All-in-ones...VG or NFG?

[dadsm3]

Hello everyone:
After smelling that Tmax developer on my hands for the 1st time in 30 years, and having great access to a darkroom at a community college for very cheap, I was thinking about taking the next step and getting a neg scanner.
A few qualifying notes; I need a new printer regardless, I would describe myself as a "medium amateur", I have Photoshop coming soon, and primarily what I want to do is PS my shots and print, maybe a few 8"x10"'s as well, and post here with as good quality (I mean technical quality, artistic quality is still a ways off) as what I regularly see.
I've been looking at the Epson Stylus Photo RX700 (c.$380us), and the Canon Pixma MP950 ($425us). Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of these? Also, the Epson is rated at 3200dpi x 6400dpi, while the Canon is 2400x9600....what's the diff? Has anyone printed direct from neg/slide with either?
There is also a scanner exclusively for negs/slides on e*ay right now, an Optic Film 7200 for about $200...this has a 7200x7200dpi rating. But I'd have to buy a printer as well, and I've never heard of that make.
The Nikon Coolscan V is $650, plus a printer...... too much for entry level...and I'd prefer not to buy a used scanner on e*ay....
Really I guess my question is will I be relatively happy for a few years with an all-in-one, or am I way off base in even going that route?
Any advice appreciated,
Mike

 

[DougK]

I tend to stay away from all-in-one devices more for the reason if one portion of the device breaks the whole thing becomes a doorstop or paperweight. No first-hand experience with the models you've mentioned.

 

[ch1]

dadsm,

I use the Nikon 5000 which is similar to the V and so above your present budget. It is a 4000 dip scanner. I am very pleased with it, however, so thought I'd recommend it in case you have some upside flexibility in your budget.

The Nikon scanner software takes some getting used to but after that it is fine. I've mainly been scanning slides and B&W negatives (including TMax, Ilford HP5+ and the chromogenics). Now beginning to scan color print negatives and so far very pleased with results.

I scan in RAW mode (NEF on the Nikon) to get best archival image and save those to DVD and external HD. Afterwards, I "process" in Photoshop CS2. CS2 does not "read" NEF files directly. So I open them in Nikon View (Nikon's browser) which can then directly transfer the NEF image into CS2.

 

[dadsm3]

I have my amex in my hand....somebody stop me......