We publish a high quality magazine with images scanned at a production shop on a five-figure drum scanner. Would like to purchase high-end desktop 35mm scanner (Nikon 2000, Minolta Scan Multi, Poloroid 4000) to scan slides for web use that might also provide scans of high enough quality for magazine reproduction of 1/2 page or less, i.e. would our readers be able to tell the difference. Also looking at Nikon D-1...IF...it can deliver magazine quality reproduction. Any insight?

-- Craig Bihrle (cbihrle@state.nd.us), February 28, 2000

Answers

Craig, I currently have a Nikon D-1 and am very pleased with it. Regarding magazine quality pics from the camera, I will relate what I read in another article. It seems that the cover of Sports Illustrated was shot using a D-1. It was the photo of the last play of this years Super Bowl. It seems that the photographers in the end zone (I believe they said 5 of them) didn't get any good shots of the final play except one guy. He was using the Nikon D-1. They liked the picture but were skeptical of the final quality on the magazine cover. The photographer apparently took the original and using Genuine Fractals, increased the file size to about 20 MB. The editor was very pleased with the results and yes, the D-1 photo made it to the cover of S.I. Hope this helps. John

-- John Mitchell (johntmf@aol.com), March 01, 2000.