brian steinberger
Established
Thanks guys for the comments. I'd like to try having a lab print something for me with inkjet on some rag paper. I'm thinking WCI. There have been a few other labs mentioned in this thread. Anyone else have any other recommendations?
srtiwari
Daktari
I have it and use it for both. No complaints. Why do you think it is not great for 35mm?
I, too, have both, and find that larger enlargements reveal the better resolving power/sharpness of the Nikon. The differences are less apparent with MF, which require less enlargement for a similar sized image.
nonuniform
Established
Yeah, I would keep it. On the other hand, if I were in the market buying something now, there is no way I'd buy the 9000 for the prices people are asking.
srtiwari
Daktari
Of course, compared to the Nikon. ....
Yes, I believe that was what the OP was trying to decide.
srtiwari
Daktari
Yeah, I would keep it. On the other hand, if I were in the market buying something now, there is no way I'd buy the 9000 for the prices people are asking.
Agree completely...
thegman
Veteran
I've never used a Nikon, but I'm very happy with my V700. For medium format, I truly don't think there would be a significant difference in the scans. The scans you see on the 'net say there is very little difference indeed. Ideally you'd compare them side by side, but you probably won't get that opportunity.
I've printed to about 20 inches across (50cm x 50cm from a 6x6 neg) and I'm very happy with the results from my V700.
I've printed to about 20 inches across (50cm x 50cm from a 6x6 neg) and I'm very happy with the results from my V700.
dap
Established
I can't speak about the 9000ED but have the 4000ED (35 mm only) and a V700 for MF and LF. I had the 4000ED serviced last year by Nikon and was told that there are no more spare parts available for that model. So I use the Nikon scanner having in mind that once it breaks it will be quite difficult to have it repaired.
I looked into buying a NIkon scanner for a little while and this is one of the reasons I never pulled the trigger. At the time it was pretty apparent that the film scanners were the red-headed stepchild of the Nikon family. How long are they going to support these things (both in parts and software updates)? Now might be a good time to sell while the 2nd hand prices are in the sellers favor.
Colin Corneau
Colin Corneau
I have it and use it for both. No complaints. Why do you think it is not great for 35mm?
My experience -- and take it for every penny you paid for it -- is that the v700 is an excellent overall scanner but the larger the negative, the better the quality.
I've scanned 35mm negs for a blog I do (URL at bottom) and it's fine for small, low-res stuff or maybe smaller prints. The scans look good overall, but they can't compare to a dedicated film scanner...as I said, this is only my personal experience saying that.
It seems to me the OP is better advised to spend his money on a computer upgrade and a quality printer...the scanner isn't the issue here.
sojournerphoto
Veteran
I have a Nikon Coolscan 9000 ED and I love it, but for the prices these things are going for now, I'm actually thinking of selling mine to afford an Epson printer and get an Epson 700/750. The Nikons are discontinued, whereas the Epson scanners are new. My question is, would the 750 be good enough for medium format black and white film scanning? I shoot 6x4.5 and 6x6, and I would probably print no larger than 16x20.
Yes, Mamiya 7 to 2- by 16 is fine off the epson
Mike
nikku
Well-known
I looked into buying a NIkon scanner for a little while and this is one of the reasons I never pulled the trigger. At the time it was pretty apparent that the film scanners were the red-headed stepchild of the Nikon family. How long are they going to support these things (both in parts and software updates)? Now might be a good time to sell while the 2nd hand prices are in the sellers favor.
I don't care if they quit providing parts and service, I will continue to use Coolscans until there simply are not any left. I thought my Plustek was adequate for 35mm scanning, until I got a Coolscan IV. Yeah, not even close. I'll keep using that until it craps out (hopefully not for a long time), then replace it with another Coolscan. The Coolscans are the best consumer scanners out there, period, and much of that has to do with Nikon's proprietary illumination tech. Another vote for don't sell!
brian steinberger
Established
I'll keep using that until it craps out (hopefully not for a long time), then replace it with another Coolscan. The Coolscans are the best consumer scanners out there, period,
The problem is though that Nikon has discontinued the Coolscan line. So there are no current options for dedicated MF scanners other than the Pacific Image scanner which I've heard nothing about yet.
brntoki
Newbie
The Coolscans are the best consumer scanners out there, period, and much of that has to do with Nikon's proprietary illumination tech. Another vote for don't sell!
Whoah! You may want to qualify that statement. I have a 5000 ED and a Canon FS4000US sitting on my desk right now and I've been comparing scans. The 5000 ED is very slightly better in some regards, but slightly worse in others. If you want a deal, get a FS4000. I'm driving it with Vuescan which I think is essential to getting the most out of it, but the price difference is astronomically in favor of the Canon.
Where does the Coolscan win? ICE is better than what I have been able to get with the Canon (though I never really need it in practice), and it is faster (and noisier in operation. . . wow! I thought it was broken). Otherwise it is a tad, and I mean a tad, better in shadow detail and less noise. But the Canon gives me better neg scans than the Nikon, and the Nikon was giving some detail loss in certain areas where the Canon did better (though they both struggled in the same areas of that tranny).
brntoki
Newbie
What I'm surprised with throughout this thread is that people keep focusing on resolution. I'd sacrifice resolution for much better dynamic range and dmax. This is where the Nikon will smoke any consumer flatbed. I'd never even think of letting it go for a flatbed. Well, unless I had all my 35mm and MF stuff archived already and I was moving up to LF. Otherwise, not even thinkable.
brian steinberger
Established
Do you wet print?
If no, then keep your money tied up in the Nikon film scanner.
If yes, then the scanner you use to post to the Web etc. is largely irrelevant; in such a case, I would 'untie' the money from the Nikon and put it into more important items in the image-making chain. FWIW, this is what I have done.
Yes I do wet print. But was thinking of abandoning wet printing in favor of ink jet printing. I'm not sure I'm ready to give it up and have been contemplating the decision since I began this thread. I'm thinking I may archive all my good negatives with the Coolscan first, and then make a decision whether or not to keep it.
Frank Petronio
Well-known
No offense to anyone, but if you seriously think your flatbed scans are nearly equal to your Coolscan scans, then you're doing something wrong.
Colin Corneau
Colin Corneau
Have to agree with Frank. Some flatbed scans are very good, but nothing will match a Coolscan/etc process.
Honestly, if you are looking to switch to inkjet printing you need to start off with the best.
Wish you luck...
Honestly, if you are looking to switch to inkjet printing you need to start off with the best.
Wish you luck...
Mat01
Member
Just another, I wouldn't do it.
All the best
All the best
srtiwari
Daktari
I just spent some time trying to improve my scanning on the Epson V700. Using my newly acquired Rollei TLR, I took this picture on FP4, souped in Rodinal, and scanned it. Then I fixed in LR3
I am more than happy with the performance of the entire chain. I think the Epson can do quite well...
100% crop (somewhere about middle of the right edge of the tree on the right)...
I am more than happy with the performance of the entire chain. I think the Epson can do quite well...

100% crop (somewhere about middle of the right edge of the tree on the right)...

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nonuniform
Established
Well, if you shoot 4x5, it's flatbed, Imacon/Hasselblad, drum or a few random scanners such as Leaf, Polaroid or the ancient Nikon LS45.
So, from a cost perspective, the v750 with the wet mount glass is the best I'm going to get at home.
So, from a cost perspective, the v750 with the wet mount glass is the best I'm going to get at home.
Have to agree with Frank. Some flatbed scans are very good, but nothing will match a Coolscan/etc process.
Honestly, if you are looking to switch to inkjet printing you need to start off with the best.
Wish you luck...
brian steinberger
Established
I just spent some time trying to improve my scanning on the Epson V700. Using my newly acquired Rollei TLR, I took this picture on FP4, souped in Rodinal, and scanned it. Then I fixed in LR3
I am more than happy with the performance of the entire chain. I think the Epson can do quite well...
![]()
100% crop (somewhere about middle of the right edge of the tree on the right)...
![]()
This looks good. Did you use the glass holder or just the standard film Epson film holder for this?
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