LS50 or V700?

Iggy

Iggy

Member
Local time
3:24 PM
Joined
Dec 23, 2005
Messages
44
Location
Manchester
View My Gallery
Arf'noon all

I have a little dilemma over which scanner to buy. After some deliberation I have narrowed the contest down to either the Epson V700 or the Nikon LS50 (aka Coolscan V) and would really appreciate any advice that might help me reach a final decision.

I shoot exclusively 35mm and 50/50ish colour/b&w and would want scans that give decent prints up to and including A3. I hope to factor in ease of use (in terms of software as well as hardware), reliability, speed as well as scan quality.


Ta & yoroshiku.
 
If oyu shoot exclusively 35mm, the answer is simple. Go for the dedicated 35mm film scanner. That is, the nikon, in your case.

I only have the v700. I bought it against a 35mm film scanner because i shoot medium format as well. It is a very good scanner, but does not have the resolution(smaller problem) nor the dynamic range (bigger issue) of a similarly priced film scanner. In the meantime i do have several prints hanging here, a4 size to 30x45 cm from 35mm film, and they look good enough for my livingroom. Not like the 40x40's scanned off a 6x6 frame, but still, acceptable.

The speed of it, moreover, is also very good. I think it is faster and easier to handle than most dedicated film scanners. E.g. you can load 4 strips of 6 frames (35mm) at once, prescan, set the exposures and frame borders individually, and batch scan 24 frames without further intervention.
Scan 24 frames at 2400 dpi, you can cook dinner in the meantime, or take a bath, or go shopping, or vacuum clean the house, or have sex.

So here you are. Decide if you want convenience and speed (v700) traded for a bit of extra quality (ls50).

EDIT: maybe it matters to you: the v700 is a BEAST.
 
Hallo,

I have both. Yes, at 100% the LS-50 is sharper then the v700 (35mm) even after testing and setting the optimal film holder height.

But. As Pherdinand said, the v700 is more convenient and good enough for my print sizes (8x10,8x12) perhaps even bigger - but I don't go there. And, I didn't think I would ever meddle in medium format - but I did (and do) and the V700 can do that.

If I was choosing from scratch - V700.

On a single frame basis - the LS-50 is quicker.

EDIT: Are you scanning a lot? Or just scanning in those franes that you really like? If the latter go for the LS-50.
 
So I can leave the V700 to batch scan while I have sex? 24 frames in 2 minutes ??😀

Thanks fellas for your very helpful advice. Actually, I've never scanned negs before but anyhow... I don't know what your hit rates are like but if I get 10 keepers per roll then I'm a very happy bunny. So I won't need to scan every frame, no.

Form factor is not a key... erm... factor but merely something to take into account. It seems that the V700 is "good enough" in terms of quality and obviously the more flexible of the two but what about software? Do either of you use Vuescan with either scanner? Is this the way to go in your opinion?

Thanks again
 
honestly i downoaded vuescan trial version, and got pissed off that they stripped the batch scan and the colour profile feature from it so i never bothered to check i thoroughly. But i must say its interface was NOT that easy and intuitive to me.
For the color management would have been the main reason for me to switch to vuescan.
The epson software can batch scan and is simple and efficient BUT it is a pita what regards color management. Example, you scan in a color profile and the scanner does not tag the file as such. I needed some time to figure this out.
But if you just scan in the default settings this won't be a problem. Or if you remember that when u tell him to scan in adobe rgb he scans in adobe rgb but does not tag the file, you just tag the file in photoshop or stg else afterwards, and it works fine.

OTOH they also bundle silverfast SE with the scanner, which handles color management well, and can maybe do a better job on C41 scanning..BUT it has no batch scan option.
 
kully said:
Hallo,

I have both. Yes, at 100% the LS-50 is sharper then the v700 (35mm) even after testing and setting the optimal film holder height.

But. As Pherdinand said, the v700 is more convenient and good enough for my print sizes (8x10,8x12) perhaps even bigger - but I don't go there. And, I didn't think I would ever meddle in medium format - but I did (and do) and the V700 can do that.

If I was choosing from scratch - V700.

On a single frame basis - the LS-50 is quicker.

EDIT: Are you scanning a lot? Or just scanning in those franes that you really like? If the latter go for the LS-50.
Click to expand...

I'm presently in the same situation and also have narrowed down my search to the V700 (maybe the V750) and the LS-50.
How would the V700 scans compare to the ones you get froom a decent photo lab on CD (about 2 or so mb). Is it enough of a difference to achieve really good quality scans of the keepers? Also would batch scanning with the V700 to then delete the "non keepers" be faster and more convenient than to do single scans (of the keepers) with the Nikon.

Reto
 
Go for the Nikon if you only shoot 35mm. You'll get about 2x the resolution compared to the Epson, and the dynamic range is much better. Scanning takes a lot of time - so why not extract as much info as possible from the negs?
 
If you know you won't be venturing toward MF or LF, get the Coolscan. I have the 4000 ED, using the Nikon software (adequate for basic, zero option scanning if you process in PS). But the decision should reflect your workflow. If you will be examining your negs/slides on a light table to eliminate clinkers (what I do), then the Coolscan makes sense. But if you want to cull from scans, then the Epson will speed your flow.

If you're printing at 250-300 dpi, then I'm not sure that every print from an Epson scan will be satisfactory beyond 8X10, depending on the subject. In my experience, once I get below 200-225 dpi I start to see unacceptable resolution. Also, with the lower res scan you will be more restricted in your crops, if that matters. Then again, if you're a competent up-rezzer in PS, you have more flexibility. In any case, the Coolscan gives you more to work with.
 
Last edited:
Hmmm. Much food for thought.

I'm leaning slightly toward the LS50, though my better half thinks the flexibility of the V700 would be a better bet. I shall give myself one week to ponder then make my final decision.

Thanks again, chaps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom