Nikon CoolScan 9000 and Scan software on Intel Mac Platform?

[Terao]

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."

For what its worth, this seems to be an issue no matter which version of OSX you are using. I've just got a new FW800 drive and now I can't see the scanner when its plugged in. Doesn't matter whether its on 400 or 800 mode. As soon as its plugged in the scanner no longer shows up in System Profiler - the Mac knows there is a device plugged in but its not detected correctly. This is on an old Panther G5 (10.3.9).

Strangely enough I don't get the same problem when I have my DV camera plugged in via Firewire.

 

[katgut@earthlink.net]

I have been successfully running a Nikon 8000 with Nikon Scan 4.02 on an Intel Mac using osx 10.5.8. There have been times when the program has crashed, but I believe I've developed a routine that prevents or minimizes crashing:
1. I start the computer up with ONLY the 8000 attached. The only other things plugged in are the keyboard/mouse.
2. Nikon Scan is started after the scanner is powered on and the green light stays lit. I never mess with anything while the program is running. For instance, I don't ask it to abort a scan or preview.

It's possible (I can't prove it) that because different Nikon scanners use firewire or USB ports, the software may get hung up if anything else is plugged into either.

FWIW: I also have Vuescan as a backup. In the end, the results for most scans are comparable.

 

[katgut@earthlink.net]

Sorry, I have to post this update: after successfully running Nikon Scan for many scans, it will no longer run no matter what I do. Even reinstalled.
Vuescan is the only option for me now. It works fine, but reds are way too saturated.

 

[gilgsn]

Hello,

Has anyone used a Firewire 400 to 800 converter cable with a Mac for the Coolscan 8000?

Gil.

 

[Godfrey]

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.😱

Nikon software hasn't been current since OS X Leopard or Snow Leopard. I think it broke on Lion.

I run OS X Mavericks (version 10.9.3 at present) and drive my Super Coolscan 9000 with VueScan. I connect it through the Thunderbolt Display 27" FireWire port to a late 2012 Mac mini. Works beautifully; this is a great scanner and I prefer VueScan over any of the other scanner apps.

G

 

[cabbiinc]

Godfrey, you do realize that this thread is 6 years old right.

 

[Godfrey]

Godfrey, you do realize that this thread is 6 years old right.

No, I didn't at first, but what difference does that make? Someone asked a question which I answered.
I don't always look at all the dates.

G

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Have an ED 8000 through firewire on an imac (osx 10.8.5). Never got the Nikon software running on the imac. Therefore I had to jump to an alternative, for me this was vuescan. It took me a lot of time to get used to this software but in the end provides some nice results. btw never used silverfast.

scan from 6x6 velvia slide:

Super Ikonta 532/16 CLA XII by Ron (Netherlands), on Flickr

 

[craygc]

Hello,

Has anyone used a Firewire 400 to 800 converter cable with a Mac for the Coolscan 8000?

Gil.

Running a 4000 and a 9000, which are both FW400, back to a Mac Mini, which is FW800 only. FW400 to FW800 is spec'ed to work - FW400 just uses 6 pins of the 9-pin FW800 plug

 

[Timmyjoe]

I ran my Coolscan 9000 on an intel Mac running 10.6 or 10.7 and using the Nikon Scan software. Also used Vuescan. Finally got fed up with it and dragged out an old Apple G4 Power PC and hooked the Coolscan 9000 to it, and it is a dedicated scan computer, running 10.5.

I can do these sort of "batch scans" with Nikon Scan to see which negs I am interested in, then I carefully scan each with Vuescan. Works for me.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Zonan]

Running a 4000 and a 9000, which are both FW400, back to a Mac Mini, which is FW800 only. FW400 to FW800 is spec'ed to work - FW400 just uses 6 pins of the 9-pin FW800 plug

Me too, no problems with using the FW800/400 adapter plug with FW800 port on macmini for LS9000

 

[Harry Lime]

Nikonscan was fairly idiot proof in use and produced excellent results.

The Vuescan GUI looks like something from the early 1990's, but it produces excellent results. It's also cheap and Ed is a good guy.

The Silverfast GUI is a trainwreck and the only reason why I use it is because the HDR scan feature pulls every last photon of exposure off the negative. Silverfast is expensive and they tend to milk you for every penny you have.

So, Silverfast it is; simply because of the HDR feature. I really wish Vuescan would add this option.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I've used my Nikon 8000ED for over a decade with Vuescan. Nikon Scan sucked even with the PowerPC Macs it was originally made for, so I bought Vuescan way back when I was using the Powermac G4 dual 1.25 I bought new in 2003. Still using Vuescan on my Mac Pro with dual four-core intel processors. Works beautifully, as always.

 

[Fernando2]

Same here: I'm driving the 8000 with a 2004 PowerBook(!) using Vuescan.
Works much better than NikonScan 4.
Too bad I can't use recent versions (stuck to 9.0.something) since I can't install OS X > 10.5.

Fernando

 

[Timmyjoe]

I've kept an old PowerPC Mac just for using it with my CoolScan 9000. I usually use Nikon Scan to scan through a roll of negs to make small jpgs as I can batch scan with Nikon Scan. After I look through those and find the keepers, I scan the best negs with VueScan.

Best,
-Tim

 

[BLKRCAT]

I use both nikonscan and vuescan. Different tools for different purposes.

Nikonscan Color, Vuescan BW.

Though last roll I did with nikonscan the colors wouldnt stay consistent. Normally this is fine because I dont shoot consistent things throughout roll but this time it was more clienty work that needed consistency and nikonscan couldnt get it so I opted for vuescan and was impressed with the results.

 

[rbrooks]

I've gotten my Nikon Coolscan 9000 to work on the latest Windows 10 with Vuescan. Had to use the two Apple converters. Firewire 400 to TB2. And TB2 to TB3.
I might have had to fiddle with software as per some of the more quoted/linked webpages on this forum, but don't remember if any of those were really needed.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Not sure why these old threads keep popping back to the top of the lists. But since it's here, one update from my Coolscan 9000 workflow. Similar to what BLKRCAT posted in 2016, I'm finding I get best results using Vuescan for my B&W negatives, and Nikon Scan for all my color negatives and chromes.

Best,
-Tim

 

[analoged]

When people vote in the poll, the thread pops back to the top!