Release Issued by Image Engineering:
SP-Scan (Slide Projection Scan) - The best solution to scan large amounts of 35mm slides
Frechen (Germany), 24th of June 2005. Image Engineering offers a high-speed solution to scan large collections of 35mm slides, at a reasonable price. SP-Scan uses a modified slide projector to provide diffuse and uniform illumination of the original. A digital SLR camera with a high quality macro lens attached looks into the projector and takes a digital photograph of the slide. The most exciting thing about this is the control unit, which provides signals to the projector to change the slide and to the camera to capture the image. This enables the automatic digital conversion of a complete slide magazine in less than 5 minutes, dependent on the camera used. With this system it is possible for more than 4000 slides can be captured in one day.
The illumination is modified by using a heat resistant diffuser plate, inserted between the IR-cut off filter and the front lens of the condenser. The plate produces a uniform and diffuse illumination of the slide and reduces the amount of light to a level suitable for the slide reproduction via the digital camera. The control unit and the diffuser plate will initially be available for Braun Multimag projectors which have an AV-connector followed by support for the Leica Pradovit projectors which also need to have an AV-connector.
SP-Scan-Pro Bundle with Braun Multimag 250AF, Canon EOS 1Ds MarkII and Kaiser Repro stand
The lens of the projector needs to be removed and the digital SLR requires a high quality macro lens to look inside. The recommended focal length is 105 mm for APS-C sensors and 150 mm for the Canon 1Ds models. The control unit supports all Canon and Nikon DSLRs. Please refer to list below for all of the supported cameras.
Cameras with an IR interface are supported using an infrared diode in the control unit and cameras with a cable based remote control require a modified remote control cable available separately or as a bundle version from Image Engineering.
The package comes complete with a pin registered adjustment slide holder and a dedicated WB slide to assist in the accurate set up of the cameras White Balance. The mounting of camera and projector can be done using existing tools such as tripods or Image Engineering can supply two different mounting sets. The simple and inexpensive version is based on a table stand and a Styropor block. The more professional version is a reprographic mounting based on the Kasier Fototechnik system which has been modified to fit professional requirements. This mounting provides X,Y,Z adjustments of the camera.
The control unit is connected to a computer using a serial or USB interface. A serial to USB converter is included in the package. The simple to use software allows the user to set up the amount of slides per magazine, the time between a slide transport and the exposure of an image as well as the time from the exposure until the next transport. The software is compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP computers. Older Microsoft Windows operating systems may also work but will not be supported by Image Engineering.
The camera software may be set to run in the background and shoot directly to the PC's hard disk. This has tested with both Canon software and Nikon Capture. For compatibility with your own PC please refer to the system requirements of the camera manufacturer. The software for the SP-Scan control unit will not be the bottle neck in the performance of the complete system.
Screenshot of the beta version of the SP-Scan software. Modifications may be applied to a final version
SP-Scan will be initially sold through the Image Engineering website. Other distribution channels will be investigated.
SP-Scan is a modular system. The basic package consists of the control unit and the diffuser plate for Braun Multimag Projectors with AV-Connector, a slide for manual white balancing, a slide for adjusting the camera in front of the projector, a serial / USB Adaptor and a manual.
This basic package works for all Nikon and Canon SLR cameras with an IR-Interface for remote control.
For all Nikon and Canon SLR cameras that can only be controlled by a cable release, Image Engineering offers modified versions of the manufacturers own cable releases, which can be connected to the control unit. This cable can also be used as a standard remote control.
Depending on your existing equipment the required components such as projector, lenses, mountings etc, can also be purchased as options. For Leica Pradovit projectors an adaptor kit will soon be available. SP-Scan and all the options except the Leica Adaptor kit will be available from 08th of August 2005.
www.image-engineering.de
