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Minolta Dimage Scan Multi PRO Scanner Test Review
© 2006 KenRockwell.com about these reviews
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Minolta Dimage Multi PRO Scanner
I bought mine here

This is the best scanner I have ever used, period. Of course I've never used a real drum scanner, but I have tried the Imacons, Nikons, Epsons and Polaroids.

As of March 2005 Minolta has discontinued it. I'd suggest looking around for one, and if you can't get a new or used one get the $1,800 Nikon 9000 or the $600 Epson 4990. See these here

I got it because I shoot a lot of medium format film. If you shoot only 35mm then get the Minolta 5400 instead if you want the best scanner you can get for less then $20,000. The 5400 costs less ($640), is a little newer and has a little more resolution than my Multi PRO.

I bought this $3,000 Minolta personally and I prefer it to even the $10,000 Imacons I have tried. As of March 2004 it's down to $1,900. The Imacons are not drum scanners, even though their marketing people would like you to think so. This Minolta is the best scanner there is for scanning anything from 35mm up to 6 x 9 cm medium format film. It comes with an excellent glass carrier that easily can be adapted to any smaller film, like 16mm movie, raw APS or Minox film, too. You can scan bigger panoramic medium format film (6x12 and 6x17cm) in sections if you know how to piece them back together in Photoshop or another stitching program, although that's a pain.

The only shortcoming, which is that the ICE dust removal system is very strong and thus it takes some one-pixel bites out of some sharp edges on my Velvia transparencies, is fixed with the use of a clever device called a Scanhancer. The Scanhancer also fixes the excess grain seen my the Minolta scanner with Velvia. This issue annoys some people even though it didn't bother me. By all means get the Scanhancer if you have this scanner. I thought it was bunk until I tried it and now I won't scan without it.

There is a lot of information below, so click the links to go to all the pages below.

Introduction and explanation of the three different versions

Specifications

Performance Comparisons against Nikon, Polaroid and Imacon

Software Options, Installation and Performance

Performance
- Color and Tone
- Levels, Highlights and Exposure
- Shadows
- ICE
- Film Holders
- Resolution
- Scan Times
--- 35 mm
--- 6 x 6 and 6 x 4.5 cm
--- 6 x 7 cm
--- 6 x 9 cm
- Printed Manual
- Telephone Support
- Packaging and Shipping

Operating Tips and Recommendations

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