Good (Cheap) Film scanner

[gooseta]

Hi, everyone, I usually mail my rolls to some place to get them scanned and developed, but I was wondering if there are any good film scanners so I wouldn't have to pay as much to develop and scan. I could probably afford one at £200. Also, any software I should look at for film scanning?

Should I look for a dedicated slide scanner :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plustek-Opt...1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1361100154&sr=1-1
Or scanners in general?

 

[Roger Hicks]

Go for a dedicated film scanner, and be aware that price and quality are depressingly closely related.

Cheers,

R.

 

[johannielscom]

Try to find a Minolta ScanDual or a Canoscan 2700 model for that amount. Or a Plustek 7200.

Stay away from HP flatbed scanners, they usually need to initialize the lamp before each scan and it takes forever to get a roll done.

Some people get good results with Epson flatbeds and the Canon f8800 ain't no slouch either.


Half of any good result is good knowledge of the process and software, scanners produce unsatisfactory results if you don't process the scanned image.

 

[astro8]

You could probably find a Canon FS4000 for that price. I did and am very pleased with it....but they are thin on the ground.

Edit:
4000dpi, very good optics, 6 frame batch scanning, usb1 or scsi. I have the Canon Filmget software working under Windows 7 but prefer to use Vuescan.

 

[wallace]

The Polaoid Sprintscan 35plus is a very fine scanner with 2700 real resolution.
The only downside is that you need a SCSI adapter.

 

[wallace]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polaroid-Sp...0581258787?pt=US_Scanners&hash=item485015ea23

$30 only! Unbelievable. It really is a fantastic scanner. I have enough film holders and can help you out if you go this route.

 

[Pete B]

Hi, everyone, I usually mail my rolls to some place to get them scanned and developed, but I was wondering if there are any good film scanners so I wouldn't have to pay as much to develop and scan. I could probably afford one at £200. Also, any software I should look at for film scanning?

Should I look for a dedicated slide scanner :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plustek-Opt...1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1361100154&sr=1-1
Or scanners in general?

2 days ago I ordered this very scanner from this same seller! It will be excellent value for 35mm. It's cheaper than the 8200, 7600 and 7400 I was considering but has the same hardware. I'll use it with vuescan.
Pete

 

[Thardy]

2 days ago I ordered this very scanner from this same seller! It will be excellent value for 35mm. It's cheaper than the 8200, 7600 and 7400 I was considering but has the same hardware. I'll use it with vuescan.
Pete

It's good to know that someone still makes scanners. Can you post some samples when you get it up and running?

 

[RallyFan]

I read a lot of good things about the Plustek's, and was tempted to pick one up, but I knew I'd probably also want to do MF in the future so I recently grabbed an Epson V500. For my purposes (web and mostly 5x7 prints), it was a steal at $135. Found I had to buy the betterscanning glass as well since I could never get my negatives flat enough in the supplied carriers.

I'm still in the testing phase with both the scanner and camera (It's been a while since I've shot and developed film), but here's a quick sample:

This is with Epson's software, which isn't terrible. I'd like to try Vuescan and SilverFast in the future.

I know when I was researching a scanner in the lower price ranges, for each model it would be a 50/50 split between happy, glowing reviews and people that flat out despised the product. I think the main catalyst for people's disappointment with a scanner is that they are expecting Nikon Coolscan quality at department store flat bed prices, and that's just not going to happen. So my recommendation would be that if you find one you think you'll like, go ahead and give it a try. Amazon has a pretty good return policy if you don't like it, so no harm, no foul.

 

[gooseta]

2 days ago I ordered this very scanner from this same seller! It will be excellent value for 35mm. It's cheaper than the 8200, 7600 and 7400 I was considering but has the same hardware. I'll use it with vuescan.
Pete

Thanks for the advice, I've placed an order for the 8100 and a copy of VueScan

 

[Pete B]

I read a lot of good things about the Plustek's, and was tempted to pick one up, but I knew I'd probably also want to do MF in the future so I recently grabbed an Epson V500.

Found I had to buy the betterscanning glass as well

I've got some better scanning Glass coming for my V700. I decided I can't justify the Plustek 120 for my photography. The 8100 and my V700 leave alot of cash for film.......and a freezer.
Pete

 

[Pete B]

Thanks for the advice, I've placed an order for the 8100 and a copy of VueScan

Good stuff. Perhaps some current users will give us some tips.
Pete

 

[burancap]

I've got some better scanning Glass coming for my V700. I decided I can't justify the Plustek 120 for my photography. The 8100 and my V700 leave alot of cash for film.......and a freezer.
Pete

I have, so far, done exactly the same thing.

I ordered the BS holders and ANR glass for both 120 and 35. Depending on the results, the 8100 is on my radar for 35.

 

[gb hill]

I bought an Epson V500 & love it. I can now do 35mm & 120 film. I no nothing much at all about scanning film but I have learned very quick on this scanner. If all you are interested in is posting to web a flatbed is all you need. Here is one of my 1st 35mm uploads using this scanner. BTW this is a straight scan. All I did in PS 6 which came with the scanner was resize for web.

 

[helen.HH]

YAY and Thank You to Rallyfan & Gbhill/Greg

I have been wanting to do Medium Format for awhile now...the only thing stopping me from buying a Camera was having to Buy another scanner ( i have the plustek 7600i which i Adore)

So for that Price 135.00 the Epson V500 is Worthwhile for me to now Indulge in MF
Who knows if I love the V500 my plustk may be up in our Classifieds, only Time will tell ..😉

Thanks Gents for the heads Up !

 

[Highway 61]

No flatbed scanner will do justice to 35mm negatives. I say no.

The reason isn't with the resolution but with the Dmax.

So there isn't any other solution for the knowledgeable photographer than a flatbed for MF and a film scanner for 35mm negatives (or slides, for which the Dmax is even more critical).

Any Epson flatbed onwards from the 4490 will perform brilliantly with MF films. Even the $55 3170 flatbed which I use (after some DIY tuning) now does so.

For 35mm of course there is the Coolscan IV/4000/V/5000 option but I know very well what they cost now.

So look at Minolta film scanners which were very performing machines. The DualScan II or III (basically identical) are now dirt cheap and they scan at a genuine 2820dpi res. with a very capable Dmax.

And a Minolta DualScan II will floor any V700 thing as for 35mm scanning.

All in all this solution (4490 or 4990 flatbed for MF and DualScan II or III for 35mm, all bought off the second hand market) will cost less than a V700 or a V750.

Would you wear summer mocasins during some blizzard episodes, or snow boots on the beach in the middle of August ? :angel:

 

[teleparallel]

I use a simple V330 Epson Scanner. And the results are really good. But works only for 35mm. I use the Epson software, but don't apply any adjustment by it. And then, to complete, I use the unsharp mask on GIMP software(I'm a linux junkie). Awesome results. I will post an example.

 

[teleparallel]

Link to the gallery

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/showphoto.php?photoid=200015

 

[Wahoo]

Even the $55 3170 flatbed which I use (after some DIY tuning) now does so.

Hmmm, DIY tuning to an Epson 3170 flatbed . . . Tell us more ?

Thanks

PS I have 4 Microtek/Polaroid 4000t including 1+plus and 2 4000tf's.

Here's a Kiev 4AN Jupiter neg. scanned with a Microtek 4000tf.

 

[gooseta]

Anyone know a good developer in London or the UK? I've looked at Bayeux because drop-in is easy, anyone here in the uk know of a good place? They're the only ones I've found that do e6 for my velvia too.