RFF Newbie

[sherm]

Everyone:

I have visited the site for several months now and decided to throw myself into the fray of the RFF forum. It's a pleasure for an RF newbie to garner technical information as well as sample the talent of so many members.

On that note... question, I want to start posting some photos of mine for feedback and want to know what scanner I should be looking for? I've heard many different opinions and anecdotes about certain brands and decided to throw it out here. My budget is around $600.00 and I don't anticipate making prints any larger than 5x7 right now. 35mm is my format at the present time, but to have the ability to scan larger negatives is something that I would like to have the option to do. This however is not a deal breaker.

Thanks in advance for your ideas and opinions.

Scott

 

[Gerry M]

Altho I'm new here also, I'll say welcome. Sorry I can't help you on your scanner quest.
Gerry

 

[akptc]

Scott, glad to have another newbie (I am in that club 🙂).

On the scanner question, I've been using the very inexpensive Canon 4200F, quite good results for my amateurish taste. I've read a lot of positive comments on the scanning software VueScan, actually getting ready to buy it (http://www.hamrick.com/).

Cheers,

 

[bobofish]

For $600 you're going to be largely out of luck for larger format negatives...unless you are lucky enough to find one of the Nikon ones used...maybe...possibly. But I doubt it.....

Best bet probablly is not only a flatbed, but more specifically the Epson 4990 (or something); it's about 4-5 C-notes, which gives you some wiggle room if you need some of the third party software to tweak the images.

I personally have recently had some problems with my Epson 3170, but I don't think that's a general indication of Epson quality, I've had a few printers that just kept plugging away with no problems.

Also I've heard good rumors about the $500 canon flatbed scanner, can't think of the model. I seem to remember there being a thorough review of it in Shutterbug or some such from maybe 4 months back.

If you can be happy with 35 mm, you'll get a hell of a lot of scanner from either of the Minolta film scanners.

 

[traveller]

Hello, welcome from another newbie.

About the scanner, I got myself a Canon 8400F because of the MF-capability. Together with the Vuescan Pro software and IT8-Targets the scanner is quite good at slides, with neg's you need to train a bit and B/W is no problem. I also scan my neg's from the Horizon 202, something not every scanner can do because of the larger size.

The next step from Canon would be the 9950F which seems to be very good but with the price of this scanner I would be thinking of a used dedicated filmscanner.

John

 

[peter_n]

And a welcome from an oldie... 😉 If you are going into MF soon I would advise on a flatbed, however the dedicated film scanners do a much better job. If you are only doing B&W the Minolta SD IV is excellent value at <$240 because it doesn't come with the ICE software that can't be used on silver-based films. Going up the chain if you shoot color are the scanners mentioned above, Nikon 5000 and Minolta 5400 - both good. To learn the details search the archives both here and over at photo.net...

 

[jja]

Welcome to the forum from a fellow Texan. Where 'bouts are you?

You have a pretty healthy budget for a scanner, so I think you need to decide whether or not flatbed is a requirement. Since I only shoot 35mm, I have the previously mentioned Konica-Minolta Scan Dual IV, which is great but for two reasons: I scan color negs more than I anticipated, so I miss not having ICE; the SD IV is reported to be unreliable, and I can confirm that my scanner started exhibiting banding across the negative after only six months of light use. The good news is that it was under warranty and is at KM New Jersey for repairs.

If I were buying a scanner today, I might opt for the best and most reliable dedicated scanner I could afford, namely a Nikon CoolScan V, about $500-$600.

 

[oftheherd]

Welcome to RFF. As to your scanner needs, I have never used a dedicated film scanner, but all those who have seen to agree that is superior to a flatbed that also does film.

Two things though: if you are pretty sure you are not going above 8x10, a flatbed should do you quite well. Several Epsons do up to 4x5 if you think you might want to get into MF or LF. If you are sure you will never do photo or other scanning needing a flatbed you can go straight to a scanner that does both 35mm and MF. I think there are some in your budget.

You have to decide. For what it is worth, I am quite happy with my Epson 4890 (I think that is the right model).