Nikon coolscan 4000 advice

[w1234ale]

All,

I am borrowing a Nikon Coolscan 4000 and have been using VueScan software.

Honestly I have been very disappointed by the results and I am wondering if I am doing something wrong.

I also have a Epson V750 and I find the scan coming off the Epson are significantly better than the Nikon. From the reading I have done, the Nikon should scan better.

On the Nikon I have been scanning at 4000dpi and have played around with grain reduction, sharpening, and other parameters, but I find in the end the results are grainer and not as sharp. All the way around not as good as the Epson.

I guess my question is, is the Epson actually better, or am I doing something wrong.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Particular]

It sounds like you are doing something wrong. I don't know what your work flow is, but for a start I would not use grain reduction and sharpening. I tend to use vuescan to control the scanner, and to do all adjustments in lightroom (or photoshop).

 

[w1234ale]

I am sure the scanner has never been cleaned before. Is that some thing that can be done at home?

 

[agi]

I cleaned my LS-4000 before using the directions here:

http://www.pearsonimaging.com/articles/howto/ls5000cleaning.html

It shows the 5000 but it's basically the same. Just be careful.

In the future, store/use your scanner on it's side and have a cover when not in use.