Fuji Frontier
Scanning
Safelight Labs is excited to offer Fuji Frontier SP3000 scanning as an option for 35mm film in addition to our normal Noritsu scans. (Medium format scanning coming soon!)
One scanner is not necessarily better than another, but there will be notable differences in the images that you receive from a Frontier v. Noristu scanner. What you want to achieve with your image will decide which scanning option is best for you.
What’s the difference?
Noritsu
Warmer tones overall
Higher resolution image with more close up detail
Greys are captured true to life but can look flat
Higher color range and detail in highlights and shadows
Skin tones are more pink
Frontier
Cooler tones overall
Higher contrast and more saturation
Less grain due to automatic smoothing
Shadows and highlights can have less range of color - blacker shadows and whiter highlights
Golden skin tones
Color and Tone
The Frontier scanner is renowned for its color palette, which leans to the cooler tones. You will get a distinct look to your scans from the Frontier. Frontier scans also have more saturation and contrast. Skin tones tend to appear more to the golden side, as compared to the Noritsu which emphasizes pinks in skin tones.
Noritsu
Frontier
Noritsu
Frontier
Detail and Definition
The resolution and level of detail in the Noritsu scanner can’t be beat. If you want a higher resolution image that can be zoomed in to show detail, Noritsu might be best for you. This difference is especially notable with highlights and shadows. Frontier scans have less definition and range in these areas, resulting in blacker shadows and whiter highlights.
Noritsu
Frontier
Black & White and Grain
Black and white film scans in particular will have some distinct differences. Due to automatic smoothing, less grain is visible in Frontier scans. This can be especially noticeable in higher ISO films. Noritsu scanners do not have this function allowing for more noticeable grain structure in your images. Noritsu scanners also have an advantage in the range of grays. Grays will be captured true to life, but can appear flat because of this. Overall, we do recommend getting your B&W film scanned with the Noritsu.
Noritsu
Frontier
Cost and Time
Another crucial difference between these two scanners is speed. Frontier scanners take significantly more time from our lab techs to operate.
Because of these, they will cost more. We charge an additional $7 for Frontier scans.