Scanner

The Minolta DualScan IV seemed popular around here when I was doing my research on the topic... they can be had for around $275.00 on the auction site. For not much more than your $500.00 limit, you can get a Coolscan V, which gets wonderful reviews. Other than these two, there are some flatbeds out there that may fit the bill. I bought (and returned) a Canonscan 8600f flatbed scanner. It was a decent flatbed and can pull detail fairly well. The images required plenty of sharpening as they were somewhat soft (expected from a flatbed I guess), but after some USM the pics looked good on the monitor. I only returned it because I don't shoot enough MF.
Cheers, j
 
HP Photosmart S20 is well under $500 used. Only does up to 2400dpi, but is focus-free, and requires no film holders. Does strips of up to 5 frames in a batch, slides as well (in holders or strips), and doesn't care what color the film base is as it seems to automatically compensate. Doesn't have any kind of scratch or dust removal, but since I use it mainly for B&W, that is not an issue for me. The auto settings almost always are the best you're gonna do. Does 24-bit color from Photoshop, but not from the HP software.

See my gallery for scans.
 
40oz said:
HP Photosmart S20 is well under $500 used. Only does up to 2400dpi, but is focus-free, and requires no film holders. Does strips of up to 5 frames in a batch, slides as well (in holders or strips), and doesn't care what color the film base is as it seems to automatically compensate. Doesn't have any kind of scratch or dust removal, but since I use it mainly for B&W, that is not an issue for me. The auto settings almost always are the best you're gonna do. Does 24-bit color from Photoshop, but not from the HP software.

See my gallery for scans.
Click to expand...

Also scans panoramics!
Clive
 
As far as quality-wise, IMHO, no consumer flatbed model (aside of a real pro-level machines such as by Scitex) can approach the quality delivered by consumer dedicated film scanners such sa by Nikon, Minolta or similar (such as an Polaroid which is out of production AFAIK). From my (albeit not that extensive) personal experience and in spite of numerous reviews that can be found in flashy consumer photo magazines around and appropriate internet resources .
Nikon Coolscan V gets first-rate reports from actual users who know what they do, and I have no reason to put theyr opinion in doubt because being a long-term Nikon Coolscan ED-40 (the "anccestor" of Coolscan V) satisfied user. These kinds of the machine can really do justice to your fine negs and transparancies exposed through fine RF optics. Besides, AFAIk Coolscan V can be had now brand new for just over 500$ so why hesitate ?
 
I use a Nikon CoolScan V.

For the price, I think it's a great scanner. The speed is tolerable and the quality excellent.

The Digital ICE dust/scratch removal is a REAL time saver when using color film or chromogenic BW like XP2. I used to use a Kodak RFS film scanner and it seemed like no matter how much canned air I used, I'd still have to spend painstaking time with the PS clone tool cleaning up the image.

I also have an Epson 4990 that I use for scanning MF negs. It too has the ICE capability but each scan takes a LONG time to complete because of the processing time. As Alexz commented, it also doesn't provide the level of sharpness that the dedicated film scanner does. I don't scan enough MF to warrant a Nikon 9000 purchase, though.
 
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Artorius said:
I've done the search. I need a 35mm film scanner under $500.00. Which one?
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I have a Nikon Coolscan V ED. It can scan at 4000 dpi and doesn't crash my computer too often! It scans (slowly) negs or slides with equal determination.

If you could scrounge up another $100 to buy a new one or find a used one, I think you would be pleased.
 
Is there any flatbed scanner (epson preferred) with 35mm holders that flattens curly negatives? You know, with dedicated film scanner the filmholders are built so that the film is pressed flat between the frames, but I haven't seen any flatbed 35mm filmstrip holder with that kind of desing -- they just hold the negative from the sides and there is nothing that falttens the negative, right??
 
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jky said:
The Minolta DualScan IV seemed popular around here when I was doing my research on the topic... they can be had for around $275.00 on the auction site. For not much more than your $500.00 limit, you can get a Coolscan V, which gets wonderful reviews. Other than these two, there are some flatbeds out there that may fit the bill. I bought (and returned) a Canonscan 8600f flatbed scanner. It was a decent flatbed and can pull detail fairly well. The images required plenty of sharpening as they were somewhat soft (expected from a flatbed I guess), but after some USM the pics looked good on the monitor. I only returned it because I don't shoot enough MF.
Cheers, j
Click to expand...

FWIW, I was never happy with either the DualScan IV or the 5400 Elite for B/W negatives.

I wouldn't waste my cash and either get a less expensive flatbed w/transparency if you're just doing web stuff or spend the right cash on a $1000 nikon scanner.

I ended up selling both minolta scanners and getting a Epson 4990 for medium format - the 35mm isn't super, but it was about the same as the 5400 and can do so much more.
 
pmu said:
Is there any flatbed scanner (epson preferred) with 35mm holders that flattens curly negatives? You know, with dedicated film scanner the filmholders are built so that the film is pressed flat between the frames, but I haven't seen any flatbed 35mm filmstrip holder with that kind of desing -- they just hold the negative from the sides and there is nothing that falttens the negative, right??
Click to expand...

There are aftermarket film holders that you can buy that will improve usage with curly negs, although I think these are for medium format and larger. They have clips, and if I remember correctly, an option for ANR glass holders as well?

http://betterscanning.com/
 
Epson flatbed for me. I use model 4990. You never know what negative/positive sizes you will want in the future.
 
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anglophone1 said:
Also scans panoramics!
Clive
Click to expand...

True, I forgot about that. You can also adjust the framing to capture a whole negative strip if you want. it's pretty versatile while having excellent automatic functions.

In fact, if it had a 4800 dpi sensor, I don't know why anyone would want anything else for 35mm B&W scanning. It's not perfect, but it is easy to use and produces very good results at 2400 dpi, IMHO. And they are dirt cheap and plentiful. You just need to make sure you are getting the USB version (better feature set and improved quality).

I now have an enlarger so I can make better prints than my PC ever could, but I still use the scanner for cataloguing my negatives and sharing photos online.
 
Tried 2 scanners yesterday

Tried 2 scanners yesterday

I took a couple of negs(Tri-x, BW400CN, and Fuji Color Pro) and some slides to my local Brick & Mortar dealer and tried out a couple of scanners, the Minolta Dimage 5400 II, and the Nikon Coolscan V. After my not very scientific tryout, I am going with the Nikon. IMO, the Nikon was easier to use for me, and the scans "appeared" to have more detail, and "seemed" sharper to my eyes. Ordered on-line last night, now I have to wait for it to get here.
Guess I better get out and shoot some film so I will have something to do when it gets here.
 
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I admit my ignorance. I have an old Acer 620P scanner. I scanned a negative to see if I could. I had to put a blank white strip of cardboard on the negative to get a file at 4000DPI. Now what? I took it to a Walgreen store and they could not make a print from it. [It was on a portable "carry" that had USB 2 connections they said they could not use. Odd.] What am I missing? Tech impared but curious.
Johne

I suspect it may be just a lack of knowledge by employees of this particular store. They said they could scan a negative there in the store. The USB2 connector seems to be the fly in the ointment here.
 
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johne said:
I admit my ignorance. I have an old Acer 620P scanner. I scanned a negative to see if I could. I had to put a blank white strip of cardboard on the negative to get a file at 4000DPI. Now what? I took it to a Walgreen store and they could not make a print from it. [It was on a portable "carry" that had USB 2 connections they said they could not use. Odd.] What am I missing? Tech impared but curious.
Johne

I suspect it may be just a lack of knowledge by employees of this particular store. They said they could scan a negative there in the store. The USB2 connector seems to be the fly in the ointment here.
Click to expand...

I don't understand what you put the scanned neg on, a portable carry? Why would you have to add a white strip to your neg to scan. I am VERY confused.
 
Artorius,

I had the digitalized negative on the hard drive. I downloaded it onto a one gig portable storge unit to take it to the store. Perhaps I am calling the device by the wrong name. [It is a PNY Attache.] On the old flat bed scanner I found I could not get enough light to scan a negative. I took a white strip of cardboard the size of the negative and put it over the negative to reflect the light from underneath. It worked.
Johne
 
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Sorry I took so long

Sorry I took so long

johne said:
Artorius,

I had the digitalized negative on the hard drive. I downloaded it onto a one gig portable storage unit to take it to the store. Perhaps I am calling the device by the wrong name. [It is a PNY Attache.] On the old flat bed scanner I found I could not get enough light to scan a negative. I took a white strip of cardboard the size of the negative and put it over the negative to reflect the light from underneath. It worked.
Johne
Click to expand...

After Goggling, I just figured out what you are trying to do. You are trying to use a USB flash drive. I don't know any lab that does this. You need to put your dig neg on a CF, SD, CD, DVD for them to print it. Flash drives are great for computer to computer, but most ALL labs I deal with can NOT use a USB drive as a source.
Put it on a CF or SD card.
If you have to back the neg with a white card, I would assume the scanner was not designed to do film.
As old as we are, we gotta keep up with the future. I suggest it's time to buy a new book and upgrade software/hardware as needed.
 
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