Another way that drum scanners are different than flatbeds, mini lab scanners and virtual drum scanners (like the Hasselblad Flextight’s), is that they illuminate the film at a single point throughout the scanning process. This ensures there is no bleeding between bright sections of the image into the darker areas, increasing the amount of detail in the shadows.

Example 1: 4x5 Velvia 100

Howtek 4500 - click for full res

Notice how much more shadow detail the above scan is able to produce. The flatbed below hides a lot of the detail in the darker rocks. Even if you applied an adjustment to the flatbed scan, it would mostly be noise, hiding detail.

Epson Flatbed - click for full res

Example 2: underexposed Velvia 100 4x5”

Howtek 4500 before adjustments

Howtek 4500 after adjustments

Example 3: Underexposed Kodachrome Slide

Scan before adjustments

Scan after adjustments

email: vancouverdrumscan@gmail.com  phone: (604) 354-9226