Should I sell my Coolscan 5000?

[GoneSavage]

I've just noticed that the going rate for these scanners has more than doubled since I bought mine, and I'm strapped for cash. I'm contemplating selling the 5000 and either:

a) picking up a mirrorless digital and building a light box for digitizing (I have a good 1:1 macro that should do the trick)

or

b) buying a v700

My main concern about the v700 would be scanning speed, but I'm wondering if there's anything else I should be aware of? I don't currently own a digicam, so if I were to buy one, it would not only be for copying negatives. Has anyone made either switch and been happy/unhappy with the results?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lauffray]

I have a v500 and I can tell you that the flatbed scanning process (loading and unloading negatives in the holder and waiting for scan) is boring, I've never used a dedicated scanner but I think you can feed them the film and go do something else.
That said you get pretty decent quality, the v700 is even better than the v500

I read something about the Coolscan series software being incompatible with modern operating systems because it hasn't been updated for such a long time, but I could be wrong about the model

 

[Pete B]

Yes, cash in on the Nikon and buy a Plustek 8100
Pete

 

[Godfrey]

...
I read something about the Coolscan series software being incompatible with modern operating systems because it hasn't been updated for such a long time, but I could be wrong about the model

VueScan supports all the Nikon film scanners and works beautifully, available on Linux, OS X, and Windows. It is upgraded and improved regularly.

Sell the Coolscan 5000 for money and a flatbed? Well, if you need the money that badly, sure. Just know that if/when you want to buy another, it will cost you more.

G

 

[GoneSavage]

I should also note that before I bought the Coolscan 5000, I owned an Epson v300. It wasn't awful, but it certainly wasn't sharp, either. I liked the softer grain, however. Maybe a v700 would provide the best of both worlds?

The software can be tricky, but it still works with my copy of windows 7. I am a little worried about future operating systems though. I like Nikon Scan and Epson's equivalent, but can't stand the Vuescan colours/interface.

 

[GoneSavage]

Thanks for the tip, Pete! I haven't looked into the current Plusteks.

I think I am most interested in the first option, however. Does anyone have experience copying negatives with a modern digital camera?

 

[sanmich]

You (and I) have the best of both world: efficient batch working (the 5k eats full rolls), and good scanning quality.
The V700 is great for batch (24 frames in one batch), and supposed decent for final scans.
If I had to buy a scanner today, I would buy a V700, because the quick scanning of a series of rolls is a must, and even maybe add another cheaper dedicated scanner later if I need high quality scans.

 

[MRohlfing]

Does anyone have experience copying negatives with a modern digital camera?

Yes, I tried (OM-D EM-5). The results were not really bad, but can't in any way compete with the Nikon scanners. Worst thing is that there is no dust removal. You need lots of time fooling around in Photoshop if you want a really clean "scan".

I for sure will keep my Coolscan 5000!

 

[Godfrey]

Thanks for the tip, Pete! I haven't looked into the current Plusteks.

I think I am most interested in the first option, however. Does anyone have experience copying negatives with a modern digital camera?

There's a whole thread on this elsewhere on this site.

I've been capturing negs that way since 2002. I find it useful for some of my subminiature negatives (Minox) because I can get more pixels that way—even 4000 ppi on an 8x11mm negative is only a 2.2Mpixel file, where with the E-M1 and a 35mm Macro + EC14, I can get upwards of 12 Mpixels from the format. However, compared to the Coolscan V or Super Coolscan 9000, 35mm scans are much easier and cleaner with the film scanner and net over 21 Mpixels.

Scanning with an optical capture requires a lot of attention to detail in the setup, negative by negative. Scanning with a film scanner requires attention to detail in the setup once, then it's just repeat over and over until you're done.

G

 

[bwcolor]

The Plusteks are manual advance. I have a V-750 and it isn't the same quality as your 5000, but with VueScan the batch scanning is pretty simple. If you are going to shoot 35mm film, then think twice before selling. I you are absolutely strapped for cash, then sell and don't but anything else.