finding a film scanner

[hmotte]

Film Scanner

Film Scanner

Hi, I was just reading your reply to one of the post and if I read it right you want a basic good scanner for home and web, nothing professional, if that is right i can say that i had a canon canoscan 8400 series faltbead with film scanner for 35mm and 6x6. It would scan all the way up to 4000 if I remember right. You could bet one now for well under 200 probably.
Mine did a great job, but was a little slow. harold

 

[Chris Lynch]

yeah, you can get the 8400 from B&H for like $129, it's great for just simple web stuff. The dynamic range can be a -little- limiting with really contrasty slides/negs, but it's great other than that.

 

[Peter55]

Well I just got the plustek optiplex 7200 for $189 at newegg.com.
This is a dedicted 35mm film scanner, comes with silverfast.
Optical resolution goes all the way to 7200dpi, I am very happy using 2400dpi.
My Leica film neg's look better than my digital slr when viewed and even when printed. I have the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II=film is better.

 

[Chris Lynch]

7200dpi?!?!?!!!?!?!!! that's wild. How's the D-Max/Range of that scanner?

 

[michael.panoff]

here's the specs for the plustek:
http://www.plustek.com/products/7200i.htm

dmax is 3.3

I think I've finally settled on getting a used Nikon Coolscan V. I did consider getting the Epson v700 for awhile, given how hard a new coolscan is to track down these days. Two things gave me hesitation with the epson (or any flatbed):

1) dynamic range, dedicated 35mm seem to do a better job of pushing through the heavier, less exposed areas
2) focus, v700 doesn't have a mechanism for auto/manually focusing the lens.. just some little lifts for the film holder
3) price, the v700 is $550ish, a used coolscan V can be found for less

The Konica Minolta 5400 was also a contender, but even used, they are still more expensive than a new V. Konica Minolta's scanner line has been completely discontinued, so future software support is not looking good.. universal binaries anyone?