Microtek M1 Scanner: delayed till May

Until the final specs are available, is anything known about this scanner? For example, is it 35mm only, or medium format capable, or ...?

If it's 35mm only, then I don't care when it arrives. Otherwise, I might.

it scans up to 4x5 film in a seperate tray (as I recall from my conference call with Microtek back in October you can scan 6x17cm film in the medium format holder)

here are the specs that have been announced:

"Carson, CA (October 24, 2006) -- Microtek, a world-leading manufacturer of digital imaging products, announced that it is developing the ArtixScan M1, a combined flatbed and film scanner for 35mm, 6cm, and 4x5-inch film formats that also offers additional functionality to scan reflective art or prints as large as 8.5 by 14 inches.

Equipped with Microtek's patented Emulsion Direct Imaging Technology? (E.D.I.T.?), 4800-dpi optical resolution, 16-bit digital output per channel, auto focus, and new film holders with tension technology, the Microtek ArtixScan M1 offers extraordinary value to photographers, photo enthusiasts, and graphic designers in need of high-quality scans.

"The Microtek ArtixScan M1 is first and foremost a film scanner that offers outstanding image quality to photographers who want to breathe new life into old images shot on film," said Parker Plaisted, product brand manager for Microtek Lab, Inc.

"With our patented glassless scanning architecture called E.D.I.T., the Microtek ArtixScan M1 matches or exceeds the performance specifications of dedicated film scanners, while offering better value and additional functionality."

The ArtixScan M1 is the first in a new line of flatbed scanners from Microtek that will deliver outstanding images from both film scans and reflective scans. The reflective scanning capability of flatbed scanners has been outstanding for several years, but the film scanning capabilities of flatbed scanners lagged behind the dedicated film scanners.

By advancing the optical resolution to 4800 dpi with the E.D.I.T. scanning architecture, the film scanning capability of the new flatbed scanners from Microtek will surpass the film scanning capability of dedicated film scanners while maintaining outstanding reflective scanning capability. Excelling at both film and reflective scanning, these new flatbed scanners will offer greater versatility and value to photographers, photo enthusiasts, and graphic designers.

Emulsion Direct Imaging Technology (E.D.I.T.)

Like its predecessor the Microtek ScanMaker i900 -- a CNET Editors' Choice award winner -- the ArtixScan M1 features Microtek's patented E.D.I.T. architecture.

E.D.I.T. is a unique technology exclusive to Microtek that allows the optical system to scan the film emulsion without looking through the glass plate that supports reflective materials on the flatbed scanner. With E.D.I.T., the film is supported in a tray inside the scanner below the glass plate. The glassless scanning enables clearer scans of the film because it avoids the optical distortions, aberrations, and dirt that can appear in a scan that passes through the glass plate of a typical flatbed scanner.

High-performance Scanning Capabilities

With 4800-dpi optical resolution and 48 bits per pixel, a scan of 35mm film on the Microtek ArtixScan M1 will produce an image file that is equivalent to an image file from a 34-megapixel digital SLR camera. The resulting detail in the scan of 35mm film will enable prints up to 16 by 24 inches while still holding 300 pixels per inch at that print size.

In addition, large-format prints from 35mm scans can be made up to 24 by 36 inches while still holding 200 pixels per inch at that print size. Professional photographers and photo enthusiasts will be able to fully utilize the printable area offered by their photo printers from scans of 35mm film and larger film sizes.

Software and Color Management

Continuing a strong partnership with LaserSoft Imaging, the Microtek ArtixScan M1 will include the popular SilverFast software offering an intuitive user interface and professional controls over the scanning parameters. One of the many outstanding features of the SilverFast software is fully-integrated color management based on ICC standards for positive film and prints and the excellent NegaFix technology for negative film.

Pricing and Availability

The Microtek ArtixScan M1 is expected to be available in MAY 2007 for a suggested retail price of $699 through distribution, mail order, specialty camera stores, selected retail stores, and Microtek's retail Web site. "

Ellis thank you for passing on this news.

I have just read something on imaging-resourse.com about the Microtek Scanmaker i900 which I find very disturbing as it might also apply to the new M1. In the user comments which follow Imaging Resources' review of the i900 there is a post from a Bob Leubard (7 Sept 2006). He says that he is in need of a replacement lamp for his i900 which is only 14 months old. He contacted Microtek Customer Service and was told that they do not sell or stock replacement lamps. Instead he would have to return his i900 to them and they would replace it with a new i900 which would cost him $475.

If this is correct and it also applies to the M1 then buying a Nikon Coolscan 9000 could work out to be a cheaper option in the long run.

As you are in contact with Microtek I wonder if it would be possible for you to find out if this will also apply when a replacement lamp is needed for the M1. If you can I, and I suspect all the others who are waiting to see if the M1 could be the answer to their needs, would be very grateful.

Robin

Ellis --- thanks very much for the additional information!

The "we replace it vs. fixing it" policy has been in place for a while at Microtek. If your scanner breaks while in warranty, Microtek will replace it. If your scanner breaks while out of warranty, they will give you a partial credit based on a sliding scale toward the purchase of another scanner directly from Microtek. I hope Microtek changes this policy with the M1. I have received emails from a number of people looking for some sort of assistance getting their scanner repaired because they were upset since the difference between the replacement cost and the partial credit was quite large.

U may sit back & relax, everyone... M1 release, according to the Microtek website, now scheduled for June. And such it goes, etc. etc.