High-speed film scanner manufactured by DFT (Digital Film Technology), capable of scanning 35mm and 16mm film at resolutions up to 6.5K with HDR capabilities – widely used for film archiving, restoration, and dailies transfer due to its speed, quality, and gentle film handling.
What is Scanity?
Scanity is a high-speed film scanner from DFT (Digital Film Technology). It can scan 35mm and 16mm film at resolutions up to 6.5K and is known for its combination of speed, quality, and gentle film handling.
Basic Principle
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | DFT (formerly DFT/Grass Valley) |
| Type | High-Speed Scanner |
| Resolution | Up to 6.5K |
| Formats | 35mm, 16mm |
Scanity Models
| Model | Features |
|---|---|
| Scanity | Standard Model |
| Scanity HDR | High Dynamic Range |
| Scanity 2 | Latest Generation |
| Configurations | Custom Setups |
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Resolution | Up to 6.5K |
| Speed | Up to 15 fps @ 4K |
| Bit Depth | 16-bit |
| Color Space | Linear, Log |
HDR Scanning
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Dynamic Range | Extended |
| Technique | Dual-Exposure |
| Benefit | Shadows + Highlights |
| Use Case | Critical Material |
Supported Formats
| Format | Specification |
|---|---|
| 35mm 4-perf | Standard |
| 35mm 3-perf | Super 35 |
| 35mm 2-perf | Techniscope |
| 16mm | Standard + Super 16 |
Film Handling
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Pin-less | No perforation stress |
| Gentle | Smooth transport |
| Wet Gate | Option for scratch hiding |
| Cleaning | Integrated possible |
Speed vs. Quality
| Mode | Application |
|---|---|
| Fast | Dailies |
| Standard | Intermediate |
| High-Quality | Final Master |
| HDR | Archival |
Typical Applications
| Use | Description |
|---|---|
| Dailies | Daily transfers |
| DI | Digital Intermediate |
| Archive | Long-term preservation |
| Restoration | Film restoration |
Output Formats
| Format | Usage |
|---|---|
| DPX | Industry Standard |
| EXR | VFX Pipeline |
| TIFF | Archive |
| ProRes | Proxy/Edit |
Workflow Integration
| Phase | Integration |
|---|---|
| Capture | Film to scanner |
| Scan | Digitization |
| QC | Quality control |
| Output | To post-production |
Comparison with Other Scanners
| Scanner | Strength |
|---|---|
| Scanity | Speed + Value |
| ARRISCAN | Highest Quality |
| Spirit | Legacy |
| Northlight | Archival |
Operating Costs
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Throughput | High |
| Maintenance | Moderate |
| Operator | Training required |
| Space | More compact than many |
Quality Control
| Check | Description |
|---|---|
| Focus | Sharpness test |
| Exposure | Density measurement |
| Color | Chart reference |
| Gate | Film path |
DFT Support
| Service | Availability |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Contract options |
| Updates | Software |
| Training | Offered |
| Parts | Available |
Market Position
| Aspect | Status |
|---|---|
| Segment | Mid-to-High End |
| Adoption | Widely used |
| Competition | ARRISCAN, Northlight |
| Value | Good ratio |
Best Practices
| Practice | Reason |
|---|---|
| Film Preparation | Clean material |
| Calibration | Regularly |
| Framing | Correct setting |
| QC | Check every reel |
Today
Scanity scanners are an important part of film digitization infrastructure. With the combination of speed for dailies and quality for archiving, the Scanity serves a broad market. Its HDR capabilities make it particularly relevant for restoration projects and high-quality digitization of film material.