Scanner for black and white

[Bobbo]

I'm looking for a scanner for 35mm Tri-X (the only film I shoot). I need to be able to print close to 8x10 @ 300dpi, and I only shoot black and white film. I need USB connectivity for my computer. I'm willing to buy used. What is a good choice for a scanner that meets my criteria? I've looked at the Minolta Dual Scan III or IV (the III to save money), and it seems like those would work, but I'm checking to see if I missed something. My budget is under $200...the less, the better.

Thank you,
Bob Clark

 

[normjackson]

Up to 10x8 a slide copier attachment on your Canon 10D might be OK; then again, maybe it would need pretty cooperative negatives 🙁 . In a recent thread "aad" preferred the less conspicuous grain produced by a good flatbed scanner vs the budget Minolta for his B&W negatives (though again, maybe on dense negs the film scanner would perform better) :
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17093&highlight=minolta
Re. secondhand film scanners, be nice to have USB2.0; but then would need to be pretty recent model. Older models might not have had software updated by manufacturer (though puchasing Vuescan can be workaround). Dust ingress in carelessly stored model could also be a problem.
If you have a windows machine, there is a pretty cheap Plustek film scanner which may give OK results. Lots of reviews (including comparisons with other machines) can be viewed and downloaded as pdfs from here :
http://www.datamind.co.uk/Merchant/plustek_opticfilm_uk_press.htm#pp0405
Best of British luck with your search, as we say 🙂

 

[jon_flanders]

I can certainly recommend my Canoscan 8400f. I also have a Polaroid Sprintscan 35+ that gives decent results for color and black and white, which should be on Ebay for less than $100 these days. I just saw a Polaroid 4000 post ed there. Of course you must be willing to install a scsi card for these scanners.

 

[sf]

The minoltas are good scanners. I have one - actually my family has one - that they have been using. It is the old Dual Scan II or something like that. Maybe Elite. It works very well for 35mm. Not the best user interface, though, in terms of software. For 8x10, though, you really do need a dedicated scanner. Don't bother with flatbeds.

 

[aad]

The DS IV is fine for black and white-so's the 4490 Epson. I get more dust troubles on the 4490-I hate ICE, and it wouldn't help on TriX anyway.

I'm guessing the differences between flatbeds and film scanners is greater on older models for black and white. Either of the two I have is around $200 new.

 

[amateriat]

Since you mentioned "b/w only" and the need for USB connectivity, IMO you want either the Minolta DS III (used) or DS IV (used, or - if you're quick - new). Best bang-for-the-buck.


- Barrett

 

[Bobbo]

Okay, thank you. I have a laptop, so I caon't instal a SCSI card in it🙁. I think it's between the DSIII and IV now. Is there any major differences between the two other than some more resolution on the DSIV?

 

[jlw]

You might also want to look for a used Canon Canoscan 4000US. This is a 35mm film scanner that has a USB interface, scans at 4000 pixels per inch, and produces very sharp images, although it's kind of slow (but that's the price you pay for piping 4000x6000 14-bit pixels over an USB 1.1 interface.)

Also, and this is true of whatever film scanner you use -- if you're scanning Tri-X, you might as well start getting used to grain aliasing now, since it's definitely going to be a factor and there isn't much you can do about it (sigh)...

 

[Trius]

You can get a PCMIA/Cardbus SCSI adapter if you need to and have an open slot.

 

[normjackson]

Is there any major differences between the two other than some more resolution on the DSIV?

Seventh question down here :
http://kmpi.konicaminolta.us/eprise...roduct_pages/DiMAGE_Scan_Dual_IV?mDetail=Faqs

 

[sooner]

Has anyone used a scsi-to-usb converter, so you can use an older scsi scanner with newer usb-equipped computers? If you think this is a question for a separate thread, please let me know. Thanks....John.

 

[iori de windt]

Personaly i use the Canon Canoscan 8400F
The results are SUPER
Scanning film from 35 till 120
B/W i scan always as RGB (with SilverFast wich is included)
With this scanner i make prints from +/- 70x100 cm without a problem.