Scanner shopping. Typical.

[bucks11]

New to the forum and have a typical newbie question.

I've been searching this section to death and haven't necessarily found what all I'm looking for yet. I'm looking to get a film scanner mainly for doing webposts and maybe an order or two of prints just to throw in the momento box. I'm not necessarily looking for a high quality, state of the art machine, just something to take the image from a neg to the harddrive, fairly reasonable.

I'd set a budget at maybe $150 - $200 and not sure about the quality of the dedicated film scanners I've seen at B&H and Adorama in this price range. Some good reviews but some bad. Maybe a flatbed is in the running, I'm not too sure, but if I had one I may scan 120, too. Any suggestions on where to go with a dedicated film/flatbed scanner? Any input is appreciated.

 

[venchka]

Newer may be better. I have scanned on a friend's Epson 4990 and liked the results. I just bought an Epson 1680 for $150. Best $150 scanner alive! I need a scanner for 35mm-120-4x5. Either the 4990 or 1680 works for me.

There are folks at the Large Format Forum who kept their Epson 4990 scanners when the Epson 700/750 models came out.

Betterscanning film holders will improve ANY scanner.

I would have a hard time buying a new scanner in the $150-$200 price range.

You may want to read the Hold Your Rotten Tomatoes thread. Or not.

YMMV.

 

[bucks11]

Thanks for the reply. I seemed to have missed that thread, some good info to get me going. Think I may have to stretch the budget a bit, but I'm sure it'll pay off.

 

[nightfly]

In that price range, check out an Epson flatbed. Not sure what models they have these days, I have a 4990 that I use for both web and print output but it's a few years old. It does both 35mm and medium format and bigger. Most people will say a flatbed is inadequate for 35mm but I have not had a problem using mine, even for big prints and am quite satisfied with the output.

I'm sure dedicated film scanners are going to be sharper, but a Nikon film scanner which starts around $500 is the only current one that I know of.

 

[Wahoo]

In that price range, check out an Epson flatbed. Not sure what models they have these days

I'm sure dedicated film scanners are going to be sharper

I agree completely with nighfly, in your quoted figures I would suggest an Epson V500, they are flimsy but get the job done. I do prefer the Epson 4990 although they are getting more difficult to find in A1 working condition and at the right price.

Below is a 35mm neg. scanned on a V500 and the lower two are 6 x 6 negs with a Epson 3170 - Tan Hill Pub (Yorks, Durham,Westmoreland borders ?)

 

[bucks11]

nice scans. Think I may have found a winner until I decide to become more serious. I really like the V500 scan, and I was looking at them earlier locally for $199. I know I can find them cheaper online, but not much, so I think I may make a trip for one tomorrow. Thanks again!

 

[nightfly]

You also might want to check the store on Epson's website. They often have rebates and very good deals on scanners and printers although I totally understand wanting to buy locally both to support local businesses and for instant gratification.

 

[40oz]

Used film scanners can be nice. I have an old USB HP Phososmart S20, but there are numerous examples from Minolta, Nikon, and others.

http://lakespc.com/pics/forums/Alfa.jpg

 

[venchka]

Check the Epson USA online clearance center also. Good deals on refurbished scanners. I would seriously suggest that you be patient and wait for a nice 4990. Never say never when it comes to medium and large format.

 

[januaryman]

I still have my Epson 4990, but mostly use the Coolscan V I picked up last year. If you can find a 4990, you should pick one up. I does get hazy under the glass, though over time. Not horrendous, but something to keep in mind. I should have mine serviced. - Oh, and the negative carriers are weak.

 

[arthur sadowsky]

...I have a betterscanning.com guide coming in the mail today (woohoo!) that should really take it up a notch.

...did you receive your betterscanning.com film guides yet and what kind (35mm or MF)?

My focus is color 35mm (C41 to be exact) and I would like to kindly ask you to upload any untouched (before processing) 35mm color scans (preferably with betterscanning.com guides ). The bigger the pic files the better it's.

Thank you much in advance!

 

[dfoo]

I have the v700 and the coolscan. For 35mm get the coolscan. For a direct comparison:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnewhook/3251346899/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnewhook/3251404399/

 

[boy_lah]

I have the v700 and the coolscan. For 35mm get the coolscan. For a direct comparison:

The difference is obvious but for my personal use (i don't make money from photography) I'll really struggle to justify £1k+ on the Nikon. Even the v700 is not cheap for what I use it for! 🙁

 

[dfoo]

That is true, however, there have been two coolscan 4000's on the classifieds recently around the $400-450 USD mark. I wish I would have found those before I splashed out for my 5000!

 

[Svitantti]

I dont think the coolscan costs £1k, more like £500. Might be hard to find them anymore as new, though.

 

[Sjixxxy]

If you go for one of the Epson flatbeds, I support the notion of factoring in a betterscanning insert into the price.

I find the trade off of higher quality scans, and less frustration of dealing with curled negatives to be worth losing the the bulk scanning ability. Unless I buy three more 35mm inserts of course. 😉

 

[Joao]

Hi
I've heard that the Epson V500 will be discontinued soon (please confirm this). I've bought last week a flatbed CanoScan 8800F, it scans slides, 35 mm and MF (6x6 and 6x9) - and can do the usual tasks a flatbed scanner is supposed to do. I've seen good results from this scanner, perfect for webposting. I don't know the price of this model in th US, but in Europe it is in the low budget range.
I had before a dedicated film scanner Konica-Minolta DiMage Dual IV, very good results but: 1)no longer produced 2) only 35mm 3) very fragile, and KonicaMinolta does not fix them anymore...
Cheers
Joao

 

[dfoo]

I dont think the coolscan costs £1k, more like £500. Might be hard to find them anymore as new, though.

Getting a coolscan V new is very hard. The 5000 is available, and costs ~1k USD.

 

[dfoo]

If you go for one of the Epson flatbeds, I support the notion of factoring in a betterscanning insert into the price.

I find the trade off of higher quality scans, and less frustration of dealing with curled negatives to be worth losing the the bulk scanning ability. Unless I buy three more 35mm inserts of course. 😉
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Thats quite a difference. Nice! To flatten negatives I've found placing the negs in a heavy book on a radiator for a few hours to work well.

 

[Svitantti]

If you really want quality out of 35mm films, go for a film scanner like Minolta Scan Dual IV or a used Coolscan.

If you are happy with web-size scans of 35mm and want to scan medium format, buy 1) A cheap Canon 8600F or 8800F or 2) a V700 for a bit more quality and much better dynamic range. Not too bad for 35mm, but not a film scanner.