A good scanner to print from

[van_d]

I currently use an Epson V600 and am hitting a wall when it comes to printing beyond 5x7 from scans. I normally scan at 3200dpi and notice if I do any higher than that, my scans get very soft. Anything lower and the resolution is even worse for printing from. I find even 8x10 prints to be hit and miss; some turn out fine, while others seem kind of rough and pixely. I've tried different techniques, including putting the negative directly onto the glass, scanning to TIFF format, etc. and it just doesn't seem to do much. The exception is any 120 scans, due to the higher negative size.

I know that flatbeds are generally considered inferior for 35mm scans so I was wondering if anybody could recommend a 35mm specific film scanner that would produce good prints up to 11x14 at least. I'd prefer getting one that can be bought new (I know about the Nikon Coolscans). I've heard the Plustek's are great, but scanning one frame at a time would be tedious at best.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[rjstep3]

You haven't told us your budget.

Assuming sufficient funds, take a look at the Plustek Opticfilm 120 thread and take a view. They have ironed out the initial problems and with Vuescan, it is giving me great results. Fast too with the holders.

OTOH with a small upgrade you could try the V700, never tried the V600 so can't comment.

rjstep3

 

[Michalm]

Times are not good for film shooters looking for a proper new film scanner. If you want new scanner go for reflecta 7200 proscan, you cannot avoid scanning one frame at the time if end result needs to be sharp across the frame. Personally I would get second hand Coolscan V , it will probably last longer than any new scanner currently in production not to mention image quality is best for the buck.

 

[thegman]

If it's purely for 35mm, I'd be looking at the Pakon scanners. Very fast, although the claimed resolution is less than most. I think they say the scans are 3000px across, which is a tad low, but can still provide 300dpi on a 10x8" print.

 

[Godfrey]

A Sony A7 body fitted with Novoflex NEX/NIK and Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 pre-AI plus ES-1 slide stage, and a nice stable light source, makes an awesome scanning rig for 35mm slides in general, and film if you rig up a holder. 24 Mpixel captures which compete well with a Nikon Coolscan V on resolution and dynamic range.

For 120 film, I could create another setup but overall I'm happy with the Coolscan 9000. It cost me a small fortune but it's the most efficient way I've found to scan 6x6 well.

G

 

[whited3]

A Sony A7 body fitted with Novoflex NEX/NIK and Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 pre-AI plus ES-1 slide stage, and a nice stable light source, makes an awesome scanning rig for 35mm slides in general, and film if you rig up a holder. 24 Mpixel captures which compete well with a Nikon Coolscan V on resolution and dynamic range.

G

Kindred setup; cost me less than $100 not counting the A7:

 

[van_d]

You haven't told us your budget.

Assuming sufficient funds, take a look at the Plustek Opticfilm 120 thread and take a view. They have ironed out the initial problems and with Vuescan, it is giving me great results. Fast too with the holders.

OTOH with a small upgrade you could try the V700, never tried the V600 so can't comment.

rjstep3

You're right, sorry about that. I realized I forgot to mention budget after I left the computer. Ideally, I'd like to cap it at 350CAD, but would be willing to go a bit above that if absolutely necessary.

The V700 is 660CAD here so well above my budget and despite the applause it seems to get, I think it'd be best for me to steer clear of flatbeds.

What exactly is Vuescan, anyways?

Times are not good for film shooters looking for a proper new film scanner. If you want new scanner go for reflecta 7200 proscan, you cannot avoid scanning one frame at the time if end result needs to be sharp across the frame. Personally I would get second hand Coolscan V , it will probably last longer than any new scanner currently in production not to mention image quality is best for the buck.

Yes, I keep being told about the Reflecta. The only issue is I don't know where to get it from. Is it any better than a Plustek 8200i? That is a model I could easily obtain new.

Yeah, it does seem the scan frame-by-frame process is necessary for quality scanning. I think I would still keep my Epson V600 for medium format as well as quick 35mm scans for web or just prints up to 5x7 and then scan the really good frames at higher res on the dedicated film scanner.

Is there anywhere aside from eBay you could recommend a Canadian looking for a Coolscan?

If it's purely for 35mm, I'd be looking at the Pakon scanners. Very fast, although the claimed resolution is less than most. I think they say the scans are 3000px across, which is a tad low, but can still provide 300dpi on a 10x8" print.

300dpi doesn't seem like much, though.

A Sony A7 body fitted with Novoflex NEX/NIK and Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 pre-AI plus ES-1 slide stage, and a nice stable light source, makes an awesome scanning rig for 35mm slides in general, and film if you rig up a holder. 24 Mpixel captures which compete well with a Nikon Coolscan V on resolution and dynamic range.

For 120 film, I could create another setup but overall I'm happy with the Coolscan 9000. It cost me a small fortune but it's the most efficient way I've found to scan 6x6 well.

G

I'm specifically looking at a 35mm scanner as I find my V600 works well for Medium format, largely due to the bigger negative size. The only problem is sometimes keeping it straight, but I'm sure that could be mitigate with different holders or scanning direct onto the glass.

And those A7s aren't cheap! 😱

 

[Alpsman]

Look for a Microtek Artixscan 4000

 

[Athiril]

Plustek 35mm only scanners are also very capable, a world of difference on a sharp bit of film compared to a flatbed. You may find scanning workflow annoying for high volume.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

You have not specified either BW or some colour?
This is relevant because some scanner models have an IR channel for dust removal, this usually costs more.
The Plustek range has the advantage of being new so you get a warranty and some assurance of support. The secondhand scanners are commanding ever higher prices without much support available for repair or parts.
Although I would like a 120 capable model I tested the water with the ridiculously cheap Plustek 8100 model. No IR as my colour scanning is negligible and as I don't develop E6 or C41 I can have a commercial scan when developed.
Virtually all my Flickr stuff is from this scanner using the bundled Silverfast software(which many people hate BTW) with no other work scanning at 2400 is, for me more than adequate for the web, When I want a bigger print I send out to Ilford Lab where I have had 16 x 20 that look great.
A couple of examples where I have scanned full frame then re-scanned a crop.

This with HP5+ TD-201 Nikon S3 50mm Nikkor Olympic

This one more of a challenge Ilford Delta 100 TD-201 @400iso yes exposed at iso 400, we have all done it, and the TD-201 was 40 ish rolls old so a lot of muck, still a result. f2 35mm ZM Biogon

 

[van_d]

Those scans don't look to shabby! For the record, I shoot primarily 35mm B&W, but I also do enough colour and 120 that it wouldn't be worthwhile to just get the lab to scan those for me every time.

The reason I would like to be printing from scans as that would be the easiest and most affordable way for me. I know many prefer wet printing, but that just isn't feasible for me right now. Stuff like sending it all the way to the UK for Ilford to print or even to get my own lab to print from a negative would take weeks. I guess that's not bad if you're only printing for yourself and have all the time in the world, but I'm not. I know for really, really large prints, either drum scanning or wet printing is the way to go, but for prints up to 11x14 or perhaps pushing it to 12x18, I'd prefer to do myself.

 

[Ed Bray]

Times are not good for film shooters looking for a proper new film scanner. If you want new scanner go for reflecta 7200 proscan, you cannot avoid scanning one frame at the time if end result needs to be sharp across the frame. Personally I would get second hand Coolscan V , it will probably last longer than any new scanner currently in production not to mention image quality is best for the buck.

I don't agree with the above on a couple of points, whilst times are not so good for New film scanners they are much better for used scanners as used no-longer required Drum Scanners have become much more affordable, I bought a Scanmate 11000 with all required sundries (2 drums, fluids, mylar, cables, scanning software and dongle and even a Powermac) for less than the cost of a secondhand Coolscan, the downside is it's size and that there is a learning curve to using it proficiently, I would pitch a 35mm or larger scan from the Scanmate 11000 against anything from a Coolscan or a New scanner currently in production.

Looking at the OP's budget though it kind of renders these posts moot.

Secondly

 

[Michalm]

Well it depends what you want to buy. I thought 400 GBP was too much for brand new Coolscan V when it was still in stock of one of the high street shops around 2005 , now you would have to pay 30% more for second hand one with no warranty.
BTW Reflecta 7200 proscan is known in US as Primefilm 7200u i guess.

 

[gustavoAvila]

Some other options (which meet your budget constraints) are:

1) A variable height film holder (for the V600)

2) Anti Newton Ring glass inserts (for the V600)

Both items are available at http://www.betterscanning.com/

 

[eckart]

Well it depends what you want to buy. I thought 400 GBP was too much for brand new Coolscan V when it was still in stock of one of the high street shops around 2005 , now you would have to pay 30% more for second hand one with no warranty....

...and you are lucky if you get that for just 30% more.
A lot of prices are rising all the time, unfortunately mostly on that ones you like to own.
For example if you sell a Leica lens you will never rebuy it for the same price😀

 

[van_d]

I don't agree with the above on a couple of points, whilst times are not so good for New film scanners they are much better for used scanners as used no-longer required Drum Scanners have become much more affordable, I bought a Scanmate 11000 with all required sundries (2 drums, fluids, mylar, cables, scanning software and dongle and even a Powermac) for less than the cost of a secondhand Coolscan, the downside is it's size and that there is a learning curve to using it proficiently, I would pitch a 35mm or larger scan from the Scanmate 11000 against anything from a Coolscan or a New scanner currently in production.

Looking at the OP's budget though it kind of renders these posts moot.

Secondly

Well of course a drum scan would be better, but yeah, out of my price range currently. Maybe one day.

Well it depends what you want to buy. I thought 400 GBP was too much for brand new Coolscan V when it was still in stock of one of the high street shops around 2005 , now you would have to pay 30% more for second hand one with no warranty.
BTW Reflecta 7200 proscan is known in US as Primefilm 7200u i guess.

Ah, thank you! It seems to be called Primefilm 7200u in Canada as well, as I've been able to find it listed at a couple sources like that.

Which would be better though, the Primefilm/Reflecta, a Plustek, or something else, based on what I want and my budget? I was looking at the Plustek 120 thread and I really like how some of the scans came out in that thread. Do the smaller, 35mm-specific models like the 8200i have similar IQ?

Some other options (which meet your budget constraints) are:

1) A variable height film holder (for the V600)

2) Anti Newton Ring glass inserts (for the V600)

Both items are available at http://www.betterscanning.com/

Yeah, I had heard about these but I'm not sure if they'd have that much of an effect. I tried scanning a 35mm negative directly on the glass and that should have similar effects, but I didn't notice much difference in the scan quality. I may have to print it and compare to get a final verdict on that.

 

[thegman]

300dpi doesn't seem like much, though.

It's all a matter of opinion, but 300dpi would be considered by most or many to be more than enough for a 10x8" print. I think it would stand up even under a magnifying glass, let alone normal viewing distance.

 

[van_d]

Perhaps we're thinking differently in terms of what 300dpi means. When I scan at 300dpi on my V600, I get an image that would pixelate before it'd reach 4x6 size.

 

[van_d]

Also, I'm looking a bit more at the Reflecta/PrimeFilm and it seems like it doesn't have an equivalent to Digital ICE like the Plustek does. It also seems like the software sucks even more than what Epson delivers. Is it that much better than what I'm currently getting out of a flatbed or is it better than a Plustek or Nikon Coolscan? The price definitely seems nice.

 

[thegman]

Perhaps we're thinking differently in terms of what 300dpi means. When I scan at 300dpi on my V600, I get an image that would pixelate before it'd reach 4x6 size.

I'm talking about printing at 300dpi.

So if you scanned using the Pakon at it's full capability of 3000px across, that would allow you to print at 300 dpi on a 10x8" print.