Minolta Film Scanner: How good/bad?

I used to have the SD-II in the early 2000's. It's all right for the price, but I found the build quality rather dodgy and the scan quality not as good as the Nikon scanners. Mine had a problem with the film strip feeder and had to be serviced twice. As for optical quality, it's all right, but can't compare with a Coolscan-III or IV. I recently got a Coolscan-V whose scans blow the socks off the Minolta.
 
It's okay, I would get a higher model like the IV but it will do the job and produce satisfactory results...
 
I use the Scan Dual IV and have been happy with it. It's now lasted 4 years and still (knock on wood) going strong! Only problem is that it's an orphan product, and when it goes kaput, I doubt if there will be any convenient repair service on it. :(
 
Ok, thanks guys for your replies. By the way, how old is it, and do you think €215,- is a reasonable price?
 
Minolta

Minolta

alifil said:
Ok, thanks guys for your replies. By the way, how old is it, and do you think €215,- is a reasonable price?
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Hi!

Most of the pictures in my gallery are scanned with scan dual II. Image quality is reasonable, excellent for the price of these things. 215 euros is ok if it is in good condition and comes with the software etc. I bought mine for 150 euros and I have seen them go for even lower prices lately. Service is a problem, so remember to check everything is working.
And by the way, You do get better results with Vuescan than with the minolta software, at least with less tweaking.

regards,

Tuomas
 
Thanks Tuomas,
I've had a look at your gallery, nice, esp. this one. The results seem quite good, maybe sometimes a bit 'hard'. I have to think about it, because of the non-servicability (I'm sorry, that's probably not even a word, not a native speaker so I have to make stuff up sometimes). And VueScan: that's not free software is it?
Thanks,

Dirk
 
Hi,

I bought a Nikon Coolscan IV for 300 euros, so for me 215 euros is a little expansive...

Regards Yvan
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Yes, I guess you're right. I think I'll have to be a bit more patient. Those Nikons are good...
 
Yes, you have a lot of coolscan on ebay... I bet for almost 1 week on many coolscan before winning this one...

Regards Yvan.
 
I used a Scan Dual II for years. It is an excellent scanner that I thought was just as good as anything else made. I only sold it when I bought a MultiPro so I could also scan 6x7 negs. I still use the MultiPro today.

Remember there have not been great technical advances in scanners. They are not like digital cameras. It seems that Digital Ice in the only new thing on newer scanners. Personally, I don't use Digital Ice.

I have always used VueScan with every scanner, including flatbeds.
 
I think the Minolta DualScan IV is as good as the CoolScan V, if not sharper. I use VueScan software with it on a Mac. True, its build quality is not as robust as the Nikon but it is a simpler design as well. $300 USd is the going price on eBay and I think they are a great value. I would only trade up for a CoolScan 5000 at this point, but I doubt I would see that great a advantage.
 
Sorry to hijack your thread a little - but any idea if 160 USD is a good price for a Minolta Dimage Scan III?

I'll start a new thread if this is wrong :)
 
I have 3 Minolta DualScan IV. The first I bought new and is now to be serviced. The other 2 I bought as repair projects and now work correctly. I think the original software is better for my work flow than vuescan, which I tried as a free download. As for prices, €200 seem a bit expensive. It'a a pity only Nikon is now making reasonable film scanners.
 
I have a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III which is serving me well.

Images are sharp , colours true and its capable of scans upto 30mb in size.

I understand that the Dual III has the same scanner hardware as the Scan Elite but without the dust removal system and simpler software.

I bought it from Ebay for around £150 about a year ago....bargain

west_dean_stll_life06.jpg


Chris
 
You might want to check what OS the SDII software will function with; the newest driver for my SDIII, as near as I can tell, works up to Windows XP. Beyond that you'll have to add in different software, or backdate your OS.
 
If the software won't work with your OS there is always Vuescan which works with most/ all? Scanners

chris
 
brainwood said:
I have a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III which is serving me well.

Images are sharp , colours true and its capable of scans upto 30mb in size.

I understand that the Dual III has the same scanner hardware as the Scan Elite but without the dust removal system and simpler software.

I bought it from Ebay for around £150 about a year ago....bargain

west_dean_stll_life06.jpg


Chris
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Good example :) convinces me about the scanner. Now to convince myself about the price :D
 
brainwood said:
I have a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III which is serving me well.

Images are sharp , colours true and its capable of scans upto 30mb in size.

I understand that the Dual III has the same scanner hardware as the Scan Elite but without the dust removal system and simpler software.

I bought it from Ebay for around £150 about a year ago....bargain

west_dean_stll_life06.jpg


Chris
Click to expand...

Yes this is pretty convincing, beautiful tones.
 
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