questions on Nikon Coolscan V

[haagen_dazs]

hi
i am in the process of trying to buy one

you help is really!! appreciated ! 😱
1) what are the things to look out for if i were to buy a used excellent condtion scanner?

2) is the coolscan V ED and the LS50 the same thing? (Sorry i dont see LS50 in the official brochure)

3) i am trying to understand the accessories for this scanner.
slide mount adapter - is this suppose to be able to scan mounted slides one at a time or a can i load a stack and the scanner can do the rest?
strip film adapter - is this suppose to be able to handle 1 to 6 frames in a piece of negative?
strip film holder (optional) - how is this different from the strip film adapter?

sorry... newbie questions 😱

 

[erikhaugsby]

The strip film adapter should have come with the scanner; it is the large block thing that sticks prominently out of the scanner body. It auto-feeds strips of film (3-6 frames, anything less will cause negatives to get stuck inside the scanner) and scans them at your choosing.
The strip film holder is a clamshell holder that you set the film in. As there is no moving of film it can accommodate 1-6 frames without hassle. There is no moving of the film once the adapter is inserted into the scanner.

The slide mount adapter only takes one slide at a time, so far as I know.

The Coolscan V ED is the same as LS50 in the same way that a Canon 350D is the same as a Rebel XT, different nomenclatures exist for different markets.

I bought mine new, so I can't help you with used buying tips.

 

[haagen_dazs]

thanks erik! that was helpful!

during scanning, how does one ensures that the negatives are FLAT?

eg. if the single mounted slide has the slide buckled... isnt that going to be a problem?

 

[maddoc]

I have the Coolscan V ED [LS50] (bought it new) and also bought the filmstrip-holder (FH-3). The first rolls of film I developed myself had some strong curvature cross the film strip (more than 6mm) so I had to use the filmstrip-holder. In Japan the Coolscan V ED isn't in stock usually, I had to wait 2 weeks for delivery and for the FH-3 filmstrip-holder I had to wait 5 weeks.

-Gabor

 

[erikhaugsby]

With my strip film adapter the negatives have a tendency to curve near one edge of the negative, as the effect doesn't permeate the negative too far so I really don't worry about it. The strip film holder apparently makes the film much flatter and more consistent.

I don't know how you would be able to buckle a slide, considering that the film stays inside of the slide mount during scanning.

Erik

 

[haagen_dazs]

i occasionally read that somes scanners use glass plates to hold the negs down... or even liquid to "stick " the negs really flatly to a glass plate..

so it seems that the film strip holder does hold it down pretty flat..
that is good news.


it seems like the nikon website says that the SA21 should be able to scan 1 neg.... well it sounds like user experience states otherwise.
heh..

 

[erikhaugsby]

The holder does hold film remarkably flat, so unless you're an edge-searching pixel freak I wouldn't worry about buckling at all.

And I really wouldn't recommend using a 1-frame negative with anything but the strip film holder, regardless of the website specs.

 

[haagen_dazs]

another question...........

so it seems that the Coolscan 5000 can accept the same slide mount adapter MA21, strip film adapter SA21, strip film holder FH3

I would conclude that the build of the block is the same.

so can the coolscan V accept the roll film adapter SA30 and slide feeder SF210? (these accessories are listed under the 5000 and not for the V)

 

[erikhaugsby]

Now that question I don't know. If I could afford a 5000 I sure could tell you, but that's why I only have a V 😛. Sorry.

 

[haagen_dazs]

Now that question I don't know. If I could afford a 5000 I sure could tell you, but that's why I only have a V 😛. Sorry.

thanks erik....

anyone who knows,, please let me know =)

 

[Tim Gray]

I'm pretty sure those two accessories are for the 5000 only.

 

[bcostin]

When I bought a Coolscan V ED earlier this year I had some of the same questions. Everything I've seen indicates that the V cannot use the roll-film adapter or the bulk slide feeder. I kinda suspect it's a firmware restriction. I admit that I've been tempted to borrow the SF-210 from the Coolscan 4000 at work and see for myself.

I've scanned quite a few slides and negatives, both old and new, and have been very happy with the results. I bought mine new but on clearance. (There's still new stock available at some vendors; KEH's web site shows at least one new in stock right now.)

 

[SteveBennett]

If you try the sf210 on the 4000 of V, make sure to try it with VueScan in case the restriction is implemented in the NikonScan software. Perhaps Ed Hamrick
made it work for the other models (I don't know form personal experience if this will work - we use only ED5000 scanners here at Pixmonix).

I have seen hacks to make the strip film adapter work as a roll film adapter (without the take-up spool in back). Perhaps there are other hacks for the other assessories (I haven't searched).

--Steve

 

[haagen_dazs]

thank you everyone for helping me out.
i did get myself a coolscan V.
its very neat! really small and compact (i was thinking it would be much bigger)

now the next challenge will be to learn all the different knobs and whistles in the program.
the preview of the negs definitely are a far cry (ie dull and icky) from the images i obtained from the 1hr store (photo CD)

does anyone have sort of a reliable formula for the settings to generate the right colour/hue?
i want to get the tone right first. i can always play with the contrast and curves in Photoshop.. but the tones got to be right.

eg. my negs that i scanned from a 160NC seems more blusih and flat.. the blacks are also not need blacks.. hmmmmm

 

[kaiyen]

First off, you will often and probably should get flatter scans than from the drugstore/1 hour lab. They all assume that you want the same, hyper-contrasty prints that most consumers want. Even though you are using a Portra VC, a pro film, their contrast controls will overcome it! 🙂

In the long run, you will want the flatter negs, so that you can manipulate them more. Having said that, I'm still not great at getting my contrast back when working with color negs. There is a reason I like shooting slides and digital when I can for color work.

Also, the SA-21, if it's at all similar to the one on my IV, will not handle a single frame, by itself. It will let you load as small a strip as 3 frames, and it's a lot more forgiving of poorly cut strips than the manual suggests, but you can't get a single frame far enough in to actually engage the motor.

I use the holder if there is a frame at the end of the strip that is important to ensure flatness. I have considered getting an AN insert for it but so far it's working for me. it's a shame they made that an accessory. It was standard on my IV, and I might be getting a 2nd IV so that I can double my scanning production and slow my computer down even more. Should be fun.

Then again, I have yet to shoot a single roll of film since I started school. Oh wait, I meant a single frame of film.

allan