Re: Scanner vs. Digital Camera

Charling Chang Fagan (mailto:sha@MAIL.SLC.EDU)
Thu, 16 Apr 1998 12:00:55 -0400 

Message-Id: <199804161620.JAA51020@dns.ccit.arizona.edu>
Date:         Thu, 16 Apr 1998 12:00:55 -0400
From: Charling Chang Fagan <mailto:sha@MAIL.SLC.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Scanner vs. Digital Camera
To: mailto:IMAGELIB@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU


At 11:36 AM 4/16/98 -0400, Charling Chang Fagan wrote:
>At 09:10 AM 4/16/98 -0400, you wrote:

>>At 04:23 PM 4/14/98 -0700, you wrote:

>>>Greetings,

>>>

>>>A few weeks ago I sent a question to the list regarding your experiences

>>>with Minolta's EPIC 3000 and similar devices.  I received several

>>>replies--thanks!  Recently I had an opportunity to see this scanner

>>>first-hand and was quite impressed.  But I am still in something of a

>>>quandary: I also learned recently of Leica's release of their S1 digital

>>>camera--paired with the proper imaging software it perhaps could be a

>>>viable alternative to an overhead scanner such as the Minolta.  I was

>>>hoping someone might have some suggestions.  Here goes:

>>>

>>>_Our Needs & Preferences_______________

>>>-Equipment to be used to image delicate materials; minimal contact

>>>     desired between imaging equipment and materials; *no* flatbed or

>>>     "roll-n-drag" (handheld) scanners would be acceptable.

>>>-Imaging quality of at least 400+ dpi desired for most projects; 600+

>>>     dpi would be ideal.

>>>-Users of our department regularly request photographic or photocopy

>>>     reproductions of items in our collections.

>>>-InterLibrary Loan access to our collections desirable.  We use Ariel

>>>     (if you aren't aquainted, Ariel is like a fax but uses internet

>>>     transmission instead of telephone lines, for reproduction that is

>>>     superior to fax) for electronic transmission of ILL requests.

>>>     Currently only using flatbed scanners for Ariel requests; with

>>>     non-flatbed imaging equipment could ariel [verb] delicate

>>>     materials that now we cannot.

>>>-Color imaging needed for WWW exhibits.  B/W imaging sufficient for

>>>     text-only utilitarian imaging.

>>>

>>>_Pros & Cons of Minolta's EPIC 3000____________

>>>-Overhead scanner: minimal contact with materials.

>>>-Curvature correction software reduces image distortion of tightly

>>>     bound volumes.

>>>-400 dpi maximum quality.  Insufficient for archival-standard imaging

>>>     but is best overhead scanner available.

>>>-Can deliver high-quality image printout when attached to laser or very

>>>     good inkjet printer.

>>>-Can be incorporated into an Ariel-based electronic ILL delivery

>>>     system.

>>>-Images of text could be run through an OCR program.

>>>-CON: B/W only.

>>>

>>>_Pros & Cons of Leica S1________________

>>>-Minimal contact with materials.

>>>-300-600+ dpi (varies according to size of material to be imaged and

>>>     its distance from camera).

>>>-Color.

>>>-OCR?  Ariel?  Quick and easy printout?

>>>

>>>_Question RE: Leica S1________________

>>>Chances are that no one (or at least not many) users of this or any such

>>>list will have first-hand experience with a just-released $20,000

>>>digital camera.  But I was wondering if anyone has had any success using

>>>a digital camera (preferably a good one) to image items that need to be

>>>OCRed?  Sent by electronic ILL?  Printed out for users?  "Archived" as

>>>part of an image database?  The fact that the Leica camera can make

>>>color images makes it a tempting alternative to the Minolta scanner but

>>>the scanner's features may offer more versitility.  What would you

>>>choose?

>>>

>>>Sorry about the long message.  Any information would be appreciated.

>>>Further info about the products described can be found at

>>>http://ows.minoltausa.com/minolta/owa/productlinelist?cat=ep&frame=N

>>>(for Minolta) and http://www.leica-camera.com/elec_img/eisys_e.htm (for

>>>Leica).

>>>

>>>--

>>>

>>>James A. Otto

>>>Digital Projects Specialist / ERes Manager

>>>The Libraries of The Claremont Colleges

>>>800 Dartmouth

>>>Claremont, CA  91711

>>>(909) 607-7530 (Special Collections)

>>>mailto:jotto@rocky.claremont.edu

>>>

>>>"So long as I am in my right mind there is nothing that I prefer

>>>to a delightful friend."

>>>     --Horace, Satire I,5

>>>

>>>

>>I will be away from April 6th to april 15th.  I will respond to all mail

>>when I return.

>>

>>

>I will be away from April 6th to april 15th.  I will respond to all mail

>when I return.

>

>

I will be away from April 6th to april 15th.  I will respond to all mail
when I return.