Which scanner?

[Nigel Meaby]

I currently have an Epson V700 but would like to know if anyone can recommend a scanner that would be a significant upgrade. I only really need 35mm and mostly shoot black and white. Does anyone know anything about Microtek scanners, for instance? Your thoughts please, ladies and gents!

 

[mfogiel]

Get the best scanner you can afford, Nikon CS 5000 is pretty much the only serviceable option nowadays, but some prefer Minolta 5400.

 

[aparat]

I currently have an Epson V700 but would like to know if anyone can recommend a scanner that would be a significant upgrade. I only really need 35mm and mostly shoot black and white. Does anyone know anything about Microtek scanners, for instance? Your thoughts please, ladies and gents!

Yes, I have experience with three scanners: Minolta 5400, Plustek OpticFilm 7200, and Nikon 9000. If you're shooting primarily 35mm B&W, the Plustek works great. The Nikon is the best of the three but it is also the most expensive.

The Plustek produces excellent B&W scans. It doesn't emphasize grain, probably due to its cold light source. It is very stable under Windows XP Pro, relatively fast, comes with Silverfast software, and works really well with Vuescan, too. It is also very inexpensive. I will be putting mine on the Auction Site for $150. The 7200 dpi resolution is overkill in file size and, in my opinion, doesn't offer significant advantages over, say 4000 dpi.

aparat

 

[Florian1234]

Is the Plustek really 7200 dpi resolution? I read on a test website that it only has 2800 or so. (According to this: http://www.filmscanner.info/PlustekOpticFilm7500i.html the Plustek 7500i gives 3500 dpi as maximum "real" resolution)

Could you tell me more about that?