Greatest thing since sliced bread...

[DougK]

I was out shopping for mattes and frames today at my neighborhood strip mall and I happened to walk by Microcenter. I thought that, while I was in the area, I'd go in and see if they had this one particular digital camera I was looking at still on manager's special. After all, I sold my Coolpix and my Minolta died, so I had a flimsy justification.

They didn't. The camera was sold earlier this week.

Slightly dejected but oddly relieved at the same time, I turned to walk away from the digital camera counter and on my way out, I passed through the scanner section.

What did I spy with my little eye? A Konica Minolta Dual Scan IV film scanner. Hmmm, I didn't think they carried film scanners in the store.... After the palpitations ceased, I crunched the numbers and figured I'd get it for the same price as it would cost me to order it online.

I bought it, ran home, set it up, and quickly scanned a few test slides.

Now I see what I was missing trying to scan 35mm film on my flatbed. There just is no comparison. Way faster than my Epson; sharp, contrasty pictures with bright, vibrant color just like the actual slide. Enough resolution for a nice 8x10? Oh yeah, easily. Wow. I'm totally geeked out.

Film rocks.

 

[taffer]

Which Epson did you have ? I own the 3170, and if you comparison was against that one or similar... well you've just inflicted me some serious curiosity

 

[dmr]

What did I spy with my little eye? A Konica Minolta Dual Scan IV film scanner. Hmmm, I didn't think they carried film scanners in the store.... After the palpitations ceased, I crunched the numbers and figured I'd get it for the same price as it would cost me to order it online.

>>SHOCK<< I have >>NEVER<< seen film scanners on sale regularly at any retail or photo shop. Even Fry's in Las Vegas and San Jose (the biggest technogeek shop ever) didn't stock them, IIRC.

Now I see what I was missing trying to scan 35mm film on my flatbed. There just is no comparison. Way faster than my Epson; sharp, contrasty pictures with bright, vibrant color just like the actual slide. Enough resolution for a nice 8x10? Oh yeah, easily. Wow. I'm totally geeked out.

I'm still equally impressed! Clean, clear almost-8x10's which print quite well even on my so-so printer at home. If you scan at max res, you can make out the detail of the film grain. What I'm using as the avatar now is an extreme example of that.

Film rocks.

Film rules!

Digital drools!

{ducking, running, hiding} Only kidding, gang!

 

[DougK]

Which Epson did you have ? I own the 3170, and if you comparison was against that one or similar... well you've just inflicted me some serious curiosity

I still have it... it's the Epson Perfection 2580 Photo. Great for scanning prints... film, not so much.

 

[DougK]

>>SHOCK<< I have >>NEVER<< seen film scanners on sale regularly at any retail or photo shop. Even Fry's in Las Vegas and San Jose (the biggest technogeek shop ever) didn't stock them, IIRC.

I was shocked too because I've walked by that shelf dozens of times and never saw a dedicated film scanner on display before. The sales person seemed equally shocked that I bought it . Probably doesn't realize that film is still made, sold, and shot....

 

[dkapp]

The Minolta really is an awesome scanner for the price.

Taffer - I have the Dual IV, and just picked up a 3170 for medium format. I can say there is a night and day difference between the two. If you shoot a lot of 35mm, you will want to look into an upgrade

Dave

 

[Kin Lau]

Congrats.... yes, a dedicated 35mm film scanner is a _wonderful_ thing.

My guess is that the store probably ordered the scanner for a customer who changed his mind.

 

[Pherdinand]

you guys ...why can't you keep your happiness to yourself!!! argh now i start to look for deals on scanners.

 

[DougK]

Congrats.... yes, a dedicated 35mm film scanner is a _wonderful_ thing.

My guess is that the store probably ordered the scanner for a customer who changed his mind.

Thanks, I stayed up way too late last night playing with it and rescanning some negatives I'd scanned and posted previously. The amount of detail captured in the raw scan is simply amazing. I knew the Color Skopar was a good lens, but WOW!

In this case, I'm not so sure that it was a special order that never got picked up. They had one unit on display and mine came out of the back room in a pristine sealed box. Either way, I'm glad they had it... now I don't have to go digital .

 

[DougK]

you guys ...why can't you keep your happiness to yourself!!! argh now i start to look for deals on scanners.

Sorry Pherdi :angel:.

For me this was a no-brain decision. I could spend a little now on a good scanner which allows me to get the most out of the quality film gear I already own or spend a whole lot more for a good digital camera, lenses, etc. The money I saved that way can buy a whole lot of film and processing.

The best part is that my significant other didn't even blink an eye when I brought it home because it isn't "another new camera" .

 

[bobofish]

To paraphrase my neighbor:
"Don't make no sense to buy no IDsMKII when I can go to that there big store'n buy'm me one'them new fangled neg scanners'n use'n my old equipment'n get better prints."

Ok, he was actually talking about a Toyota, and he was speaking crappy German that he learned many years ago, and...um it was six months ago.


BUT THE POINT STILL STANDS!

Why spend top dollar on a digital camera when you could use the stuff you've got and get better prints anyway? It makes sense for a PJ, but not for a schmuck like me who shoots considerably less than 3000 rolls of film a year.

Now if I could just find the money to get a film scanner to complement my (frequently unused) Epson r2400.....