Best scanning software for Nikon Coolscans?

[Bosk]

I'm currently using Vuescan with my Coolscan IV and have been pleased with it so far - except when it doesn't auto line the frames up properly.

So what's your favourite package for scanning with your Coolscan?

 

[Nachkebia]

I use coolscan for slides and vuescan for black and white`s (scanning raw files)

 

[RObert Budding]

Anyone here tried Silverfast?

 

[DavidH]

Anyone here tried Silverfast?

Yes - with my KM5400 Elite tho - not a coolscan. It's the piece of software I use most often for scanning negs - replacing Vuescan that I used for years. Worth the disgusting amount of money it costs...as long as you do lots of scanning 🙂

 

[cjago]

Silverfast

Silverfast

Anyone here tried Silverfast?

I'm using Silverfast with a Coolscan 8000.

Better and faster than Nikon scan.

I haven't tried Vuescan.

It isn't the most user friendly bit of software in the world. I put up with it for the quality of the output.

My software version is getting a bit old now. Things will have moved on.

 

[mjflory]

I'm currently using Vuescan with my Coolscan IV and have been pleased with it so far - except when it doesn't auto line the frames up properly.

So what's your favourite package for scanning with your Coolscan?

I've found both the Nikon package and VueScan to be thorough and easy to use. (I used the first with an LS-4000 and the second with my LS-2000.) I'm very impressed with the variety of adjustments possible in VueScan, and the docs seem good.

I doubt that the frame alignment problem is due to your software. I was unable to get the automatic strip film feeder on either the 4000 or the 2000 to work properly. I tried the 2000's feeder on the 4000 and vice versa with no better luck. Then a friend with a 9000 told me hers was failing to find the frame edges, and she felt Nikon had been of little help. I have had to resort to using the little plastic film holder (FH-1) from the ancient original Coolscan to hold the strips, which I then insert into the slide holder. It takes forever. It looks like the problem with the strip feeders I've used may be something to do with the electrical connector on the back of the feeder, but I've reseated the feeders endlessly and while I get different problems at different times (no feed, partial feed, crashed Nikon driver) I've never gotten the thing to work.

-- Michael