Need a film-scanner ... Nikon for b+w ?

The orange layer has nothing to do with the fact that you can use ICE with C41 b&w films - in fact XP2 doesn't have an orange base - the problem with conventional b&w films is that the image is held in grains of silver which fool ICE into thinking they are dust.

Steve
 
I just wanted to add that you guys must have a more critical eye than me :).

I use an old Nikon Coolscan III (LS-30) with VueScan and I get very acceptable scans, IMO, on my B&W film. I shoot Tri-X for B&W.

You can sometimes find these scanners being sold for very low prices.

I switched to the VueScan because this software works with my Windows XP machine where the original Nikon software did not. Now I find that I liked Vuescan better anyway.

--Warren
 
As mentioned before it's mostly a matter of treating the negatives and the development process well. If your sloppy you get sloppy scans.

Before my 5000 I owned the III too, a brilliant little scanner which provided me with very good scans. the 5000 produces bigger scans, has multi loading possibilities but isn't better than the ols III
 
Minolta really isn't an alternative since it is impossible to find new ones (with warranty!) here in Germany
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Yeah, that might be a concern now. I bought mine KM a couple of weeks after KM anounced selling of their photo business. It was new, and a lot of huge supply chains had a stock in NA. I didn't consider warranty as an issue. Maybe here, in Ontario, Canada, consumer protection isn't that great as in Germany. I generally expected to excersize my right to return the scanner for refund or exchange if I found malfunction or weren't satisfied with it in a couple of weeks. But that was it. I am sure I can ask for warranty service if need arised, and they will take my scanner and send it nowhere for indefinite period of time, and I think there is no law to hold them responsible when manufacturer can't provide reasonable service (including reasonable timeframe). With Nikon it would also take forever but there was a chance it would be finally fixed. So, all my hope is it will work and when it stops working I lose $400CA, not $800CA as would be with Nikon (minus amortization it pays me off using it).
Nikon scanners are great too, AFAIK. Digital ICE would be a great help for those 10% of colour work. All my reasons were purely financial ones. I have to work hard to earn some $$$ and photography is my hobby only.
I attached a digicam snapshot of some Bosco di Ciliegi boutique in Moscow just to illustrate how big print an graphic designer can get from KM scanner (yes I gave them 80 meg scan for free). Here is a full frame of that pic
 

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IF its in good working order than that is a fair price, yes.
By the way, I have a Nikon V ED scanner for sale if anyone is interested. PM me.
 
nikola said:
I have oportunity to buy used CoolScan IV ED for 400$? Is that ok price?
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The V seem to be completing their auctions on eBay around the high 400's to low-mid-500's.

Personally, I'd spring for the extra and get a V, or a 4000.
 
Yeah, shipping would be a bit high. We upgraded to the Nikon 5000 so we could scan whole rolls of film at a time with the roll film attatchment. Highly recommend!
 
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