Large format

Using the 9950F with 5x4 format film is a sheer joy, the quality of the scans is nothing short of superb. For the image below I used 1200 dpi which produced a file size of 72mb. At 240dpi this would produce a 24 x 18 inch print. Even at 1200dpi the image quality is outstanding, of course you could scan the 5x4 transparency at 2400 dpi (287mb) or 4800 dpi (1.12 gb) but unless you have a need for a massive file there would be little point. The 5x4 sheet film holder is well built and individual sheets were easy to load.

A 5x4 transparency at 1200 dpi produces a whopping 72mb file

Here is a selection of images made from the above scan, these are displayed at 100% (if you had all the pieces then you would have a 72mb file)

The 120 single frame holder

The 5x4 film holder also incorporates a single frame 120 film holder, this has a sliding mask to stop stray light fogging the edges of the frame. It has been well thought out but in use it proved to be quite stiff to move the sliders. (see page 7 ). The picture below is a 6x6 transparency scanned at 1800 dpi to produce a 52mb file. 100% sectional details of the Raymond Weil watch are show below.

6x6 scan at 1800dpi

Using the combined film holder requires you to make a selection of either the 5x4 or 120 film, by default the 5x4 is selected. As with any scans there is always some adjustments to be made once the image is in Photoshop. The watch picture scan was manipulated using PictoColor iCorrect EditLab Pro 4.5, an excellent application for correcting colours.

Dual holder in action	iCorrect EditLab Pro

Even though I got of to a bad start with this scanner, it is now producing excellent scan, especially with large format film. For the photographer who wants to digitize a collection of pictures the Canon 9950F may be just the answer.

I will compare this scanner to the Epson 4870 and Nikon Coolscan 4000 next.