Academic Imaging Associates
Digital Imaging, Technology & Services
For Libraries, Archives, Museums & Scientific Institutions
Better Light SuperModel™
Our Top-of-the-Line Digital Scanning Backs — Now with High Speed USB-2 Interface.
Select from three models with highest performance specs of any scan back on the market. The SuperModels have improved sensitivity, maximimized resolution levels plus offer precision control over the image capture making Better Light synonymous with extraordinary large format digital captures.
The new models Super Models will do all that previous Better Light inserts have done but do it better and bigger with spatial and dynamic improvements:
- Twice as many pixels for larger files and more detail;
- Increased bit depth for the smoothest color transitions.
The SuperModel product line provides photographers with an efficient means to generate higher resolution, first generation digital images and to gain these additional resolution levels at a very reasonable price.
With Enhanced Resolution™, the Super 6K-HS and Super 8K-HS offers the photographer the capability to increase the resolution in several additional increments up to 150% of the previous pixel dimensions and to create file sizes up to 2.25 times larger than the current models. Unlike post-capture interpolation, the Enhanced Resolution settings record additional image information during the scan for sharper, more detailed images.
As with other Better Light camera models, the resolution up to 100% is pure, "native" RGB pixel data. At resolution levels above 100%, the long dimension (scan direction) will remain as pure pixel information, while the narrow dimension will use minimal interpolation to complete the image. By utilizing a linear (one direction) redistribution of the original CCD pixel data, the resulting images will have more detail than is the result from resampling a smaller file in Photoshop to the same pixel dimensions. In the worst case (150% res), this technique uses data from 2 pure pixels to create 3 pixels.
The Benefits of Enhanced Resolution™
- Higher Value — Super Models deliver more megabytes per dollar. A larger file capability gives the photographer more flexibility to efficiently handle assignments from product photography to repro copy work.
- Larger Cropped Files — Large files can still be captured when severe cropping is needed for irregular subject formats (such as a mural or scroll). To gain additional depth of field, photographers have regularly reduced the size of the image on the ground glass. With film, this degraded the image quality, but with the Better Light scan back the resolution can be increased for the cropped area to provide the same quality as a full frame composition.
- Increased Depth of Field & Exposure Efficiency—When moving the camera away from the set or changing to a shorter focal length lens and then cropping a smaller part of the available scan area, you will naturally get the benefit of added depth-of-field. In addition, in most cases there will be less loss of light from bellows factor and thus allows you to stop the lens down farther or reduce the scan time.
- More Resolution Options—Occasionally, when photographing an ultra fine texture or weave a moiré pattern may occur. This is a result of the subject texture and pixel pattern happening to be in a mathematical relationship that creates a moiré. Any physical change to this combination will eliminate the moiré — the simplest method is by a change in the resolution setting. The scan back does not produce the same moiré or color aliasing that is typical of single-shot digital cameras.
- Less Noise—images have an apparent reduction of noise, resulting in "finer grain", since there is more data samples per spatial unit because of the 14-bit Data Converters that are standard on the SuperModels. The lower "dark current" produced by the new K-2 CCDs have also noticeably improved the image quality.
- Increased Confidence—You can feel comfortable with your investment decision knowing you have more than enough resolution to handle any type of client project. (It’s like having a car that will go to 140 mph, but the speed limit is 65 mph—it’ reassuring to know you can go faster if you really need to).
Better Light's most versatile 4x5 scanning backs feature the latest in CCD technology from Kodak that has doubled the sensitivity range of the previous sensor AND improves image quality at the same time. All models include the new K-2 CCDs, making these scan backs the fastest and most sensitive such units available, with two to three times the light sensitivity of competing units — up to ISO 3200 at any resolution setting for the Super6K-HS.
All Better Light scan backs are portable for location photography with the battery-operated Portability Option. Special adapters are also available to use any scan back model on the Mamiya RB and RZ-67 or Fuji GX680 cameras. Seamless panoramic and rollout images can also be captured using our unique Pano/WideView Adapter.
Super 6K-HS
- 6000 x 8000 pixels - Native CCD resolution
- 137 MB max. file 24-bit RGB (274 MB in 48-bit RGB)
- 9000 x 12000 pixels - Enhanced Resolution™
- 309 MB max. file 24-bit RGB (618 MB in 48-bit RGB)
