Flattening devices for Coolscan 8000 + 9000 ?

[zerobuttons]

I´m looking into possible buying a new Coolscan 9000 or a used Coolscan 8000. I need to know, however, what would be the best way of ensuring flattening of 35mm film strips with these models, and whether the best device for that is the same for the two.

If you use either of these scanners, please let me know what you use if you, like I, experience inherent curving of the film strip with Kodak Tri-X for instance.
Thank you in advance.

 

[sevo]

The original glassless holders make a very good job of it. The Nikon glass holder is somewhat prone to Newton rings, and I only use it for non-standard sizes or heavily warped film.

There are a couple of third party wet-mount holders around as well - but the regular Nikon glass holder with top glass removed or a glass inlay on the glassless 120 carrier will perform exactly the same.

 

[JRG]

Presumably you're also going to be sanning 120 film? (Else, you'd save some money by locating an LS-5000.) In that case, you'd probably want to read this thread:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77654

 

[Frankie]

I am also curious about film flattening devices in a good scanner...Nikon or otherwise.

I have considerable experience building 9" x 9" format aerial film scanner that runs 200' or 500' rolls, motorized transport and vacuum hold down...costs $150k, each.

I have also used a $25k Agfa 8.5" x 11" model with glass hold-down plates

My only experience in small scanners is a $99 Epson model where a plastic glassless frame holds either the 135 or 120 film strips, or 4" x 5" film sheet. The holder reverses the natural film curls to achieve some degree of flatness. Residual film curvature severely degrades whatever optical quality and easily observable in any monitor.

[I had also tried to inquire about the set or methods used in commercial scanning/printing services to no avail. Nobody knew what I was talking about.]

If the Nikon scanner can accept a mounted slide, then tried-and-true solution I had long used were:

1. In enlargement - place the film strips in a holder with anti-Newton glass on top and open metal frame in the bottom...exposing the emulsion directly to the paper. [Durst enlargers I used had those interchangeable part readily available then.]
2. In slide projection - slide mounts manufactured by GEPE include glassless and anti-Newton glass types. I combined a glassless bottom with an anti-Newton top exposing the emulsion to the projection screen just like my enlarger solution. The down side obviously is: too much labour involved in re-mounting every frame.

If interested RFF members can provide some form of engineering specifications [such as maximum thickness clearances for the film strip holder]...or even just good pictures of how the Nikon units handle film strips, I might have a simpler solution to offer.

I am keenly interested in devising a solution and to share the findings.

[Sources for suitable anti-Newton glass are openly available.]

 

[zerobuttons]

The original glassless holders make a very good job of it. The Nikon glass holder is somewhat prone to Newton rings, and I only use it for non-standard sizes or heavily warped film.
.......

Great. I just had the impression, considering how many people here talk about glass holders and such, that it was a huge problem. I will try the standard holder at first and take it from there.
Thank you for your answer.

 

[zerobuttons]

Presumably you're also going to be sanning 120 film? (Else, you'd save some money by locating an LS-5000.) In that case, you'd probably want to read this thread:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77654

I have chosen the 8000 and 9000 models because of several features: that I´ll be able to scan MF film at a later point if I want to, that they have Firewire connections and that they are both thoroughly developed models because of their Nikon heritage.
Thank you for the link - that was interesting.