Looking for scanner with simple software

[jlamarca]

I've done some searching, but the more opinions the better, right?

I'd like a scanner that handles 35mm color slides and negs. My first priority is that the software is simple and clean.

I just don't want to bother with complex software and another learning curve. I've got lots of programs installed and peripherals hooked up and my PC runs perfectly, just like I like it. I only want to scan for uploading to the web.

Better resolution and color fidelity is preferable, of course. And the cheaper the better.

There is a confusing array of scanners out there. Any suggestions on what I might at least look at, whether you own that model or not?

Thanks!

 

[eric]

I had the same requirement.
Vuescan was my choice. Works on mac, linux, pc.

 

[Ducky]

Canoscan 4400f flatbed. Clear scans, easy load software or scan directly to PS.
I loaded the software but ignore it most of the time. It's easy to "import" to PS.

 

[R2-D2]

I had the same requirement.
Vuescan was my choice. Works on mac, linux, pc.

What scanner do you use? With a Nikon Coolscan V ED I get much better results for color negs with Nikon Scan than with VueScan (even with the "advanced workflow"...) on Mac OS X Leopard.

 

[thirteen]

I use the Nikon Coolscan 5000ED. I find that the Nikon software is much easier to use than Silverfast and Vuescan. I've had better results with both slides and negs with the Nikon software. I think the Nikon Coolscan V will also give good results and have the same software (at almost 1/2 the price).

 

[fbf]

flatbed is probably the better (easier) way to go and it's quite cheap. For software, I don't know much about but silverfast is my only choice.

 

[R2-D2]

I use the Nikon Coolscan 5000ED. I find that the Nikon software is much easier to use than Silverfast and Vuescan. I've had better results with both slides and negs with the Nikon software.

For B&W negs and Kodachrome slides I get better results with VueScan. I'd never buy SilverFast because I do not agree with their "creative" licensing model - one has to buy a license for each scanner model...

I think the Nikon Coolscan V will also give good results and have the same software (at almost 1/2 the price).

Yes, it's only a tad slower and "only" 14bit, but that hasn't been an issue for me (until now), even with dense slides.

 

[R2-D2]

flatbed is probably the better (easier) way to go and it's quite cheap.

Better (in terms of quality)? No. Cheaper? Yes.

 

[JTK]

Scanning doesn't require much of a learning curve, beyond reading the simplest scanning-for-dummies instructions that come with scanners.

Almost all troubles people report online have to do with new Macs, with Vista, or with insistance on doing things in the course of scanning that make things complicated. Almost every scan can be done to 95% perfection using Nikon/Epson and probably Canon defaults...right out of the box.

You do want an external hard drive...virtually no PC that has Word and other sophisticated biz applications has adequate C-drive memory to handle scanning without an external drive. Get 250G external at minimum, they're dirt cheap.

There are NOT many choices if you're buying new.

Assuming 35mm-only there is only Nikon 50Ed and 5000Ed unless you insist on a flatbed..in which case, there's Canon and Epson, both of which are OK for small prints and web, but not for critical enlargements. Minolta's long-gone and the last model was a disaster.

 

[Tuolumne]

I use an Epson 4990 and a Minolta Dimage Elite 5400, both discontinued or superceded by another model. The 700s in the case of the Epson. I was dreading scanning after hearing all of the horror stories and struggles. I found that the stock vendor software was the easiest to use and learn. There was a learning curve, but not nearly as steep or long as I had feared. I tried Silverfat - it was impenetrably complex. I tried Vuescan - it was impenetrably simple. I tried the maker's software - it was j-u-s-t right.

/T

 

[JTK]

I actually prefer Vuescan sometimes, but Nikonscan's great, as is Epson's app and probably Canon's. They're virtually all the same, but have different front ends.

Vuescan isn't as versatile as claimed..doesn't work as well with Nikon scanners if you're scanning strips. I use both Nikon 50ED and an old Epson, Nikon, Epson, and Vuescan software.

Vuescan makes intuitive sense if you're in a methodical frame of mind. Nikon wants you to play their game, which is a good game but is confusingly explained. Epson seems simplest but isn't. If you take 20 minutes simply to read the startup documentation of Nikon or Epson you're golden. Silverfast documentation was written by elves in a long forgotten German forest...I doubt they can even write coherently for other Germans. Fanatics like Silverfast, but the EZ version that comes with scanners is a total waste of time, simply a ploy to sell a more fancy version. The best thing about Silverfast may be its HDR potential, but nobody seems to think that actually works on the one scanner for which it's designed, the Microtek M1...all my cranky IMO.

 

[OldNick]

If expense is a concern, you might explore the auction site as I did. I purchased a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual II, which has USB interface, and use it with VueScan for 35mm negatives and slides. When I needed to scan some MF negatives, I bought an Epson Perfection 2450 flatbed scanner. I use the Epson software with the flatbed and it works fine. I have even used the Epson for a few 35mm negatives and, while not as good as a dedicated film scanner, the images are certainly ok for uploading to websites. The attached image was made with the Epson from a 35mm negative.

Jim N.

 

[tomasis]

oldnick, how you find Vuescan working with minolta dualscan II? I have dualscan III and I find Vuescan to hang up after 10 minutes.I never get chance to work at full half-hour without hangups. I like the simple interface though. The problem is stability of the app. Now I wonder if it is worth to buy Silverfast. Just now I evaluating the demo of this.

 

[oscroft]

The scanning application that comes with Epson scanners, the imaginatively titled EPSON Scan, has a basic "auto" mode that is ultra-simple to use (though how good it is I have no idea - I've never tried it).

 

[Graham Line]

Messed briefly with VueScan on a ScanDual III and went back to the supplied Minolta software. That does the basic high-res (if 2820 dpi is high-res) and the rest of the work is done in PS. Works fine for Web display and printing 8x12.

 

[OldNick]

oldnick, how you find Vuescan working with minolta dualscan II? I have dualscan III and I find Vuescan to hang up after 10 minutes.I never get chance to work at full half-hour without hangups. I like the simple interface though. The problem is stability of the app. Now I wonder if it is worth to buy Silverfast. Just now I evaluating the demo of this.

It has been a few months since I used VueScan, but the only problem that I recall is that it will not shut down properly if I pop the negative carrier out before shutdown. It seems to want to eject the carrier as a last step, and can't decide what to do if the carrier is not in place. Otherwise, it works fine. I use a Pentium 4 running Windows XP.

Jim N.

 

[Larky]

What would you suggest as a 35mm scanner for making prints up to say 30 inches width?

 

[jlamarca]

Wow, lots of good info - thanks everyone. Maybe I am just being too fearful - I've heard horror stories with bugs and problems with coolscan software. I'm running XP so maybe it's not as much of a concern. Sounds like most posters here are happy with either coolscan's included software or viewscan. And scanning directly into photoshop sounds like a really nice way to do things.

I probably should have added that I'm working 80% with slides, so neg scanning is not as crucial. I use a fair bit of kodachrome too.

Any opinions on buying a used scanner? Is that akin to buying a used printer or PC, i.e. a complete roll of the dice? It's just that the 5000 is pricey and I really don't need 5000dpi resolution if I'm only doing 1000px wide jpegs for the web.

 

[wjlapier]

What would you suggest as a 35mm scanner for making prints up to say 30 inches width?

I'd be curious to know what other's suggest as well. How about the Coolscan IV? There was one for sale here for $450 which is about what I can afford now.

 

[JTK]

If you can afford $450, save for the V. Get it new. Don't open yourself to doubts, risk etc.

Vuescan's perfectly stable. Any stability problems with Vuescan and XP are likely due to inadequate C-drive memory. Don't consider scanning TO C, scan to an external or other secondary drive. Same with Nikon. A 35mm file @ 4000ppi is about 120MB, so it'll eat up a lot of space quickly if you've got a small or otherwise crowded C-drive.

In any case, be sure to "clean" your C-drive regularly when you're scanning and photoshopping. If you don't know what that means, there's your problem.