Hutchison is a hobby photographer who lives in Calgary, Canada with his wife Moira and Buddy the cat. You can visit his website at www.jamesphotography.ca. Comments on NPN wildlife photography articles? Send them to the editor.
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The new Konica Minolta DiMAGE Scan Dual IV film scanner
Osaka, Japan, January 7th, 2004: Konica Minolta Camera, Inc. introduces the DiMAGE Scan Dual IV film scanner as a successor model of their already worldwide-popular DiMAGE Scan Dual III. The new DiMAGE Scan Dual IV incorporates a number of features found only on high-end scanners, which make operation easy and faithfully reproduce film images into digital in less work time. Moreover, it uses a new 3200 dpi CCD to deliver higher image quality and yet it is still affordably priced for a 35 mm/Advanced Photo System film scanner. The DiMAGE Scan Dual IV delivers high image quality that will satisfy photo enthusiasts by not only adopting a new high performance 3-line color 3200 dpi CCD, but also by incorporating an advanced optical system specifically designed for film scanning consisting of a film scanner lens that condenses the technology of Konica Minolta, and an auto focusing system that is not available in flatbed scanners. With a 16-bit A/D conversion and a wide dynamic range of 4.8, the DiMAGE Scan Dual IV faithfully reproduces the rich variations in tone from light to dark of the original film image. Moreover, Multi-sample Scanning improves the scan data by reducing random noise. The DiMAGE Scan Dual IV features advanced image correction technology. Auto Dust Brush Auto Dust Brush automatically detects dust on the film surface that blowers cannot remove, and corrects the image. Moreover, a Photoshop Plug-in has been added so that images can be corrected in real-time using the bundled software Photoshop Elements 2.0. Users can also select areas for correction, and adjust the processing level. Pixel Polish Pixel Polish brings various corrective features for matching the overall image to specific elements in the picture such as person, night scene, trees and sky, in addition to allowing the user to restore faded colors, or correcting backlit and under/over exposure. Digital Grain Dissolver Digital Grain Dissolver reduces the affect of grain in color film without sacrificing original image detail.
Thanks to improved sequences in the scanning process and the USB2.0 interface, high speed operation including image transfer and display is possible only 21 seconds per image even at the highest resolution of 3200 dpi. The DiMAGE Scan Dual IVs high-speed auto focus with an upgraded algorithm and improved motor drive control allows the scanner to be focused quickly onto the center or a selected point within the image. The DiMAGE Scan Dual IV makes operation easier and shortens work time by incorporating the Batch Scan and the Quick Scan function. Batch Scan Utility enables continuous scanning under user-set optical input resolution, exposure and Image correction, so scan work is more efficient. And, because pressing the Quick Scan button allows the user to scan 6 continuous frames, users can shorten the amount time needed to complete scan work.
DiMAGE Scan Dual IV Major Features High image quality by an optical system designed specifically for film scanning New high performance 3200 dpi, 3-line color CCD High speed scanning only 21 seconds per frame even at maximum 3200 dpi resolution 16-bit A/D conversion (dynamic range of 4.8) Multi-sample scanning for reducing random noise Auto Dust Brush for dust removal, Photoshop Plug-in enables to be processed within selected area in the image after the scan. Pixel Polish for various automatic image correction Digital Grain Dissolver reduces the affect of film grain. Quick Scan function allows users to scan 6 frames continuously by simply pressing the Quick Scan button. Simple operation that completes scanning in 4 easy steps by using Easy Scan Utility High performance, high speed auto focus Can scan film images from corner to corner thanks to a new film holder that enables a 100% field of view. Supports 35 mm/APS film.

DiMAGE Scan Dual IV

Technical Specifications
* with optional APS Adapter AD-10
Film formats: Film types: Optical input resolution: Scan sizes:
35mm film: Advanced Photo System film:*
35mm, Advanced Photo System Negative and positive, color and black and white
3200dpi 24.76 x 37.14 mm 17.33 x 30.09 mm 3,120 x 4,680 2,184 x 3,792 Moving-film, fixed-sensor, single-pass scan 3-line color CCD (5,340 pixels / line) RGB filter 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, Off

Input pixels:

Scan method: Sensor type: Filter: Multi-sample scanning: Continuous scan: A/D conversion: Output data: Dynamic range: Scan times:
35mm-film holder: 6 frames (max.) Slide mount holder: 4 frames (max.)

16 bits

8 bits, 16 bits (per color channel)
4.8 Approximate time with color positive film, 3200 dpi input resolution, 8-bit color depth, No cropping, No autoexposure, No color matching, No Auto Dust Brush, No image corrections: Pre-scan 5s Final scan 21 s environment:

Windows: 35mm film: System test Windows XP Professional Pentium 4 3.2 GHz 1GB of RAM 86 GB of hard-disk space Application: Adobe Photoshop 7.0.1 Memory allocated to application: 80% USB 2.0 Pre-scan 35mm film: System 8s test Final scan 21 s environment:

Interface: Macintosh:

Mac OS 10.3.1 PowerPC G5 1.8GHz 512 MB of RAM 16 GB of hard-disk space Application: Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Memory allocated to application: 80% Interface: USB 2.0
PC interface: Focusing: Light source: Power requirements:
USB 2.0 (1.1 compatible) Autofocus (Point AF available), Manual focus 3-wave cold-cathode fluorescent tube 24V DC with specified AC adapter 100-120V AC for North America, Taiwan, and Japan 220-240V AC for Europe, Asia (except Taiwan and Japan), and Oceania

Power consumption:

30W (max.) * As an ENERGY STAR Partner, Konica Minolta has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.
Dimensions: Weight (Scanning unit only): Standard accessories:
145(W) x 100(H) x 325(D) mm / 5.7 (W) x 3.9 (H) x 12.8 (D) in. 1.5 kg / 3.3 lb. (approx.) 35mm-film Holder FH-U2
Slide Mount Holder SH-U1 USB Cable UC-2 AC Adapter AC-U22, U23, U24, or U25 CD-ROM for DiMAGE Scan Dual IV Photoshop Elements 2.0 Optional accessories: APS Adapter AD-10
Specifications and accessories are based on the latest information available at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice. Specification figures are based on Konica Minolta's standard test method.

System Requirements

<Macintosh>

Computer:

Apple Macintosh computers
CPU: * PowerPC G3 or later *3 Operating system: Mac OS 8.6 9.2.2 , Mac OS X v10.1.3-10.1.5,
Mac OS X v10.2.1-10.2.8, 10.3-10.3.1

RAM: *

64MB or larger excluding memory used for application software and operating sytem *3 300MB or larger *3 interface USB port as standard interface boards: *2
HD free space: Recommended Monitor:
800 x 600 pixels 1024 x 768 pixels or larger is recommended.
Number of colors: 32,000 or more Others: CD-ROM drive Photoshop plug-in driver software has been fully tested for use with Adobe Photoshop ver. 6.0.1, 7.0.1, and Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0. *2 ColorSync profile is included on the CD-ROM for the DiMAGE Scan Dual IV.

*1 *2 *3 Necessary to meet the requirements recommended for use with the operating system. Operation must be guaranteed by the manufacturers when used with the operating system. Users are asked to contact the manufacturer for details. CPU, Memory, and hard-disc space requirements with 16-bit color depth and Auto Dust Brush are as follows: CPU: PowerPC G3 or later (Power PC G4 or later is recommended.) RAM: 128 MB free memory or larger. (256 MB or larger is recommended.) HD free space: 1.2GB or larger (2GB or larger is recommended.)

<Windows>

Computer: IBM PC/AT compatible computers 1 CPU: * Pentium 166 MHz or later *3 Operating system: Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows 2000
Professional, Windows Me, Windows XP Professional, or Windows XP Home Edition

RAM: * HD free space:

64MB or larger actual memory capacity *3 300MB or larger *3

Recommended

interface USB port as standard interface
USB 2.0 cards: Adaptec: Belkin:

boards:*2

USB2connect 3100, USB2connect 5100, DuoConnect Hi-speed USB 2.0 5-Port PCI Card, USB 2.0 Hi-Speed 2-Port PCI Card
Monitor: Number of colors: Others:
800 x 600 pixels 1024 x 768 pixels or larger is recommended. A 16-bit or greater color monitor: High Color or medium color quality (Windows XP)
CD-ROM drive The TWAIN driver software has been fully tested for use with Adobe Photoshop ver. 6.0.1, 7.0.1, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, Paint Shop Pro 8.0, and Corel PHOTOPAINT 11.0. *2

*1 *2 *3

Necessary to meet the requirements recommended for use with the operating system. Operation must be guaranteed by the manufacturers when used with the operating system. Users are asked to contact the manufacturer for details. CPU, Memory, and hard-disc space requirements with 16-bit color depth and Auto Dust Brush are as follows: CPU: Pentium 166 MHz or later (Pentium III or later is recommended.) RAM: 128 MB actual memory or larger. (256 MB or more is recommended.) HD free space: 1.2GB or larger (2GB or larger is recommended.)
Error-free operation is not guaranteed for any of the systems recommended. System requirements are based on the latest information available at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice.

Konica Minolta is a trademark of Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. DiMAGE is a trademark or registered trademark of Konica Minolta Camera, Inc. Windows is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Macintosh is a trademark or registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc.
Other corporate and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.