Good scanner for web and prints up to 5x7?

[RallyFan]

I have to admit, it's tough to navigate through this forum. So many positive and negative comments on every single scanner! What I really want to do is be able to scan 35mm negatives, black and white only (the rare instance I shoot color, I'll just have my lab do the work - I'm not very good at seeing colors). I'm guessing 85% of my scanning will be for web purposes, and 15% I'd want to print at 4x6, 5x7. For printing, I have my local lab do that. If I have a negative I really like and want to enlarge further, I'll have one of my local labs take care of that as well, I just don't want to invest a ton into a very good film scanner.

That being said, I'm thinking of a budget of about $300 - $350 max. I've been looking at the Plustek 8100. Will that really deliver much better results based on my requirements above than an Epson V500/600? For the 25-30 rolls of film I shoot a year, I don't think I can justify going up to something like the V700, but that seems to be the next level up from something like the Plustek 8100. Any thoughts? Recommendations?

 

[Rogier]

The Plustek will be your best option.

If budget is a concern spend way less on a Canoscan

 

[Murchu]

For your stated needs, a dedicated negative scanner is overkill, in my opinion. A flatbed will suffice, and if you are happy scanning one strip at a time, I would look at something like the lowest end epson flatbed that will take a strip of negatives, to give you the best bang for your buck.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

hi,

if you are not an intensive film user,
can i suggest you check out the Canon
Pixma MG8170.

It is an all in one printer and scanner.
What is interesting is that it comes with
a single 6 frame film holder.

As for printing, it has 2 dedicated "Blacks"
one for text and the other is rich black.

I bought a lower model for printing u.s. letter/a4 size
photos, and it works reasonably well.

The only downside is that the ink isn't
easily replaceable by after-market ink.

I am not sure what is the equivalent
marketing name in the usa but in asia
it is braned as pixma mg8170

raytoei

ps. i checked, the usa model is Canon MG8220.

 

[Classique]

Plustek 7600i will be cheaper than the new 8100 but has the same resolution. I use vuescan instead of silverfast that was bundled with it.

 

[Photo_Smith]

I'd say with only 25 rolls of film per year and 85% used for web work (under 800 pixels wide) a dedicated scanner is way over the top. Something like a V500 will be easily capable of making web scans and 5" wide photos.
Buy a cheap flatbed with a film hood over the dedicated tool and use the $200 you save for film.
This is the sort of quality I get from a quick scan, V500 and £1 film.

 

[thegman]

I think for web and prints at 5x7, then you could scan with just about anything. A V500 would be more than enough I think. If you only ever want to scan 35mm film, i.e. not medium format, large format, gas bills, then a dedicated scanner is within your budget and will drag just about all the detail there is out of a negative.

But I do think for 5x7 prints, you can use just about anything.

 

[Mcary]

Came across this the other day http://www.adorama.com/WVF2D20.html. Even if only produces good results at 1/2 (10MP vs 20 MP) seem like it might work for what you're looking for. Down side it ony scans to JPEG so you wouldn't have the benefits of 16bit scans in post processing.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I think for web and prints at 5x7, then you could scan with just about anything. A V500 would be more than enough I think. If you only ever want to scan 35mm film, i.e. not medium format, large format, gas bills, then a dedicated scanner is within your budget and will drag just about all the detail there is out of a negative.

But I do think for 5x7 prints, you can use just about anything.

My reaction was much the same.

Cheers,

R.

 

[RallyFan]

Thanks everyone. I went with the Epson V500. Still got a lot to learn, but I think this will give me what I'm after:

 

[Chrisrw]

Nice scan. I just got a v500 too and it works well. I've heard a lot of great things about them. Enjoy your shooting and scanning.