Imacon Film Scanning (per 1 frame)

Imacon Flextight 646 is a virtual drum scanner that truly gets the most out of your negative. 

Words can’t describe how good it is. But numbers can: max quality for the

• 135 type = 6300 dpi
• 120 type = 3200 dpi 
• 4x5 = 2040 dpi

All photos are output as uncompressed TIFF files with a bit depth of 48 bits (color) or 16 bits (B&W). File sizes are roughly ~350MB.

Why do professional photographers usually go for Imacon scanner?

You’ve seen the high DPI, here’s what else makes it special:

• Imacon Flextight has a dynamic range ~4.6 Dmax, meaning it pulls tons of detail from shadows and highlights. 
• it keeps your film perfectly flat, delivering even sharpness across the whole frame (that’s especially important for large format which can suffer from uneven focus with other scanners)
• it has excellent color accuracy, so your scans come out true-to-film 

That’s why the Imacon is a favorite among pros, who want high-res, detailed, true-to-film scans, especially for big formats or slide film. 

You can count on Imacon film scanner if:

• you want extremely high quality frames;
• you need to scan specific formats: 4x5, panoramic shots, or rare sizes of 120 type;
• you wish your slide scans to be as good as you see them in real life 
• you have to print your photos big for an exhibition.

Imacon Flextight scanner vs. Noritsu 

Imacon pros:

• supports formats from 110 up to 4×5
• works like a virtual drum scanner — perfect for slide film
• higher resolution than Noritsu, ideal for large prints and exhibitions

Imacon cons:

• slower scanning process
• no Digital ICE, but we manually clean every frame for dust-free results

You can see the difference in our Imacon vs. Noritsu samples here.

Imacon Flextight 646 vs. Durst Sigma Plus 

Imacon pros:

• outstanding dynamic range 
• exceptional sharpness, thanks to virtual drum scanning technology 

Imacon cons: 

• slower workflow 
• no Digital ICE, but we take extra care to manually clean your scans and make sure they’re spotless.

Check out our Durst vs. Imacon scan samples here.

What you get with Imacon scanning

Our goal is to give you the best base for post-processing. So:

• we do dust removal so you get perfectly clean negative
• you get scans with neutral colors and exposure. What you do next is up to you and your tastes. 

TIFF, 3F or JPG?

If you order Imacon scanning, you can choose JPG, TIFF, or 3F (Imacon’s raw format).

JPG or TIFF gives you clean, flat scans, ready for your post-processing  

3F gives you a raw negative scan that you convert yourself using Imacon software. It keeps all the image data and gives you full control over the edit.

How to scan your film on Imacon 646: 

• make an online order and mail us your film, or just stop by with your negatives 
• we scan it (super fast, as always)
• check your inbox for the results
• pick up your negatives or have them shipped to you

Our turnaround: 3 working days

*expect a little longer turnaround if you bring many frames, as more frames mean more care.

We send your frames straight to your inbox. Scan links are active for 3 days. If you miss the deadline, just send us your order number and we’ll reupload the files.

We keep your negatives for 1 month. Need more time to pick them up? Just let us know and we’ll hold onto them a bit longer.

What is the maximum resolution offered by Imacon scans?

Max resolution for Imacon scans:

> 135 film: up to 6300 dpi
> 120 film: up to 3200 dpi
> 4×5 film: up to 2040 dpi

All scans are delivered as uncompressed TIFF files — 48-bit for color, 16-bit for B&W. File sizes are usually around 350MB.

How does Imacon scanning compare to Noritsu scanning?

You can check the Imacon vs. Noritsu samples here 

Imacon pros:
> Supports 110 and 4×5 formats
> Great for slide film — works like a virtual drum scanner
> Higher resolution than Noritsu, perfect for large prints and exhibitions

Imacon cons:
> Slower process
> No Digital ICE, but we manually clean every frame for dust-free results

What file formats are available for Imacon scans?

If you order scanning with the Imacon, you can choose JPG, TIFF, or 3F (Imacon’s raw format).

JPG or TIFF gives you clean, flat scans, ready for your post-processing.

3F gives you a raw negative scan that you convert yourself using Imacon software. It keeps all the image data and gives you full control over the edit.

Can I request scans with or without film borders using Imacon?

Yes, we can scan your film with the borders using our Imacon scanner. 

See all prices and formats here.