Recommend me a Scanner for 120 & 35mm B&W Negatives

[BardParker]

I usually send all my C-41 and E-6 film to Precision Camera or NCPS for process and scan and have been happy with the results. But, I have recently started developing my B&W 120 and 35mm film myself and I really enjoy this process. So now, I need a way to scan these negatives and have been watching the scanner threads here off and on for a few weeks. From what I understand, the software for these machines, especially Silverfast, can be temperamental and somewhat difficult to use, unless one is a computer wiz. Still waiting for a final price for the Plustek 120 scanner, but I can imagine that if it's in the $2000 price range that the cost wouldn't justify for my limited use (1-2 rolls of film/ week). The Epson V700 and V750 seem to be a much better value, and most RFF'ers seem satisfied with the quality. Is the scanning process that difficult? (Holders, height adjustments, no holders, wet mount, etc, etc). Do you feel that it's worth the time commitment?

Since I will be scanning B&W negs, digital ice will not be necessary. Are there other scanners I should consider? I would be previewing negs on a light table and only scanning the good ones.

I am open to any suggestions. Thanks,

Kent

 

[whitecat]

I do mainly BW film. I had a Microtek i800 for years and was very satisfied. I used Vuescan. I now have the Epson V700 and use Silverfast. I never went back to Vuescan since the scanns are so good. I also have the Better Scanning glass for the 35mm holder and I can tell a big difference in the sharpness. Definitely recommended but a little pricey for glass.

 

[filmtwit]

Epson V750

 

[cabbiinc]

Since I will be scanning B&W negs, digital ice will not be necessary.

I am open to any suggestions. Thanks,

Kent

Since you won't need to use IR dust removal and you have/will have a light table you could always just shoot the negs on the light table with a Macro lens. The only reason why I don't do that myself is for the dust removal.

 

[Murchu]

Imagine something like V700 would be perfect for your needs, giving you an effective real resolution of something like 2100/ 2200 dpi, I believe. For 35mm negatives that means scans of 3300 x 2200 pixels, all in all not too bad. If you need higher, a 35mm Plustek will give you about 3300 real dpi of resolution giving you scans of 4950 x 3300 pixels. Medium format, you will not of course really have to worry about resolution, as the negative real estate will ensure you have more than enough to work with. The 120 Plustek will be $2500, so not really for casual medium format shooters I imagine.

Something most will not tell you about scanning, is that dust removal is a royal pain, and you will become intimately familiar with the healing brush in PS/ PS Elements. The problem is greater with flatbeds as the scanning surface is exposed when you open and close the lid, and will have a much greater propensity to attract dust. A dedicated negative scanner will not be as bad, but not problem free either, and besides the scanner you will also have dust on your negatives to deal with, no matter what scanner you choose.

Aside from that, the scanning itself is not too bad, although can be time consuming. Still if you're only looking at a roll or two every week, it should not really be that much of an issue. Scanner software, whether Vuescan or Silverfast, have terrible interfaces for the most part. My own decision was to learn just one badly interfaced piece of software, and bought a lifetime license for Vuescan. In terms of settings, fiddling with them can be tortorous, unless you have written scanning software itself, and like most, I would simply just set the scanner to give you a nice flat scan with as much information as possible, and then bring it to life in your image editing application of choice. I find auto levels does a nice job in PS Elements, and generally let it loose on a whole batch of scanned files at a time, before doing my usual mix of post-processing as I would on any digital image.

Hope the above helps. Ultimately scanning yourself makes sense, given the cost savings, and despite being a little bit of a chore, its not too bad, and in the same category as film developing for me.

EDIT: make that an effective 2400dpi for the V700/V750, giving you 3600 x 2400 pixel scans from 35mm.

 

[Bingley]

I've been pretty happy with an Epson V500. Less expensive than the V700. Produces acceptable scans.

 

[Murchu]

Would add to the above, don't get anything less than a V700/ V750 flatbed-wise, if you plan to scan any 35mm negatives at all. Real resolution and sharpness of most flatbeds are rubbish for 35mm compared to even the cheapest Plustek out there, although the V700/ V750 are not too bad, but even then something like a Plustek will be noticeable in the resolution bump it gives your 35mm negatives (just less noticeable than the daylight you will see between it and cheaper flatbeds).

For example, my Canon 8800F has a real resolution of about 1600dpi, giving me slightly soft scans of around 2400 x 1600 dpi. In short, don't trust any resolution figures you see on any flatbed, or any negative scanners made by anyone other than traditional camera companies, as a general rule.

Some good tests of scanners here if you need more detailed info: http://filmscanner.info/en/FilmscannerTestberichte.html

 

[venchka]

Epson. For support after the sale. For updated drivers to keep your scanner going a long time.
Any Epson since the 4990 that will scan 120 & 35mm will be fine. If you get a 4990, v700 or v750, you can also scan 4x5.

Wayne

On second thought..................
I know nothing. Good luck.

Wayne

 

[Murchu]

I've been pretty happy with an Epson V500. Less expensive than the V700. Produces acceptable scans.

1600dpi acceptable (according to http://filmscanner.info/en/EpsonPerfectionV500Photo.html), much like my 8800F. V700 would appear to operate in a higher sphere at 2400dpi real resolution, and dedicated negative scanners in an even higher sphere at 3300- 4000dpi (depending on the scanner). Actually new 120 Plustek is supposed to have 5300 effective dpi, as verified by an independent source Plustek asked to gauge it, I believe.

 

[thegman]

V700 is very good, and BetterScanning holders with ANR glass make loading film very easy.

 

[raid]

These are good suggestions here. I alse need a good scanner for MF and 35mm.

 

[mfogiel]

If your cameras are worth more than 1000USD, then you need a good scanner, particularly for 35mm, if less, then you might look at selling your 35mm gear and getting a flatbed for MF. An alternative would be to get a flatbed for MF and a film scanner for 35mm, but at this point you would not save so much. Judging the negatives on a light table is very difficult and not nearly as useful as judging the transparencies. I would recommend to save for a Nikon 9000 or the new Plustek if it proves to be a good machine. BTW I use Vuescan and I think it is much more effective than other types of software for b&w.

 

[BardParker]

A Plustek 7400 35mm scanner + an Epson V700 = about the cost of an Epson V750. Is the more complete Silverfast software package that comes with the V750 worth the extra $250?

 

[mfogiel]

Vuescan costs around 100 USD for a lifetime license, and for b&w is better than silverfast, which is preferred by some for colour film. BTW read this:
http://www.normankoren.com/Tutorials/MTF2.html

 

[cepwin]

If your budget minded the Epson V600 is half the price of the V700 and does a fine job.

 

[venchka]

Y'all do know what the resolution numbers are for inkjt prints? No? Do some research.
How many times do you need a 16x20 from 35mm?
What 35mm film do you use most often? What is the resolution of your film?
What are the resolution figures for your most used lens?
Has anyone actually seen and or used the Plustek medium format scanner?

Wayne

 

[venchka]

A Plustek 7400 35mm scanner + an Epson V700 = about the cost of an Epson V750. Is the more complete Silverfast software package that comes with the V750 worth the extra $250?

No. A friend of mine & I use Epson Scan. Check my LUG Gallery. Buy the Epson v700. Spend the savings on gas and film for road trips. If you hate the v700 for 35mm, then buy the film scanner or Better Scanning film holders.

Wayne