Nikon CoolScan 9000 and Scan software on Intel Mac Platform?

[hassiman]

I was just wondering if anyone here is using SilverFast AI Studio, VueScan or Nikon Scanware 4.0.2 to successfully run a Nikon Super CoolScan 9000 on a Mac OS 10.4.11 (Tiger) witha Intel MacPro platform?

Which of the latest versions of VueScan or SilverFast AI is better?

I had heard that there were issues with Nikon Scanware 4.0.2 on Intel Macs.

 

[MikeL]

I haven't had a hiccup (anymore than usual) with NikonScan and the 9000 on intel processors with Tiger or Leopard.

As for the poll, which ever one you know better is the best software.

Edit: Dektol Dan reminds me I should have put down MacBook Pro and MacMini.

 

[dcsang]

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

 

[pphuang]

I've also used Nikon Scanware 4.0.2 with a 5000 on a Mac with Intel processors without any significant problems, although it hangs a little when batch scanning a roll after about the 20th image, but will eventually complete the roll. It works well enough that I've never had any desire to look at other software options.

 

[Dektol Dan]

I haven't had a hiccup (anymore than usual) with NikonScan and the 9000 on intel processors with Tiger or Leopard.

As for the poll, which ever one you know better is the best software.

I have an Intel Mac Pro and I cannot get the latest version of Nikon Scan to launch in Tiger or Leopard. I've tried everything. Likewise I have no control over my Epson printers in Leopard other than the basic print command.

I have heard that it can launch on other Intel Macs, but I don't own one. I have no trouble making it work on my G4 Tiger machine.

I have Vue Scan Pro and an ancient copy of Silver Fast.

I have cursed Nikon Scan in the past, but it is necessarily a compliment to Vue Scan.

Because I don't have the latest Silver Fast its not fair for me to judge as it was bundled with an Epson scanner. I didn't like it when I tried it. It was too different from what I was familiar with.

Vue Scan has improved 1000% over the years.

 

[Mackinaw]

Never have understood why people find the Nikon scan software so difficult. No doubt there's a learning curve, but once you figure it out, it's a piece of cake.

Back on topic, I have no problem running Nikon Scanware V 4.0.2 on an Intel Mac-Mini, OS 10.4.11. This is on a Nikon Coolscan V.

Jim B.

 

[kipkeston]

The nikonscan is unsatisfactory for its stability in 10.4.11 and intel MBP in my experience. If batch scanning say 6 frames, it will very often just forget to scan one of the 6. It's quite funny actually. It will scan it, and then instead of saving it, just move on to the next frame as saying "ooops, what was I doing? oh never mind, next frame!" The more rare occasion is a complete crash having to reload the program. The images produced are great but not as great as having full control with a raw file later.

I've switched to the latest vuescan. Scanning raw in vuescan is even faster than scanning with nikonscan because I don't have to click any presets or adjust cropping, I just feed it and hit scan and worry about the rest later.

 

[Photon42]

Just have a Coolscan V. Nikon Scan works but isn't as convenient / flexible as Vuescan.

As for the UI, both software has room for significant improvement. But well, it's usable. Vuescan runs much faster per scan.

Nikon is supposed to bring an Update very soon, but I doubt they will address anything on the UI side. Nikon Capture seemed to have emerged from the same hell. I actually wonder which sub-contractor has created those masterpieces of useability.

 

[Arvay]

I have both Nikon and Vuescan.
Depending on time and format using them both with good result
As for issues: I could not install Nikon Scan firstly because it needs to be downloaded directly to Mac (and I tried to do this using flashdisk) and I was using that computer only for graphics without web connection when I first time put my hands on it not knowing it's clever and can load upgrades himself That was a mistake of beginner.

 

[historicist]

I haven't tried Vuescan or Silverfast, but I run Nikon Scan on 10.5 (I upgraded before I realised that it was incompatible) and only once have I had problems, when the program crashed repeatedly on opening. Then, mysteriously, it stopped crashing and since then I haven't had any problems.

 

[Papercut]

I use Nikonscan on my intel MBP (running 10.5.2 Leopard) without any significant problems. Every so often when I'm scanning 3+ rolls, the program will crash (makes me wonder if it's a memory usage problem), but other than that it works fine. I have downloaded vuescan, but haven't tried it (yet) simply because Nikonscan is serving well enough for me right now.

 

[mikeseb]

I tried and tried to get Nikon Scan 4.02 to run on a new Intel Mac running 10.5, couldn't do it, despite Nikon's insistence that it WILL run.

Turns out that with an external FW drive connected, the program cannot find the scanner for some reason. Disconnecting the drives (not just turning them off) fixed the problem just like that.

You might give this a try--make sure all FW devices except the scanner are disconnected; then turn on your scanner and start Nikon Scan.

Re VueScan: i've had it for years, to operate a legacy scanner I finally retired. I've never understood the excitement this program generates. I think its interface and documentation are lousy. I have never been able to get it to properly scan a strip of negatives. It's some of the worst software I've ever used.

Re Silverfast: are they kidding? the price is outrageous. Version 6.6 is out, and they claim to support the Nikon 8000 under 10.5, with the caveat that they depend on NikonMAID drivers to function, and are therefore at Nikon's mercy. At least they have a demo version to try before mortgaging the house.

 

[Senmu]

I use VueScan exclusively, for both my Coolscan V ED (35mm) and Epson V500 (120). About three or four versions ago (Ed releases a new version every couple of weeks it seems) it all "clicked" and now, with the Coolscan, I can pretty much do "set and forget" scanning. It auto-crops quite accurately on almost all exposures through a six-exposure strip of 35mm. It does just fine with "auto levels", "white balance" or "neutral" colour rendition. It supports digital ICE with both scanners (for non-silver films of course).

So, if you haven't tried VueScan in, literally, the last few months, download the latest and give it a try.

 

[lewis44]

Silverfast has just come out with V6.6. It does not use the Nikon drivers and is designed to do both PC and Leopard.
Not one problem with my LS-5000 on a PC and I'm sure w/o the Nikon Drivers it is great on the Mac as well.
Go to the Silverfast web site and download the program and try it. It's a free download and is a fully functional version. It just leaves a small logo in the image.

 

[Knarxx]

Silverfast has just come out with V6.6. It does not use the Nikon drivers and is designed to do both PC and Leopard.
Not one problem with my LS-5000 on a PC and I'm sure w/o the Nikon Drivers it is great on the Mac as well.
Go to the Silverfast web site and download the program and try it. It's a free download and is a fully functional version. It just leaves a small logo in the image.

yeah, and with the latest update SilverFast also supports the Nikon 8000 and 9000 on Mac OS, for which hassiman initially asked.

 

[amateriat]

I tried and tried to get Nikon Scan 4.02 to run on a new Intel Mac running 10.5, couldn't do it, despite Nikon's insistence that it WILL run.

Turns out that with an external FW drive connected, the program cannot find the scanner for some reason. Disconnecting the drives (not just turning them off) fixed the problem just like that.

That's a weird one. Are you running the latest version of 10.5? Also, try running Disk Utility for permissions repair (and it that doesn't handle it, boot from your installer disk a try a disk repair with the same utility).

Re VueScan: i've had it for years, to operate a legacy scanner I finally retired. I've never understood the excitement this program generates. I think its interface and documentation are lousy. I have never been able to get it to properly scan a strip of negatives. It's some of the worst software I've ever used.

How old a version of VueScan were you using? It's changed a lot since I started using it nearly full-time about four years ago, definitely for the better, and it's been my main scanning app with every scanner I've owned, from an ancient Nikon LS-10 to my current Minolta 5400. When I first started using it, the UI admittedly left something to be desired, but it worked. The UI is now considerably slicker, and with a better feature set to boot.

Re Silverfast: are they kidding? the price is outrageous. Version 6.6 is out, and they claim to support the Nikon 8000 under 10.5, with the caveat that they depend on NikonMAID drivers to function, and are therefore at Nikon's mercy. At least they have a demo version to try before mortgaging the house.

SilverFast has always been pricey, and there are those who won't touch anything else. I used it when I worked for a stock photo agency, but while I found some things about it quite nice, I never quite got the hoopla over it, and when I discovered VueScan I simply switched to that for my own work. But I say, whatever works for you, works for you.



- Barrett

 

[Central Harlem Anon]

Nikon Scan can't find the Coolscan 9000 if there is an external drive attached.

Nikon Scan can't find the Coolscan 9000 if there is an external drive attached.

I'm using a new nehalem Mac Pro and OSX 10.5.6. Nikon Scan 4.02 worked perfectly until I plugged in an external Firewire 800 drive for backups, at which point it lost the ability to see the scanner.

I wasted $79 on a Vuescan license before figuring this out.

It's OK to plug the drive back in once the software has completed its initial handshake with the scanner. The problem seems to be only at launch.

Other than this hiccup, Nikon Scan works perfectly for me and I far prefer it to Vuescan, which I had not been able to get to batch scan properly.

 

[dfoo]

I don't know what you are doing wrong but vuescan batch scans perfectly.

 

[dcsang]

I don't know what you are doing wrong but vuescan batch scans perfectly.

I agree with this statement - take a look at that other thread on the Nikon 5000 and you'll see links there to a Flickr discussion on locking the exposure which, to me, has made VueScan even more valuable - I was always able to get "good" scans out of VueScan but now it is consistently providing me with excellent scans that do not blow out the highlights.


Dave

 

[Central Harlem Anon]

I don't know what you are doing wrong but vuescan batch scans perfectly.

Perhaps it batch scans for you, but it doesn't for me. I am exchanging e-mails with Ed Hamrick about it. It seems to be failing during autofocus but doesn't toss up an error message; the scanner rumbles through each negative but doesn't scan anything to memory or disk.