Nikon LS-5000 ED Coolscan queries

[Imagestreet]

Hi,

Hurrah - just bought a 2nd hand 5000 ED film scanner off eBay, so for the first time will be able to start digital darkrooming in earnest! It seems ok (quite happy with the 2 B&W scans so far) but the manual is worse then useless - I think I've read on Photonet somewhere that you can't use Digital ICE and ROC with Chromogenic films (I use Kodak Portra B&W / UC exclusively) however it may be possible to use GEM and DEE. Anyone able to clarify what settings they use and whether they are worth using or gimmicks?

Also it is extremely noisy - lots of whirring and buzzing both in film transport and scanning, to the point where I'm slightly concerned that I may have a dud (although it doesn't affect the final picture). Hopefully someone can put me out of my misery and tell me that their Nikon Coolscans also sound like industrial coffee grinders.

Sorry about all the acronyms!

 

[onnovisser]

I've used a coolscan and boy! does it sound like it's gonna trash whatever kind of material you throw in it... Don't worry it should be just fine!

🙂

 

[phototone]

I was under the impression that you COULD use digital ice with Chromagenic films. I have a Nikon 9000 ED. I never shoot chromagenic b/w films, so I cannot attest to it from personal experience.

I do know that there are very few options for automatic dust and spot removal for traditional silver based b/w films. I have become quite good with the "healing brush" and the "clone stamp tool" in photoshop.

 

[T_om]

I have an LS8000 and it is very loud. I can understand your concern. 🙂

Digital ICE is useless with regular B&W film and using ROC on C-41 process B&W negatives doesn't seem to make sense to me. 😕

Since the scans are now free... experiment. See what the controls give you with various combinations. I do not use hardly any of the Nikon controls except as they effect the scan density. I just try and use whatever setting will get the most information from the negative/chrome and then do the rest of the processing in PhotoShop.

Tom

 

[egpj]

I tried using Nikon software but it was totally a no go. I did plan ahead though before I got my scanner and purchased Vuescan online first. It does everything that I want and has only given me one little hickup after I upgraded to the newest flavor of the mac os. Even then I was the only one that reported a problem.

My Super Coolscan 5000 ED sounds like a coffee grinder and cappuccino machine all in one.