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

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

  • I use a flatbed scanner - i.e. Epson V750 photo scanner

    Votes: 313 35.6%

  • I use a dedicated 35mm scanner - i.e. a Nikon Coolscan V

    Votes: 360 41.0%

  • I use a dedicated multi-format film scanner - i.e. a Nikon Coolscan 9000

    Votes: 86 9.8%

  • I use a professional scanner - i.e. drum scanner

    Votes: 27 3.1%

  • I send mine away to be scanned

    Votes: 62 7.1%

  • I don't care - I wet print!

    Votes: 31 3.5%
  • Total voters
    879
I started with an Epson V600 and wasn't very impressed. It's a very good general office scanner though so I now use it for that. It did a decent job scanning prints and I need to scan family photos soon so I'll use it for that (my mother never keep the negs - argh!).

I then picked up a cheap Nikon Coolscan V. Superb performance and a world apart from the Epson flatbed. The only downside is that it is quite slow to use. I scan film strip using the FH-3 (the clamp thing) and it does take a while. Fortunately the set up is perfect for scanning XPan negatives (scan two scans then stitch in PS).

For 4x5 large format I can use the V600 or the darkroom I help run has a V700.

I use vuescan software.
 
Lego Scanner

Lego Scanner

I've constructed a lego scanning system !
Full details are here - http://picabroad.com/lego-scanner/
Even though I have access to a coolscan 9000 I rarely bother now- the quality of this setup easily surpasses the scanning service provided by Snappy Snaps and is at least good enough for A4.
Also it's much quicker - I can "scan" a strip of 6 in 30 seconds.
While you still have to watch out for dust, the specks don't glow as much as when using a proper scanner - I suspect it's to do with the light source,
 
I received a Plustek 8100 yesterday and scanned three B&W rolls of film last night.

Strangely, all scans with VueScan look way overexposed, but when I process the scans in Photoshop I can make them look good. Am I doing something wrong here?
 
giganova said:
I received a Plustek 8100 yesterday and scanned three B&W rolls of film last night.

Strangely, all scans with VueScan look way overexposed, but when I process the scans in Photoshop I can make them look good. Am I doing something wrong here?
Click to expand...

No. If they end up looking good without too much effort then it sounds perfect!
 
I scan using an Epsom 4990 perfection. I don't care about the quality it gives me. Mainly because posting images on the web doesn't require serious scanning capabilities. So it's mostly contact prints. If I want to print something, I'll send it to the drum and have it wet mounted and scanned.
 
Hi there, i'm using a V600 Epson scanner as well for my negatives. The 120 scans fine but the 35mm ones do come out a bit muddy/out of focus. Especially hard to scan 35mm colour negatives. Anyone got any tips? :eek:
 
yourshansel said:
Hi there, i'm using a V600 Epson scanner as well for my negatives. The 120 scans fine but the 35mm ones do come out a bit muddy/out of focus. Especially hard to scan 35mm colour negatives. Anyone got any tips? :eek:
Click to expand...

re soak them in Photo Flo for a few minutes, then hang dry with weighted clips, do not squeegee at all!! They will dry flat in about 1.5-2 hours...
 
Scanner - not any more

Scanner - not any more

I now use my D800 with a 105 macro lens - (f8 at about 40th sec) on a copy stand with a masked LED light box. I use the same set up for my 645 negs too.

IMHO better results than my scanner ever gave and lot quicker.
 

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endoplas said:
I now use my D800 with a 105 macro lens - (f8 at about 40th sec) on a copy stand with a masked LED light box. I use the same set up for my 645 negs too.

IMHO better results than my scanner ever gave and lot quicker.
Click to expand...

It would be great to see how your film is held in place. Are you just laying it on the lightbox?
 
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