Analog Gain

My Pentax ME Super camera had an intermittent problem: from time to time the shutter speed would jump from the correct setting up to some unreasonably fast setting (1/2000 s). This led to a significant number of underexposed negatives. (I returned the camera to the distributors CR Kennedy twice, but they could never see the problem, let alone fix it.)

This presents the question: what's the best way to scan a severely underexposed negative? Analog Gain is one possibility.

Analog Gain increases or decreases the brightness of the LEDs in the Nikon Coolscan. Analog Gain can be adjusted from +2 to -2. Negative settings are useful for underexposed negatives.

(Below) Scan with Analog Gain = 0

(Below) Scan with Analog Gain = +1

(Below) Scan with Analog Gain = +2

(These images are reduced to 10% of their original size. In addition to Analog Gain, they had Digital ICE: On (Fine) applied.

It is likely that this negative is too far underexposed to ever produce a 'normal' picture. From the samples above, it appears that Analog Gain improves underexposed negatives, but isn't a miracle cure. Better results can be obtained when Analog Gain is combined with other factors.

Note: There is an argument that Analog Gain is more useful with 'clogged up' source material: an overexposed negative or an underxposed slide. It's hard for a scanner's light source to see through such a 'clugged up' image, and Analog Gain allows the light source to be turned up to shine through the celluloid.

Other settings that are relevant fot underposed negatives include: