Nikon CoolScan 9000 and Scan software on Intel Mac Platform?

[Central Harlem Anon]

Final note from me on this topic, I expect: I just heard back from Nikon tech support. They acknowledge the problem and indicate no plans to fix it.

"You are correct, this is a known issue with this scanner. Please disconnect Firewire devices if Nikon Scan cannot find your scanner. Sorry for the inconvenience."

 

[robert blu]

@ Central Harlem Anon . I had the same problem, Nikon scan not seeing the scanner (5000ed) when a firewire hard disc connected to my i.Mac. Your post gave me a sign that at least it does not happens just to me ! By the way vuescan (I have a demo version) works perfectly even with the fire wire ! But I'm a little lazy to learn a new software...
robert

 

[Central Harlem Anon]

Final final note from me on this topic: Ed Hamrick today released Vuescan 8.5.10, which solves the auto-focus problem on the Coolscan 9000. Kudos to him for responding so well to the bug report. I think I'll still rely on NikonScan for color scanning and 35mm negatives. I prefer Digital ICE to Vuescan's approximation thereof, and I like Nikon's three-stage scanning process (thumbnail if you want, then preview if you want, then scan). For MF b&w, perhaps Vuescan.

 

[jke]

If you are having difficulty with 4.02 on an Intel Mac, remove the application entirely using something like AppZapper or similar. Restart. Reinstall the original version 4.0 with only the scanner plugged into the computer. Then update to 4.02, again with only the scanner plugged into the computer.

There seems to be something that happens between the program and whatever (i.e. not the scanner) is connected to the firewire port (400 or 800) when the program is installed that screws things up. A clean install as above fixed it in my case, and now I have the scanner attached to a powered firewire hub along with two firewire 800 drives. Works fine.

 

[urban_alchemist]

I installed and booted up Nikonscan, and it crashed on its first scan. Not a good omen, so i did some research. Vuescan seemed to offer 95% of Silverfast for 1/20 of the price.

In about 500 scans, it has not let me down once. A bit counter-intuitive but I get pretty nice results...

Fuji TX-2, Kodak 400 UltraColor, Scanned by Nikon 9000 w/Vuescan

 

[Praxis Unitas]

Hi, Everyone. I've been tearing my hair out over problems with the Nikon driver on an intel mac pro. the silverfast demo looks and feels good, but I ended up getting the vuescan pro for $80. It's a smooth workflow, and has pretty good flexibility. It's multi-exposure looks pretty good for high dynamic range shots, and I really like its speed/flexibility for previews.



Thanks for your reviews and advice!

-Christopher

 

[popeye]

Here's the bottom line: Nikon needs to hire Ed Hammrick to completely revamp and streamline their fabulously craptastic NikonScan software, I F'n hate this sh*t! I am down to the point were I will not consider Nikon products due to this pathetic performance as well as contemptible support for this product from the Nikon corporation.

F you Nikon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gilpen123]

Just got an LS 5000 running on Intel Mac 10.5.2 no problems whatsoever. I use Nikon 4.0.2 and was successful on the 1st try. I followed the installation instructions to the letter not touching anything until each stage is done and no other usb/firewire device plugged. Scanning is a bit quirky on my 1st few scans but got to learn fast and now confident I can get good results.

 

[Rayt]

I have two Intel Mac Mini's one with 10.5 and the other with 10.6, both run Nikon Scan with LS9000ED with no problems.

 

[dfoo]

Sure, it superficially appears to work 🙂 After a while you'll discover that it crashes. Alot. Its also just a complete piece of crap to use. I spent how much money on this damn scanned, only to saddled with this garbage? Pathetic effort Nikon.

 

[Harry Lime]

I've never used the Nikon software (I've got a Nikon 5000 now - last scanner was - still is actually - a Minolta Dimage Scan Elite II) and I've only used VueScan for scanning - there's just more control.

It's hard to believe that Mr Hamrick's still going strong after all these years.

Dave

How do you know that Vuescan gives you more control than Nikonscan, if you have never used the later?

 

[runny]

I have been happily using a Coolscan 9000 on a Mac Pro, even with Snow Leopard - poor software notwithstanding, it worked fine, even with Vuescan and Silverfast. I have now moved on to the nice new iMac 27" which doesn't have Firewire 400, and........ it doesn't work. I have disconnected all drives, used convertor cables and all kinds of things - but the scanner is not recognized. The Nikon software just crashes on startup (very friendly) while the Vuescan and Silverfast applications just tell me nothing is connected.

Has anyone got one of the things working in a Firewire 800 only environment? Any clues?

Thanks and Happy New Year.
David

 

[amateriat]

David: Even a FireWire 400-to-800 cable doesn't do it?


- Barrett

 

[AlastairBird]

I have a new (for me) 8000 on a new iMac 27". I plug it into the back of the computer via an 800-400 adapter and it works fine. The adapter came from http://www.1394store.com and it works like a champ. Perhaps a different FW cable might work? They're notorious for dying at the worst possible time. You can also buy a powered FW800 hub from the 1394 store which I think I'll be getting soon...

The software is a different story. I used to use Silverfast with my M1 (which I still have) and I cheaped out and bought Vuescan for the 8000. But I downloaded the Silverfast demo, and even with the logo across the screen, the Silverfast images were much better. Better detail, better colour, better all around. I'm quite confident it was because of my comfort level with the software. But I was having a lot of trouble with the reds on Vuescan. I'm mostly scanning MF neg film (160 and 400NC). I don't doubt that the Vuescan software can produce an excellent scan, but after several dozen tries I found it was easiest to use software that I was comfortable with and used to.
So I ponied up the $300 for the crossgrade of Silverfast and I'm good to go.

 

[morback]

I just got the LS-9000-ED and installed NikonScan without any problems. Scans beautifully in default settings for B&W (I do PP in PS) but I realized that the preview is not quite a preview. I once got a really contrasty preview image that when scanned had full tonality and I also noticed that changing the curves and making adjustments are not show in the preview image.

I literally just got it, so I'm not familiar with it yet, but it doesn't look like it's lacking anything compared to the Silverfast (for a different scanner) I have. Same tools, same adjustments, actually it looks like NikonScan has more fine tuning than Silverfast Except a preview that works...

I heard they were updating their software early this year? I hope they'll revamp the UI and make the step from 80ies to 21st century...

p.s: I can't believe how good the scans are...And how fast it is...

 

[robinsonphotography]

I haven't tried Silverfast, out of my budget, but between Vuescan and the Nikon software, it's no contest. Vuescan wins by a long shot--much fewer crashes, not a perfect program, but pretty quick and easy to use.

 

[issa918]

I have problem in scanning b/w with the nikon scan on my 8000ed.

Scanning comes out very dark and and contrasty, lack of shadow details, no matter how i tweak the color management or curve in the software. I bought a vuescan and use the generic profile and everything looks very good. (i tried several profile, but found out that generic has the best balance, tmax profiles are somehow too light)


By Nikon Scan 4

By Vuescan

Both were directly from scanner without adjusting curves.

For scanning positive, I use Nikon Scan. And sometimes Nikon Scan has better result in color neg. esp. color correction.

 

[literiter]

I've had my CS9000 for about 2 years now and I use it with my Imac. It came with Nikon Scan of course but I bought Vuescan with the understanding that it was better software than Nikon Scan. In terms of preview it isn't bad but I find it rather inflexible overall.

I just use the Nikon Scan software now, and I'm quite OK with it. I've never had a crash.

 

[photo_trev]

I use Nikon scan 4.0.2. with my coolscan 5000. I think it is awesome, I've used the vuescan trial as well as Silverfast which I use with my v750.

I like Nikon scan the best, just recently installed Snow Leopard on my intel iMac, and upgraded to 4.0.2 and it works fine, haven't had any issues yet. The best part about the newest Nikon scan is you can save your scans as NEF's!!! When I discovered this I was ecstatic, a huge +1 for Nikon Scan.

 

[Tim Gray]

Ed has worked with me a couple times fixing a bug in Vuescan. I used to scan all my B&W with Vuescan and color in Nikonscan (to use the ICE function), but I've since started doing my color in Vuescan too. Vuescan does lower resolution scans a lot faster than Nikonscan. Vuescan takes a bit of extra work, because I have to do a bit more color tweaking in photoshop working from the Vuescan files. I don't have access to ICE any more, but I do save out the infrared layer scan and use a custom Photoshop action to help remove dust and scratches (works on Kodachrome too!). I found ICE degrades fine details of all slides.

The final analysis is my Vuescan process is longer than Nikonscan, but I get better color and better dust quality dust busting. I'm also scanning for a shorter amount of time - its just the PS work is a bit longer.

I've not had any problems with either software on my Coolscan V on any of the three Macs I've used them on, including the new one running 10.6.