Transporting a Coolscan scanner

[Peter_S]

Hi all!

I want to move my analog/hybrid photo gear from Austria to Norway.
Now: that includes a Nikon Coolscan 8000ED.
I can
- take it now by car - 3300km.
- take it by plane in November (if that is possible)
- buy another scanner up there. I would hate to downgrade and Coolscan prices are through the roof.

Logic says put it into the Volvo and take it.
How will it survive driving and vibration?

 

[Black]

I'm fairly sure they'll stand any reasonable vibrations. I mean, they have to travel from Japan to all over the world (originally) - whether that be by road or air, there is always going to be a risk of vibration.

Do the drive, it will probably make for some fantastic shooting opportunities.

 

[k__43]

I bought a LS8000 scanner and it was shipped to me with DHL and when I got it it did not really pull in the film holder and after I tried a couple of times (cold sweat running down my forehead) it started working. Something must have be mechanically out of line or so.
But that said I'm sure DHL treated my scanner probably muuuuuuch worse than you packing it in the car. Just take it with you, put it on a box with enough damping material around it (bubble wrap or so) and make sure the car doesn't heat up too much.
That scanner is one of my most important devices for photography (more important than a single camera) - I'm super happy that it keeps working for me despite its age.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I have had my Coolscan 8000ED for 14 years and it has traveled thousands of miles in the back seat of my car. I bought it when I lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Used it for several years then moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. A couple years later, i moved back to Fort Wayne, my hometown, where I still live today. I've lived in a few different places in Ft. Wayne since returning, and every move has meant the scanner riding in my car. It still works flawlessly.

 

[Peter_S]

Thanks a bunch!
That sounds like taking it is best...I cannot downgrade and the Nikon just delivers. I could just go all digital and make life easy - but photography should not be about that I suppose.

 

[KevinS]

I'll echo what others have said. My 8000ED was bought on eBay and came from a seller nearly 2000 miles away in Florida. He put it in a large box with blocks of rubbery foam fitting tightly all around. Never had any issues with it and hope to get many more years of use.

 

[ruby.monkey]

Wrap it in a shedload of bubblewrap. It'll be fine.

 

[Godfrey]

Should be fine if you pack it with sufficient resilient stuff.

I still have the Nikon Coolscan 9000 and its original box. It is set up with inserts that "float" the scanner between two heavy-duty plastic sheets, with 2" of space between it and the box walls. That's how the factory shipped it, and it's survived shipping and three owners transporting it around in that with no issues.

G

 

[BLKRCAT]

^ what they said

 

[philipus]

Mine flew from Austria to Netherlands without problem. I seem to remember there is something in the manual about locking the mechanism prior to transport.

 

[valdas]

Don't take it to the plane (unless you have it in carry on), read this (my experience):

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154793

 

[k__43]

so has the scanner survived the trip?