Specification Camparison of Nikon 35mm Film Scanners

Specification Comparison of Nikon 35mm Film Scanners

Compiled by Liang-Wu Cai

Nikon surprised many of us by the new scanner Super CoolScan LS-2000, to be released in mid-May, 1998. In mid-March, Nikon USA indicated on its web site "exciting news on March 16". Speculations abound. A post in the rec.photo.equipment.35mm USENET newsgroup hinted that it would be an astounding new scanner. On March 16, Nikon web site was not updated until 5pm EST. Yes, the new scanner! along with two new CoolPix digital cameras. For a while, this is the only thing that is announced by Nikon USA at the same time as Nikon Corp. in Japan.

Before the news, I was drooling over the idea of buying a scanner, and came close to committing myself to the Super CoolScan LS-1000. (This is the reason why I compiled this page as soon as the specifications for the new scanner became available.) Now, I find my new love. :-)

Carefully comparing the specifications, I found that this is an example showing how unruly the pricing is in this capitalism world. All these scanners share the same innards: the optics, the scanning resolution, the number of pixels (probably the same set of CCD), the light source that is touted as Nikon's exclusive, the software, etc. I think the only substantial thing that is different among these 3 scanners is the digital signal processing, probably built as a DSP chip. Considering the $800 for the LS-20 as a base price, I felt that street price of LS-1000 is way way over priced at $1600. I hope, or I wish, the new scanner will bring down the price of the LS-1000, and Polaroid's SprintScan 35 Plus as well. Probably we have to wait until the end of the year to see.

Update (07/30/98): In June 1998, Nikon released the accompanying lower end scanner Cool Scan III LS-30 as the successor of LS-20, thus completes the update of its 35mm scanner line. The only competitor Polaroid hasn't come up with its newer breed yet. As a response, it lowered prices over its entire scanner line approximately 15-20%.

Links to Nikon Japan sites Super CoolScan LS-2000 CoolScan III LS-30 Super CoolScan LS-1000 CoolScan II LS-20

Links to Nikon USA sites

Reading System / Optics

Film type 35mm, APS (with IA-20) 35mm

Reading resolution 2700 dpi: 2592-pixel monochrome linear CCD

Included accessory Slide adapter (MA-20),
Strip adapter (SA-20) Strip adapter (FH-2)

Optional accessory APS adapter (IA-20),
Slide feeder (SF-200) APS adapter (IA-20) Slide feeder (SF-100)

Scanning area 24.3 x 36.5 mm (2592 x 3894 pixels) 24.3 x 36.5 mm (2592 x 3888 pixels)

Effective scanning area 23.4 x 34.7 mm (35mm),
16.1 x 26.9 mm (APS) 23.3 x 34.7 mm

Illumination method Condensed and diffused light

Light source RGB LED array

Color separation RGB line sequential

Imaging optics 6 lenses in 4 groups

Autofocus Contrast detection by CCD, selectable focusing area

Manual focus Manual focusing by software-controlled servo

Scanning / Signal Processing

Image scanning CCD and optical systems driven, target fixed, single-pass scan

Scan time ~20 sec. at 2700 dpi ~40 sec. at 2700 dpi ~80 sec. at 2700 dpi

Density range 3.6 3.0 3.2^* <3.0?^*

Thumbnail scanning 35mm strip: 2 to 6 frames
APS: 15/25/40 frames

Batch scanning with SA-20, IA-20 or SF-200 with SA-20 or IA-20 with SF-100

A/D conversion 12 bits 10 bits 12 bits 8 bits
Output data 8 or 12 bits per channel 8 bits per color channel

Digital ICE User selectable (for color films only)

Multi-sample scanning User selectable

Nikon Color Management System Built-in

Data Transfer

Panel indicators READY, BUSY and ERROR status indicated by LED

Scanning software NikonScan 2.0 NikonScan (1.0?)

Interface SCSI-II

Image transfer Single-pass RGB line sequential

Maximum transfer rate 4MB/sec. 3MB/sec. 3MB/sec. 2.66MB/sec.

Dimensions and Weight

Dimensions (WxHxD) 85.5 x 142 x 275 mm
(3.4 x 5.6 x 10.8 in.) 151 x 268 x 63.5 mm
(5.9 x 10.6 x 2.5 in.) LS-20E: 151 x 268 x 63.5 mm (5.9 x 10.6 x 2.5 in.)
LS-20I: 148 x 210 x 42 mm (5.8 x 8.3 x 1.7 in.)

Weight 2.4 kg (5.2 lb.) 1.9 kg (4.2 lb.) LS-20E: 1.9 kg (4.2 lb.)
LS-20I: 0.9 kg (2 lb.)

Pricing

Street Price US $1700 US $900 US $1600 US $750

* These data are not included in the specification data given by Nikon.

Note: The specifications of LS-2000 may be still subject to change. The set of specifications I obtained from Nikon Japan site, which is used here, is slightly different from what I obtained from Nikon USA site. The most significant differences: output data: 12 bit per channel vs. 16 bit; data transfer rate: 4MB/sec. vs. 3MB/sec. Data for other two scanners are from Nikon brochures produced by Nikon Corp. in Japan.

Back to my Digital Darkroom Page
Last updated: July 30, 1998.

Links to Nikon Japan sites	Super CoolScan LS-2000	CoolScan III LS-30	Super CoolScan LS-1000	CoolScan II LS-20
Links to Nikon USA sites
Reading System / Optics
Film type	35mm, APS (with IA-20)		35mm
Reading resolution	2700 dpi: 2592-pixel monochrome linear CCD
Included accessory	Slide adapter (MA-20), Strip adapter (SA-20)		Strip adapter (FH-2)
Optional accessory	APS adapter (IA-20), Slide feeder (SF-200)	APS adapter (IA-20)	Slide feeder (SF-100)
Scanning area	24.3 x 36.5 mm (2592 x 3894 pixels)		24.3 x 36.5 mm (2592 x 3888 pixels)
Effective scanning area	23.4 x 34.7 mm (35mm), 16.1 x 26.9 mm (APS)		23.3 x 34.7 mm
Illumination method	Condensed and diffused light
Light source	RGB LED array
Color separation	RGB line sequential
Imaging optics	6 lenses in 4 groups
Autofocus	Contrast detection by CCD, selectable focusing area
Manual focus	Manual focusing by software-controlled servo
Scanning / Signal Processing
Image scanning	CCD and optical systems driven, target fixed, single-pass scan
Scan time	~20 sec. at 2700 dpi		~40 sec. at 2700 dpi	~80 sec. at 2700 dpi
Density range	3.6	3.0	3.2^*	<3.0?^*
Thumbnail scanning	35mm strip: 2 to 6 frames APS: 15/25/40 frames
Batch scanning	with SA-20, IA-20 or SF-200	with SA-20 or IA-20	with SF-100
A/D conversion	12 bits	10 bits	12 bits	8 bits
Output data	8 or 12 bits per channel	8 bits per color channel
Digital ICE	User selectable (for color films only)
Multi-sample scanning	User selectable
Nikon Color Management System	Built-in
Data Transfer
Panel indicators	READY, BUSY and ERROR status indicated by LED
Scanning software	NikonScan 2.0		NikonScan (1.0?)
Interface	SCSI-II
Image transfer	Single-pass RGB line sequential
Maximum transfer rate	4MB/sec.	3MB/sec.	3MB/sec.	2.66MB/sec.
Dimensions and Weight
Dimensions (WxHxD)	85.5 x 142 x 275 mm (3.4 x 5.6 x 10.8 in.)		151 x 268 x 63.5 mm (5.9 x 10.6 x 2.5 in.)	LS-20E: 151 x 268 x 63.5 mm (5.9 x 10.6 x 2.5 in.) LS-20I: 148 x 210 x 42 mm (5.8 x 8.3 x 1.7 in.)
Weight	2.4 kg (5.2 lb.)		1.9 kg (4.2 lb.)	LS-20E: 1.9 kg (4.2 lb.) LS-20I: 0.9 kg (2 lb.)
Pricing
Street Price	US $1700	US $900	US $1600	US $750