So always compare the exact same frame(s) in both digital file form AND photographic print form from both scanners before you proclaim your allegiance to a certain machine. Even then, as your style evolves and your photography techniques change, you might need to switch or use different scanners for different subject matter.
You'll never really know which scanner is for you until you try them out. Same goes for your film stock and camera choices. We repeat, YOUR PHOTOS WILL NOT BE PRO-QUALITY JUST BECAUSE YOU USE THE SAME SCANNER AS A PRO. Thing is, the top photogs are the ones that make their photos spectacular, and the scanner they choose is only a part of the equation that makes their work successful (and trust Richard, there are some superstar photogs using the Noritsu, too). In fact, Richard suspects that the well-known popularity of the Frontier amongst certain photogs is what steers many folks in that direction. So you love the Frontier? You're not the first. But what else should you consider when choosing between the Noritsu and Frontier? What works for the goose DOESN'T necessarily work for the gander. So, you know that the machines have slightly different tonal qualities, and you know that voicing your preferences to your brilliant lab is vital. Or, get yourself a Richard Color PAC for a detailed custom color profile and support in achieving your business goals. Psst… if you’re working with Richard and spending more than a minute or two editing one roll of film, call the lab and tell us the color is not working for you! We’d be happy to adjust for your next job so you can spend less time editing and more time shooting. And that’s what makes Richard different we provide consistency for each individual by listening to what you want, we have the skills to execute it, and we have a system to make sure all your jobs get the same treatment moving forward.
What you want isn’t necessarily what the next ten photogs want, though. But when consistency across all customers is the focus, the assumption is made that everyone wants the “average”. Most labs are shooting for mass consistency… not that consistency is a bad thing! Richard aims for consistency, too. When your lab listens to your preferences, that’s when you really get what you should out of film-shoot, scan, and get client-ready results (with little to no post-correction required).Ī lab that listens to you is harder to find than you’d think. Scanning is an art form that takes seasoned pros (like those at Richard) to pull off a killer scan. THE INFLUENCE OF YOUR LABĪll the above being said, what’s going to influence your scans more than the machine you choose is the communication you have with the lab doing the scanning and the skills of their staff. Both machines produce great images, just with the slightest of differences the view on which one is best is, well, completely subjective (except for black and white film, but we’ll get to that later).Ĭheck out that snazzy scanning team! Lookin' good, guys. Because of this, Richard can never say one machine produces definitively “warmer” or “greener” or “anything-er” tones. The minor variance you’ll see between the two scanners is based on the magenta tones-each machine interprets them differently, and these interpretations will then vary under different lighting conditions. Frontier: do they look the same? Well, comparing Noritsu and Frontier is like comparing Coke and Pepsi: they’re pretty similar, but everyone has a preference. Let’s get straight to the question you’re dying to ask about Noritsu vs. It’s our most popular blog entry to-date, and as the use of film continues to come back in vogue, Richard thinks it’s time for a sequel. A few years ago, Richard wrote a blog about Noritsu scans vs.