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

[sunsworth]

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

 

[Warren T.]

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

 

[Magnus]

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

 

[ed1k]

Minolta really isn't an alternative since it is impossible to find new ones (with warranty!) here in Germany

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

 

[nikola]

I have oportunity to buy used CoolScan IV ED for 400$? Is that ok price?

 

[pesphoto]

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.

 

[rich815]

I have oportunity to buy used CoolScan IV ED for 400$? Is that ok price?

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.

 

[nikola]

thanks pesphoto but this one is nearby 🙂

 

[pesphoto]

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!