Re: densitometry

[Sandy King <sanking@clemson.edu>]

Eric,

When you buy used on ebay Consumer Reports won't help you at all. 
What you need to be able to do is make sure that the unit is working 
when you get it, which usually requires an instruction manual and 
calibration charts, either transmission and reflective or both. This 
is really important if you have no previous experience with 
densitometers.

Good brands are Macbeth, X-RITE, Noritsu and Eseco. No doubt there 
are others that will work well also.

There are basically three types.

1. Transmission densitometers that measure only visual light.

2. Color transmission or reflections densitometers.

3. Color Reflection/Transmission densitometers.

Group #1 will be the least expensive and complicated, Groupt #3 the 
most expensive and complicated.

If you buy on egay make certain that the item is advertised to be in 
working order so that you can return it if it is not.

Sandy King

>Sandy King writes:
>>  I have seen many late model color
>>  reflection/transmission densitometers sell for less than $200, and
>>  transmission models from the late 70s and early 80s typically go for
>>  less than $100.
>
>I posed a question about densitometers some time back, and while I was
>in touch with a list member about buying theirs, the transaction didn't
>go through.  Sandy's statement, and some work I'm doing with 16mm film,
>really make me want to add a densitometer to my tool bench.
>
>Unfortunately, there's no Consumer Reports to turn to for reviews of
>these machines.  Or is there?  Other than Macbeth, I have no idea which
>manufacturers/models are reputable, good buys, etc.
>
>Any guidelines?
>
>Thanks, Eric


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