I think I need a Negative Scanner

R

Range-rover

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Hi all,

I'm tired of all the places I go to get my 35mm film developed and there
machine's are breaking down. If I wanted to get a film scanner where
should I start, this will be all new to me.

Range
 
I wouldn't part with my film scanner for anything. I'd go hungry and live in my car before I'd sell it. Its that important!

If you want the BEST, get an Imacon. They're ultra-costly new (over $10,000), but used ones sometimes show up on ebay for much, much less.

If you want something very close to the best for less $$, a used Nikon 4000, 5000, or Coolscan V is the way to go for 35mm, or the 8000 or 9000 if you shoot medium format. They're all discontinued but the image quality is stunning. I have an 8000.

If money is an issue, the Plustek scanners are said to be pretty decent, and are inexpensive new (for the 35mm models) and a little less expensive than the Nikons for the medium format model.
 
I'd go with a Canoscan 9000f $160 on Amazon right now. Unless you're trying to win contests with prints or trying to change the world with super awesome mega perfect scans, it'll be more than enough. Get the medium format scanning tray from Better Scanning and use the 35mm tray that comes with the kit. You'll love it.
 
The best scanner anyone should really be looking at is the Epson V700. It runs a bit over $600. I prefer the Epsons to the Canons. The V500 and V600 are also okay choices if you don't shoot 4x5. The Nikon scanners are discontinued and most have already been heavily used...just buy a new scanner. It's better than paying OVER market price for an old used scanner.

I use an Imacon 848 for prints up to 44" on the short side. It's a great scanner, but it better be for five figures. I use a V700 for web uploads and quick previews. Under 16x20 prints, you really can't tell the difference between the two. The Imacon is HUGE, ridiculously expensive, and needs to be sent in every once in a while to get tuned up. Currently it's leaving weird marks in my dark areas, and it needs to be sent in. When the V700 starts showing streaks, you just sell it on ebay as-is and buy another one. Once I have to leave my lab, I will be buying a V700...definitely not an Imacon. If I'm making large prints for a show, the Imacon is much preferable. But not $14,500 preferable!
 
Skulls Road said:
I'd go with a Canoscan 9000f $160 on Amazon right now. Unless you're trying to win contests with prints or trying to change the world with super awesome mega perfect scans, it'll be more than enough. Get the medium format scanning tray from Better Scanning and use the 35mm tray that comes with the kit. You'll love it.
Click to expand...

This sounds good, the 9000f is better than it's price would suggest. If you have extremely high standards, then maybe you'll want something else, but these flatbeds can be better than you expect.

If you're going for 35mm only, then I think a dedicated Plustek is a good buy, but if medium format is anywhere on the horizon, may as well get a flatbed.
 
I'd love having a Film Scanner. Scanning film is the thing I dislike most about photography. Someone to scan anything I want? Perfect.
 
Remember to consider how much you have spent on lenses to get that quality you want in your photos. Then consider if you want to pass all that image quality through a low end scanner. Remember that old saying about a chain only being as strong as it's weakest link? That applies here.

I agree with Chris Crawford about the importance of a good scanner. I would not hesitate to sell one of my best lenses to buy a first class scanner if I wanted first class prints. If you only want something good enough for web use, you might as well sell all those expensive lenses because they are wasted.
 
Have you considered the alternative---processing and printing yourself?
It's not that difficult and very relaxing.
If all you need are low-rez scans, you can scan an 8x10 print with a $50 scanner from Staples.
 
I have a Minolta Multi Scan Pro which does up to 6x9. Discontinued but I picked mine up a few years ago from ebay for $800. I use it with Vuescan as the old drivers don't work with Win7. I would recommend one if you can find one.

Cheers - John
 
Range-rover said:
... I'm tired of all the places I go to get my 35mm film developed and there
machine's are breaking down. If I wanted to get a film scanner where
should I start, this will be all new to me. ...
Click to expand...

My solutions:

If 35mm, Nikon Coolscan IV, V or Super Coolscan 4000 or 5000. The automated strip feeder, slide feeder, and individual strip feeder are the three essential accessories. IMO, these are the best 35mm negative scanners ever made. There are new Plusteks available, but I prefer the Coolscan V over any of them despite its being discontinued.

If 120 format, the Epson V700 does a fine job but I always found it a fussy machine to get what I wanted out of. I recently bought a used Nikon Super Coolscan 9000 ED: it is terrific but rather pricey. The standard carriers are essential ... 120 strip, 35mm strip (two at a time), 35mm slide. The optional carrier that I will buy for it is the Nikon FH-869G Glass Medium Format Film Holder, which itself is not cheap. But with this, you can set up to scan nearly any format from Minox 8x11mm to 6x12cm format, and everything in between.

(In fact, with the Coolscan 9000 and the glass film holder, I could pretty much use it for everything, obviating my need for the Coolscan V unless I want to continue using APS film now and then. The APS film carrier for the Coolscan V allows me to automate scanning entire rolls of APS film in one pass while leaving them in the original film cassette as they were intended to be stored. )

G
 
Range-rover said:
Hi all,

I'm tired of all the places I go to get my 35mm film developed and there
machine's are breaking down. If I wanted to get a film scanner where
should I start, this will be all new to me.

Range
Click to expand...
Start here. I got a V500 so I can do both 35mm & 120. It's pretty easy to learn. Nice part is you can process your own film at home then scan. I use to take my B&W film to have scanned but it became impossible to find a place.

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/...eBVCookie=yes&iref=homepage_products_scanners
 
Bob Michaels said:
Remember to consider how much you have spent on lenses to get that quality you want in your photos. Then consider if you want to pass all that image quality through a low end scanner. Remember that old saying about a chain only being as strong as it's weakest link? That applies here.

I agree with Chris Crawford about the importance of a good scanner. I would not hesitate to sell one of my best lenses to buy a first class scanner if I wanted first class prints. If you only want something good enough for web use, you might as well sell all those expensive lenses because they are wasted.
Click to expand...

Well I'd argue that if you can afford expensive glass then you can afford an expensive scanner. Maybe I wrongfully assumed that the OP was just looking to scan cheaply and simply at home.

I recently sold my most expensive lens, a Pentax DA*200 so I could pick up a bunch of fun and cheap rangefinders. So the Canon must fit the bill for my crappy glass.
 
I should add that my scanner, a Minolta MultiPro, costs over twice as much as I ever paid for any camera body or lens. That level of expenditure was necessary to obtain the quality I needed for my prints.

I understand that others may have different needs. I understand that print quality does not increase in a linear progression with costs. I only suggest that others balance their expenditures for scanners and lenses so that they are not spending a lot of money for one that is constrained by the other.
 
gb hill said:
Start here. I got a V500 so I can do both 35mm & 120. It's pretty easy to learn. Nice part is you can process your own film at home then scan. I use to take my B&W film to have scanned but it became impossible to find a place.

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/...eBVCookie=yes&iref=homepage_products_scanners
Click to expand...

I went this route. It's a great scanner for web and small prints. If this is the bulk of what you want to do, then something like this or a plustek are probably your best bets. In addition, if I have a negative that I really like and want a more detailed, larger scan, then my local photo store will do that for $2-$5.

Also, take online reviews and opinions about scanners with a grain of salt. Quite often people buy an inexpensive scanner and expect Imacon quality. Or they simply don't invest the time required to get to know their scanner in depth, or how to use the software. This leads to frustration, and a ton of unnecessary mixed reviews.
 
thegman said:
This sounds good, the 9000f is better than it's price would suggest. If you have extremely high standards, then maybe you'll want something else, but these flatbeds can be better than you expect.

If you're going for 35mm only, then I think a dedicated Plustek is a good buy, but if medium format is anywhere on the horizon, may as well get a flatbed.
Click to expand...

I agree. Maybe someone can clue me in because I don't understand why the Canoscan 9000f mkii doesn't get more love on these forums, especially for 35mm. It produces awesome scans for just $150, new. We have more expensive scanners at my school but for home this scanner is a slam dunk. What are the pros and cons to spending more money?
 
For 35mm I love my Reflecta CrystalScan 7200!
I know the Nikon are much better - but I bought mine used for ~100,-€ and in this class there is nothing else.
This Thing is slow - esspecialy when you do a multipass scan under VueScan - which is highly recommended. It is unconfortabel - no self moving frame holder and it is terrible loud - but I can print up to A3 from a good scan so what?

It was the best buy I could have made for the beginning in the hybrid way and will stay with me until I could finance a realy good scanner for 35mm up to 4x5" (any idea of an resonable priced goo-perfect scanner please per PN).

PS:
MF I do with an old Epson Perfection 1240U Photo - good for big size negatives, but like any flatbed horrible for 35mm!!!
 
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