For crisp and sharp Images

Some high-quality scanners, flatbed scanners as well as dedicated film scanners, facilitate to adjust the optic’s focus. This means the possibility to offset the focus up to several millimeters above or below the regular focus level. Some scanners feature an automatic focus control system, where others additionally allow the user to set the focus manually.

What do you do with a Focus Control?

You don’t need a focus control, if your originals really lie perfectly flat on your flatbed. However, using filmholders slightly lifts your originals, slide mounts are of different thicknesses and also filmstrips inserted to film scanners are not always perfectly flat, the focus can vary from frame to frame. Setting an appropriate focus leads to crisp and sharp images.

A flatbed scanner offering a manual focus control may also be used to digitize certain three-dimensional objects like coins. Using the SilverFast focus control, the focus can be set so precisely that flatbed scanners can also be used for scientific work, as the example of the bird feather project impressively shows.

Supported Scanners

The listed scanners are tested to support the focus control feature.

Epson

DS-G20000
ES-10000G
ES-11000G
ES-8500
Expression 10000XL
Expression 11000XL
Expression 12000XL
Expression 1640XL

Microtek

ArtixScan F1
ArtixScan F2
ArtixScan M1

Minolta

DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 (not Elite 5400 II)

Nikon

LS 4000ED / Super Coolscan 4000 ED
LS 40ED / Coolscan IV ED
LS 5000ED / Super Coolscan 5000 ED
LS 50ED / Coolscan V ED
LS 8000ED / Super Coolscan 8000 ED
LS 9000ED / Super Coolscan 9000 ED

Pacific Image Electronics

PrimeFilm 7250 Pro3
PrimeFilm XA
PrimeFilm XAs

Reflecta

RPS 10M
RPS 7200

"The frame thickness of slides and the thickness of film holders can vary slightly, so the scanner optics may not have the optimal distance for scanning. Some professional scanners from Epson, Nikon, Microtek, PIE and Reflecta allow manually adjusting the focus of the scanner optics up or down by a few millimeters. With SilverFast 8 Focus Control, you will receive perfectly crisp sharpness."

Bruno Carot, Photographer

Focus Control Manual

This manual explains how to use the SilverFast Focus Control functionality. Please note: The Focus Control functionality slightly differs from scanner to scanner. Not every feature described here is available for every device.

PDF Manual

Supported Scanners

The Focus Control tool is only available for scanners, which feature a motorized focus adjustment facility. The listed scanners have been tested and support the SilverFast Focus Control. More scanners will be added to the list by and by.

List of scanners, which support Focus Control