Omega SCA-100 analyzer worth buying?

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Rob - 09 Aug 2007 18:15 GMT

Hi,
I have a chance to get an Omega SCA-100 color analyzer for $35.00. Does it
work well? Is it worth buying?

Thanks!

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nathantw - 12 Aug 2007 18:42 GMT

I sold mine with instructions in really good shape for $1 on Ebay earlier
this year. It also came with a MinitMask too! Lucky guy. Anyway, personally
I don't think it's worth $35. If you can find a Colorstar 3000 or 2000 then
you're in business. I used my Colorstar 3000 to create 11x14's and 5x7's and
the exposure and color were equal even though they were completely different
types of paper. The brightest whites still had detail in it and the blacks
were also equally detailed. No dodging or burning either.

> Hi,
> I have a chance to get an Omega SCA-100 color analyzer for $35.00. Does it
> work well? Is it worth buying?
>
> Thanks!

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darkroommike - 12 Aug 2007 19:49 GMT

Unless it's free I'd pass, I have an SCA-400, rarely use it
except for exposure and timer. I find I print all my color
on the computer and all my black and white in the darkroom.
darkroommike

> Hi,
> I have a chance to get an Omega SCA-100 color analyzer for $35.00. Does it
> work well? Is it worth buying?
>
> Thanks!

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Ken Hart - 13 Aug 2007 00:15 GMT

> Unless it's free I'd pass, I have an SCA-400, rarely use it except for
> exposure and timer. I find I print all my color on the computer and all
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>>
>> Thanks!

I bought an analyzer a couple years ago-- I find that the best analyzer is
the Kodak viewing filters and a test strip. I can usually get the exposure
and color right with one or two test strips. I cut a sheet of 16x20 into
eight 4x10 test strips.
Although the analyzer is nice for B&W: make one good print, meter a shadow,
null the meter, and print everything else to the same setting.

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nathantw - 13 Aug 2007 02:59 GMT

> I bought an analyzer a couple years ago-- I find that the best analyzer is
> the Kodak viewing filters and a test strip. I can usually get the exposure
> and color right with one or two test strips. I cut a sheet of 16x20 into
> eight 4x10 test strips.

I'll be the first to admit that I SUCK at color analyzing, especially when
it came to using the Kodak viewing filters. I went years using the Kodak
viewing filter and also the little color squares that simulates 140 test
strips as it tries to find 18% gray. Both helped in some ways but I was
still wasting paper and chemicals left and right. The only time I finally
got it right was when I got the Colorstar 3000 for $100 on Ebay. It really
is easy once you find the perfect setup.

That said, though, I think the easiest way to get color nowdays though is to
either bring it to Costco and for less than $2 have a "perfect" 8x10 or to
print it with your home inkjet, though that could get just as costly as
having your own color darkroom.

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