Minolta Scan Elite 5400 questions

[mszargar]

Hi all,

I just found a 5400 in a flee market and had it for free because the owner didn't really know what it was! But the device doesn't come with its holders (of course, they were lost somewhere on the road).

I brought the device home, connected it using USB, and launched DIMAGE software on XP. The device went through a long self-check, then the power light became permanent green (stopped flashing) and the software started properly. The fluorescent light is on, and if I push the scan button, the software asks me to position the holder properly (I don't have a holder yet).

Q1) Is this a good sign? Does it make sense to find holders at the exorbitant prices that they go, and hope the scanner will work properly after a deep cleaning?

Q2) Has anyone tried cleaning this device at home? Any advice? Or does anyone know a professional service capable of doing the cleaning in Europe?

Q3) Does anyone know the exact size of the bulb, if I want to purchase a few before they go out of production? I have already found a supplier: http://www.ccflwarehouse.com/ccfllamps.html

Q4) Does anyone know if the film holder FH-M10 supplied with the scanner compatible with any other holder from Minolta, like FH-M20 (Elite 5400II) or FH-M1 (Elite II)?

Q5) Is there anyone in the Netherlands (Amsterdam) I can borrow the holders from for a couple of hours, just to check the scanner? Of course, I will be glad to buy, if you have spare ones.

Thanks!

 

[View Range]

My 5400 was a piece of junk from day one. It never reliably moved the carriers. Very frustrating.

But that is good news for you. If you want my 5400 for spare parts including the carriers, software,etc, you can have it for free. I will need you to pay the postage as I am in the US.

Send my a private message.

 

[mszargar]

Hi View Range,

If you have the 35mm holder (film strip), I definitely want it!

Let me check how much it costs.

 

[sleepyhead]

This is one example of why I love RFF!

 

[lawrence]

I have this scanner and it's excellent. Just one tip, however, I run Windows 7 and wasn't very happy with the Dimage scanner software and now use Silverfast. Strangely this software actually gives me better results, particularly in the shadows, than both the Dimage software and Vuescan. You can download a trial from the Silverfast site.

 

[Dave Jenkins]

View Range, if no one has spoken for the slide holder, I would love to have it. I mostly scan slides, and my holder broke a few months ago.

Lawrence, I use the DiMage software with Windows 7 and have always gotten great results.

 

[lawrence]

Lawrence, I use the DiMage software with Windows 7 and have always gotten great results.

Dave, I attempted to access your web site to see them but instead got 'Forbidden. You don't have permission to access / on this server.'

 

[JohnBeeching]

Hi,
I have this scanner and it is excellent. I use VueScan to drive it on both windows and mac machines as the software that came with it was not much use and probably not longer works on modern computers. I hope you can get it working to your satisfaction.

 

[Dave Jenkins]

Lawrence, I don't know what's happening with that. I will contact my web hosting service. Meanwhile, if you copy the link and paste it into a new window it will work.

 

[Dave Jenkins]

Apparently the link got messed up in some way. Try it again.

 

[mszargar]

The outcome!

The outcome!

Hi Guys,

So, Don (View Range), sent me his scanner (that doesn't work).

Now, here is the magic of RFF: The other scanner I got for free in the flee market works perfectly with his holders, even though there is plenty of dirt inside (I haven't opened it to clean yet).

Here is the first slide I put through the machine (click for full res):



That's Leica M6 + C-Sonnar 50 on Fuji Provia 400X from a few years ago in Toronto.

So, thank you Don a million times!

I think I will be in the market for a M6 soon.