For all Nikon Coolscan V users...

Ara Ghajanian

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I highly recommend this:

http://www.adorama.com/INKFH3.html?searchinfo=nikon fh-3&item_no=1

My first scan blew my mind. I'd always have out of focus areas on my scans, but this inexpensive adapter solved the problem. You can only scan one frame at a time. Since you use the slide adapter to feed this in, scanning time is quicker and it's easier to keep the negative clean because it doesn't come in contact with rollers.

Another reason to buy a Coolscan.

Ara
 
You will still get variations in whats in and out of focus from edge to edge and corner to corner. With software like Vuescan, you can manually focus around the image and see what the variation is and then make a choice. I scan this way with a Nikon 4000 all the time. However, its worth doing some testing to find out what is acceptable as a range of focus units first. The 5000 supposedly has a greater DoF than the 4000 did but this is an example I did with my 4000 - I deciding that I can accept about +/- 0.05 focus units in Vuescan.

2388538219_c550ac29e5_b.jpg

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Big version of the image
 
A couple of questions...

Does this adapter allow you to scan the entire frame? The strip feeder always seems to chop a tiny bit off the long edges, making a slightly elongated image.

Did you order it from Adorama on back order? How long did it take to get it? They seem to be hard to find and I was under the impression Nikon was no longer making them.

edit: I have one more question. I know it's made for scanning strips of 1-2 frames, but can it be used with strips of 5-6 frames also?

Thanks,
Paul
 
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Does this adapter allow you to scan the entire frame? The strip feeder always seems to chop a tiny bit off the long edges, making a slightly elongated image.

No it allows not. That is something I don´t understand... WHY the hell can´t they make a decent film holder that would allow that??! Are they saving a lot of money when making the hole 1mm smaller here or there?? Well in this Nikon case the help is near: take tools and just grind (+ sandpaper) that frame bigger...it´s plastic.
 
Can you please show me a before and after result? It never occurs to me that I ever had out of focus problem with Nikon Coolscan V ED. But, it this were to improve my image noticeably, I would definitely get it especially now that this Coolscan is probably the last film scanner I ever had.
 
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