finally broke down and bought a Minolta Dimage 5400

[raytoei@gmail.com]

hi. thanks for all the suggestions.
the vuescan has no sharpening applied.
the v700 has default USM applied.

mfogiel: thanks for your suggestion on the exposure/dev, if my negatives are overdeveloped vuescan creates an overly contrasty image unlike epson's sw.

 

[rbrooks]

I also have the 5400. I suggest that you want to always scan at 5400 and not at 2700.
What I found interesting is your comparison between the with and without grain dissolver scans. My experience is similar. There is not all that much difference.
In the end I've gone with using my Nikon 9000 with a glass holder. The problem with the 5400 was keeping the negatives flat. When a negative is flat the 5400 is probably the best of the non drum, non flextight scanners.

 

[TRIODEROB]

ok - I am getting one too - its in the mail

any tips to get me started ?

 

[XFer]

I have the 5400, and have access to the 5400-II.
Both scanners have extremely sharp optics; they suffer from grain aliasing, because the lens resolves more than the sensor can handle.
So, at the very least, to reduce the "grain amplification", always scan at 5400 with grain dissolver (a light diffuser) enabled.
If you scan at less than 5400, grain aliasing worsens, because the sampling frequency becomes so much lower than the spatial frequencies transmitted by the lens.

My review of the 5400 here: in italian, but images may be useful.

http://www.effeunoequattro.net/htdocs/freecontent/FC_minolta_elite/index.php

Fernando

 

[TRIODEROB]

Thanks Fernando !