REQ; About to buy a scanner Hoping for fast reply to this question

[Bill k]

Using a dedicated 35mm slide and negative scanner. how much difference
would there be on something scanned at 1800 dpi vs. 2400 dpi. I mean,
to the average person looking at a 5x7 photo print would they notice a
real difference ? I am buying the used scanner today on line and
there is a big difference in price between the two. Can someone help
me?

Bill K

 

[degrub]

PPI is not the issue. How you are going to use the scan is. The optical
resolving capability of a film scanner is generally better than most
consumer flat beds and you will in general get a "better" blow up of the
image for print. ALso, the film scanner will generally be able to
discriminate more tones in the dark end of a slide (light part of a neg).
If you are going to blow up the image (slide, neg) to an 8x10 inch, you
may be able to see the difference. For most printing, you will want 2400
pixels on the short side (300 ppi input for the printer driver).

What scanners are you looking at ?

Frank

 

[birdman]

If you can afford the better scanner get it.
DPI matters.
Most non-pros rarely would need a scan larger than 2400 dpi but a scan of
this size has enough excess information that some cropping can be done and
still get a decent print up to 8.5 x 11.