| Canon's Canoscan FS2710 Film Scanner = Great Scanner if you update software I bought the scanner in September 2000 and have used it scan hundreds of negatives and slides. The supplied software is limited, but it can be replaced with aftermarket software. The new software turbocharges the scanner producing beautiful, true-to-scene images. The scanner has three major components; namely, 1) Canoscan FS2710 scanner hardware, 2) Canocraft FS3.6.1 scanner driver software, and 3) Photoshop LE image editing software. I have reviewed these items individually. SCANNER HARDWARE = A BEST BUY, HIGH QUALITY SCANNER
Canon makes excellent quality cameras and scanners at attractive prices. Some competitive film scanners charge extra for the APS film holder and SCZI driver card. Canon includes these items in the base price package. My comparison shopping showed Canon's package price 30-50% less than comparable, competitive units. The scanner is thoughtfully designed and ruggedly built. It's is a high precision machine that scans at 2720 dpi which is about the limit for 35 mm film. The resultant files are extremely high-resolution for razor sharp, full-page prints. More importantly, the images can be severely cropped and still produce very sharp pictures. If I were to buy a scanner today, it would be the CanoScan FS2710 or the FS2720. CANOCRAFT FS3.6.1 SCANNER DRIVER SOFTWARE = HORRIBLE
Scanner driver software has four major functions; namely, 1) Accurately digitize true-to-scene-colors and lighting, 2) Fine tune settings for the scanner, 3) Create a useful monitor preview of the scanned image, and 4) Work with different Windows, Macintosh, etc. operating systems. Regrettably, the Canon software does NONE of these jobs well. Fortunately, there is an alternative to solve all of these problems. The software is called VueScan. It's free to try, or buy. ACCURATELY DIGITIZE TRUE-TO-SCENE-COLORS AND LIGHTING?
Canocraft FS3.6.1 scanner driver software produces contrasty images losing detail in the highlights and shadows. At best, it is drugstore 1 hr. photofinishing quality. Canon's driver software never produces true-to-scene-colors. It often shifts colors to an unpleasing and unnatural color-cast which is extremely difficult to remove with image editing software. Underexposed, dark slides cannot be scanned with this software. Not to worry. VueScan scanner driver software faithfully replicates colors in the original scene including subtle details like light, puffy clouds in the sky highlights. The pictures are beautiful. Professional photographers use this software for exhibition quality images. Even difficult scenes, like underexposed, dark slides, can be turned into good pictures. FINE TUNING SETTINGS FOR THE SCANNER?
Canon's scanner driver software has as much precision adjustment as you could get using a pipe wrench for watch repair. It has only one setting for type of light, light intensity and type of film. Adjusting histogram levels can be very difficult because the histogram is often a "flat line" with no vertical height. VueScan software offers surgical precision adjustment capability. Lighting can be set for indoor fluorescent, tungsten, autolevel, night photography and neutral (to eliminate difficult color casts). Light intensity can be set to four levels. The software also recognizes 200 different types of film. It's incredible. Pick the color setting for your scene, then the light level, set to your film type, and then fine tune the image preview by setting white and black points, brightness for the scene and brightness for red, green, and blue (if desired) before you scan to a disk file. USEFUL MONITOR PREVIEW OF THE SCANNED IMAGE?
The Canon driver software produces a fixed size preview about 4.5x7 inches. VueScan allows the user to set the image preview to any size up to full screen. No more postage stamp size previews! WORK WITH DIFFERENT COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEMS?
Canon driver software has limited compatibility with operating systems. It works with my Windows 98SE, but I can't upgrade to XP because of compatibility issues. VueScan software works with most Windows and Mac operating systems including Windows XP. IMAGE EDITING SOFTWARE PHOTOSHOP LE = NOT USER FRIENDLY
Use your Photoshop LE serial number to get a rebate on Adobe Photoshop Elements2. This is great image editing software. It features ease of use for the amateur and fine-tuning capability for the professional. BOTTOM LINE
Canoscan FS2710 is a great scanner limited by the manufacturer's driver software. Upgrade to aftermarket scanner driver software to unleash the potential of this scanner. You'll appreciate the dramatic improvement in the scanned images. |
