Scanner Choices

[zhemgang]

I'm curious. I've been a frequent visitor to this forum for a couple of years. Given that the majority of people here most likely digitize their film, I find it odd that there isn't more discussion regarding scanners and scanning software.

I am still using a previous generation Nikon CoolScan 4000 with Nikon Scan 4. Nikon is abysmal at updating their software which still does not work with Intel Macs as far as I can see. Furthermore, Silverscan, which I use for my Epson flatbed scanner, is now hopelessly buggy even in its newest version.

I'm surprised that this forum doesn't have a dedicated scanner forum to discuss these issues. have I missed something?

 

[lorenbliss]

Second the Emotion: I'm all ears (eyes)

Second the Emotion: I'm all ears (eyes)

I'd surely read such a thread as I need to acquire a scanner, am totally ignorant on the subject and have no idea where to go to get trustworthy information.

It is a problem infinitely complicated by the fact I am literate -- and "English" as written/spoken in the land of Nurd may look like standard English but is nevertheless an utterly alien language. For example: in standard English, "start" is a synonym for "begin," while in Nurdglish (obviously a language based on the postmodern principle that meaning is meaningless), "start" is synonymous with "search," "run," "open," "log off"and "turn off computer," to list but a few of its given meanings. "Computer literacy" is thus truly an oxymoron.

This utter, even hostile indifference to language -- perhaps THE definitive characteristic of the computer world -- creates an automatic antagonism between its cognoscenti and those of us who remain true to Webster. Hence what is perhaps most necessary here is someone who stands (comfortably) with a foot in each world: not merely an instructor but a translator.

 

[kevin m]

A lot of people here just scan their prints. I don't know if that's the answer to your question, though.

 

[majid]

I use Vuescan (www.hamrick.com) on my PowerMac G5 with my LS-5000. It is much more reliable than Nikon Scan, which would crash all the time, specially in the middle of batch scanning a roll of film using the SA-30, something that utterly negates the point of buying an expensive batch adapter because the scan has to be restarted from scratch.

VueScan also gives very fine control, e.g. the frame offset can be specified in fractions of a mm and you can thus scan a XPan slide in two passes with precise registration (the Nikon scanner's gate is not large enough to scan 24x65 in a single pass).

VueScan supposedly supports Intel Macs. You can always download the demo version. I highly recommend it.

The Photo.net digital darkroom forum has decent coverage of scanners. www.scantips.com is a good tutorial on scanners.

For lorenbliss - not all techies are illiterate. More often than not, the malapropisms originate in marketing folks. If you are interested in an inexpensive yet high quality scanner, you'd better try to find old new stock of the recently discontinued Nikon Coolscan V ED (hint: Amazon still has it in stock), as the next step up is the highly capable, but much more expensive Super Coolscan LS-5000 ED, which adds speed and batch scanning adapters (pricey as well), but costs double the price even though the Coolscan V has the same image quality.

Most of the dedicated film scanner manufacturers like Canon or Minolta have pulled out of the market, and it's not clear how long Nikon will hold out. I am considering getting a spare LS-5000 in case mine breaks down. Don't believe flatbed scanner manufacturers when they claim their scan quality is equivalent to film scanners, using deceptive resolution and Dmax figures. Only expensive prepress flatbed scanners with proper optics can come close.

Negatives have 400:1 or better contrast. Prints have 50:1 or 100:1 at best. Scanning prints loses most of the dynamic range in the original, yielding flat and lifeless results.

Don't underestimate how labor-intensive scanning is, even with a batch adapter. Another option is to have people like www.scancafe.com do it for you in India.