HP Scanjet G4050 Review part 1: First Impressions

Tobias Key of tobiaskey.com, Chichester and Sussex portrait photographer reviews:

What's in the box:

Film holders for mounted 35mm transparencies, 35mm negative strips and a combined 120/4x5 holder. The holders are on a par with the Epson holders for the 4990, in other words adequate but nothing special. The 120 holders can't hold negative strips completely flat and I doubt the 4x5 could either, again not unusual at this price bracket.

The Software installed without a hitch (I'm using Vista). The most unusual thing I found was that there is no icon to operate the scanner from your desktop, instead you have to press one of four buttons on the top of the machine depending on what you want to do.

I didn't like the scanning software. It's very clunky and only offers 8 bit greyscale scans. I already had a copy of hamrick's excellent vuescan so I quickly started using this instead. Vuescan transforms this scanner's usabilty and produces much better scans. I honestly don't think I could recommend this scanner if I had only used it with HP's own software. In fact, I think I would have taken in straight back to the shop, the HP software does not offer the enthusiast anything like enough control and has a horrible user interface. If you want to buy this scanner for scanning black and white negatives, budget for a third party software package like vuescan or silverfast if you want to get decent results.

Next: some scanning examples

Review: HP Scanjet G4050 Introduction

Scan made with HP G4050

Chichester photographer, Tobias of Tobias key Photography review his latest scanner:

So after a few years service my Epson 4990 scanner died and I was forced into another scanner purchase, for scanning my 120 black and white negatives. For someone like myself, a scanner purchase is a thorny issue. One of the downfalls of mainstream film use was the time and expense involved in getting a negative into digital format. Now, a long time after the horse has bolted, there are a good range of affordable flat bed scanners that claim to do that job at previously unheard of prices, like the sub £200 Epson 4490 and HP G4050 up to the far more sophisticated Epson V750 at over £500.

I decided to buy a scanner at the cheaper end of the market to proof negatives for drum scanning. I felt that if I was to ever want make a big enlargement of a particular negative I'd either have a wet print made or get a drum scan. To my logic getting a V75o was pointless as I'd never be confident in using a consumer flatbed for a large canvas or exhibition print, my flat bed would really be little more than an alternative to contact sheets and 7x5's. And it is with this in mind that I'm reviewing the G5040.

Next: Installation and First Impressions

Award Winning Images by Sussex Photographer Tobias Key

Chichester portrait photographer wins awards

I'm pleased to announce I've just won two gold awards in the SWPP image competition. The winning images were location fashion photography shot in the Chichester area. More examples from this series can be seen in the editorial section of my website www.tobiaskey.com

Editorial Portfolio

Sussex Photographer Tobias Key is updating his commercial and editorial portfolios for 2008. The series above is shot with model Leah Hibbert of MOT models.

Keep checking in to http://www.tobiaskey.com/ to see this fresh new work.

Picture of the Week

This image is from a recent model and fashion shoot in London.

Tobias Key is a portrait photographer based in Chichester. He can be commissioned for editorial and commercial assignments. Please visit our website at www.tobiaskey.com

The Bluebells are coming!

Beautiful displays of bluebells will soon be appearing all over the south. If you would like a family or child portrait with this beautiful backdrop then call Tobias at Tobias Key Photography to book a photography session in Sussex or Hampshire.

http://www.tobiaskey.com/

BFD Front Cover - Portrait of Francesca

These are highlights with my girl, Francesca, aged 4, in the ruins of an 11th century Norman priory in West Sussex. Images were shot on medium format film. The top portrait is the current front cover of The Big Family Directory (The BFD).

The BFD is a FREE family phone book containing free telephone listings and relevant advertising. It is compiled from a parent's perrsonal perspective and includes everything they can find that would be useful for families with children of all ages.

Amongst their many listings are helplines, toddler groups, childcare and schools, places to visit, party services, leisure and even some time out ideas for grown-ups!

Write to - The Big Family Directory, PO Box 544, Chichester, PO19 9DB

Tobias Key is a Sussex Portrait Photographer based in Chichester. To visit my website and view my recent galleries, please follow the link below.

http://www.tobiaskey.com/