How do you scan your 35mm B&W film?

[wakarimasen]

The title speaks for itself: how do you scan the 35mm B&W film that you use? Please comment also whether or not you are really happy with the results, and which model you use.
I'm interested, as I'm not so happy with the last few films I've scanned, although the negatives looked ok.

 

[MiniMoke]

Epson V600! Works very well

When I find a real pearl of a negative I have it printed at a lab.

One day I'll build me a darkroom (dream on)!

 

[wakarimasen]

Sorry minimoke - I took a long time with the poll!

I use an Espon 4490, which I'm not so happy with. Not sure if it's technique or the machine, but it's not working for me.

 

[biomed]

I originally purchased a Canon FS4000US shortly before production ended. The stepper motor died after two years. I replaced it with a Nikon Coolscan V. I also have a mint SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED I picked up in a trade. I actually like the Canon film holders, but the Nikons are much faster.

 

[Austerby]

Very happy with my V700 for 35mm, 120 and 5x4 film. Good enough for me.

 

[ruby.monkey]

I used to use a plustek 7500i, but switching to Linux put the kybosh on that. Now I scan everything on an Epson V700.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I can't vote. I generally use a camera to digitise negatives.

Here's a shot from my Bessa/25mm Skopar, digitised on Canon 5D/Ohnar copier...

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Nikon LS-8000ED with glass carrier and Vuescan software. I detail my scanning workflow on the tech tutorial pages on my website:

http://chriscrawfordphoto.com/technical/scanning.php

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Dedicated Plustek 8100 (No IR but as only shoot B/W for home process no need)

If I was printing I would send out (Ilford Lab UK) for the web I have no issues. Perversely I am happy with Silverfast as bundled when according to almost everyone else I should use Vuescan. The example is straight from that software no other processing.
I can see on some strips a flatter holder would give me better results but modern choices are limited. Under our consumer laws I have 6 years redress against failure, try that on S/H.
I may have a good, well aligned copy, or indeed it may be average who knows.
I am puzzled that the OP states "the last few rolls" was he happy before? Have expectations changed or has the scanner had a knock?

HP5+ TD-201 Nikon S3 50mm Nikkor Olympic

 

[wakarimasen]

I can't vote. I generally use a camera to digitise negatives.

Ah - sorry! Anyone know how I edit the poll to add this option?

 

[wakarimasen]

I am puzzled that the OP states "the last few rolls" was he happy before? Have expectations changed or has the scanner had a knock?

I used to use a Minolta Scan Dual II and an Epson 3200. I decided to reduce the amount of gear I had, sold both and settled on an Epson 4490. This seems great for C41 colour, but I don't seem to be able to consistently get B&W scans that I'm happy with.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

This seems great for C41 colour, but I don't seem to be able to consistently get B&W scans that I'm happy with.

Sounds like a software issue?

 

[Keith]

I ticked the V750 box but have a Nikon 5000 ED in my future ... I just have to go and pick it up and pay for it. 🙂

 

[maddoc]

Usually using a Coolscan 4000ED and occasionally an Epson V700.

 

[robert blu]

I find the combination Nikon 5000ED + Nikonscan + Ilford Delta (100 or 400) very satisfying. Recently bought an Epson V600 to scan my 120 film but not yet tried B&W.
robert

 

[sailor]

I send my B&W films to Ilford for processing and scanning. I used to have a Nikon IV but I didn't have a lot of success with it for either colour or B&W. Commercial scans were noticeably better. The Nikon was eventually destroyed when we had burst pipes in the house and was never replaced. I have recently been looking at the Reflecta 7200 because the cost of sending film away is getting to be prohibitive. Here is a sample of an Ilford Hi-res scan.

Minox 35. Ilford Delta 100.


Old Petrol Pumps by Elmer Duck, on Flickr

 

[woollybandit]

I am giving up on film as the only local shop here in Dereham UK are so bad the films look like they are sand paintings. Completely unusable. I don't know if they aren't capable or just don't care. I waited a month over Christmas for one roll to be scanned.
Another shop treated my low light prints to the auto exposure level setting and handed me a stack of purple/grey prints. The staff in these places couldn't care less, they are minimum wage and being sacked is a career move to the benefits system. Grrr!

 

[edge100]

Pakon F-135 for proofing, Polaroid SprintScan 120 for final scans

 

[MarinB]

Scanmate 3000 drum scanner (12-bit/3000dpi) with a G4 Mac (Adaptec 29160N SCSI card) using ColorQuartet 5.3.1 software (OS X 10.4.11). Usually dry-mounted, sometimes wet-mounted (SDS Anti-Newton fluid or Kami SXL). Currently scanning hundreds of XPAN negatives from five different 400 and 320 ISO films for a pro photographer, for an exhibition.

 

[mdarnton]

I use my camera (details here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdarnton/7183241686/ ) which works slightly better than a flatbed scanner in both sharpness and especially time, but I'm moving to large format, and will have to reevaluate.

With LF, I'm going to be stitching, one way or another, so the advantage may not be as strong. For 2-1/4, the scanner wins in sharpness, loses in time, unless I use the camera and stitch, which isn't worth the bother.