Imacon Comparison

July 2001 — This review has not been updated since in first appeared in late 1999. I've kept meaning to but somehow the Imacon Photo has simply become such a routine tool (and a superb one) that I simply take it for granted. With the arrival in Summer 2001 of a couple of worthy competitors, the Polaroid SprintScan 120 and the Nikon 8000ED, interest in high-end medium format scanners has increased. Consequently I'll update and flesh out this review shortly.
The Dilemma
In the fall of '99 I began testing medium format scanners with the intention of updating my 3 year-old Agfa Duoscan. It seemed pointless to me to be using very high quality cameras and lenses and then compromising final print quality with inferior scans. Some expensive drum scans from commercial labs had shown me what could be done. The difference between these and what my desktop Agfaflatbed could do, even  with its preferred dual-bed design, was staggering. So was the cost difference though.
I had updated my 35mm scann...