digitalox
RF Extraordinaire
I just got the canon 8400f yesterday, it scans my MF very well and was only $150. I'm don't need for professional use and this is the scanner I've had that could do MF, so I don't have much to compare it to.
What's your preferred film scanner?
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shaaktiman
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Hi all,
Thank you so much for your advice. In the end I've decided to buy the Epson perfection 4990 scanner. At first I was convinced that I would need a dedicated film scanner, but I looked into it some more. It seems that epson has replaced their MF dedicated model with this flatbed one. It's less than 25% of the cost of the Nikon 9000, and is supposed to make scans that are very nearly its equal in quality. I've been disappointed with flatbed results in the past, (I have the 2450.) but I'm going to give this one a shot. I'll let you know how it turns out. It's only $430 from amazon, and if you don't like it, you can return it for any reason, so I figure it's a risk free trial.
Thank you so much for your advice. In the end I've decided to buy the Epson perfection 4990 scanner. At first I was convinced that I would need a dedicated film scanner, but I looked into it some more. It seems that epson has replaced their MF dedicated model with this flatbed one. It's less than 25% of the cost of the Nikon 9000, and is supposed to make scans that are very nearly its equal in quality. I've been disappointed with flatbed results in the past, (I have the 2450.) but I'm going to give this one a shot. I'll let you know how it turns out. It's only $430 from amazon, and if you don't like it, you can return it for any reason, so I figure it's a risk free trial.
phototone
Well-known
My preferred scanner is the Nikon 9000ed, as I do medium format also, and the Nikon has a wonderful quality to the b/w scans.
GeneW
Veteran
Something that makes Epson flatbeds scan a whole lot better with MF is this guy's 3rd-party negative holder, especially when used with his ANR insert:
http://home.earthlink.net/~dougfisher/holder/mainintro.html
Makes a noticeable difference.
Gene
http://home.earthlink.net/~dougfisher/holder/mainintro.html
Makes a noticeable difference.
Gene
Thomaspin
Member
While I have found dedicated film scanners optimal for 35mm, use of Silverfast software with my (discontinued) Epson 2450 has it come quite close in quality, and certainly good enough for 6x6 film. I ran some comparisons for a friend the other day and posted them Here. The Silverfast software appears to do a better job than the Epson software.
The 4990 is the latest Epson version of this scanner and adds Digital ICE noise and scratch reduction as well as purportedly higher definition and dynamic range. My 2450 came with Silverfast included. Note that the scratch reduction will not work on silver based or Kodachrome films as both types of emulsion block infra red, passage of which is required for Digital ICE to work.
The 4990 is the latest Epson version of this scanner and adds Digital ICE noise and scratch reduction as well as purportedly higher definition and dynamic range. My 2450 came with Silverfast included. Note that the scratch reduction will not work on silver based or Kodachrome films as both types of emulsion block infra red, passage of which is required for Digital ICE to work.
RObert Budding
D'oh!
My preferred scanner is the Nikon 9000. But I own an Epson 4990.
Robert
Robert
S
shaaktiman
Guest
Robert,
what's your impression of the 9000 vs. the 4990? I know that the nikon is better, but I'm curious as to how much better? In your opinion, does the 4990 make acceptable scans for 120 film? How about 35mm?
thx,
adam
what's your impression of the 9000 vs. the 4990? I know that the nikon is better, but I'm curious as to how much better? In your opinion, does the 4990 make acceptable scans for 120 film? How about 35mm?
thx,
adam
wdenies
wdenies
I am very happy with the combination Epson 4870Siverfast Ai
RObert Budding
D'oh!
The 4990 is pretty good with 120 film, but a little too soft for 35mm. I'm using Silverfast SE, which is excellent. I also have Vuescan, but the dust removal isn't very good, so I've retired it.
I don't own the Nikon 9000, unfortunately. But I've seem images that were scanned with one and they were really nice - very shrp. Of course, the skill of the operator does matter, and I'm new to scanning.
Robert
I don't own the Nikon 9000, unfortunately. But I've seem images that were scanned with one and they were really nice - very shrp. Of course, the skill of the operator does matter, and I'm new to scanning.
Robert
Borghesia
Well-known
I just ordered a konica minolta scan multi pro, after month of examining reviews.
At the moment scan with a older dual scan II for 35mm and an Epson 2450 for above.
I have high hopes for de multi pro, read about it a lot, but I haven't seen real examples yet.
My upcoming multi pro is the investment that has to hold me from mega expensive DSLR full frame camera's for the next couple of years.
At the moment scan with a older dual scan II for 35mm and an Epson 2450 for above.
I have high hopes for de multi pro, read about it a lot, but I haven't seen real examples yet.
My upcoming multi pro is the investment that has to hold me from mega expensive DSLR full frame camera's for the next couple of years.
sf
Veteran
medium (and large) format film scanners
medium (and large) format film scanners
I currently own an Epson 3170. It scans 645 black and white very well. It can scan up to 6x9, and if you stick to black and white, it does a fabulous job. For color, slide or negative, it is terrible. But for 170 bucks, you can't beat it for the black and white digital darkroom.
If you want to be able to do large format, the new Canon model and the Epson 4870 ( I think it's this one) are both awesome. The newest from Epson and Canon are both very high resolution, can handle up to 4x5 large format, and work at 4.2 dmax, which is something previously left to the drum scanners and high end dedicated film scanners. DMAX is related to density and dynamic range (I am not entirely sure of what it means), and higher is better. The difference between, say, 3.2 and 4.2 is enormous from my experience. Pay the extra cash for the newer scanners, it is worth it. And they can do batch jobs on 35mm frames. VERY USEFUL.
For 500 bucks, buy the newest Epson or for 350 the newest Canon. Both are awesome scanners, and I have seen both do their thing. For large format, they are the only options, and if you have the computing capability to work with super-huge files, you can do some amazing stuff with a large format negative or slide and photoshop. I know that I will be doing all my portraits and landscapes 4x5 now, and doing all the post-processing in Photoshop CS. A nice mix between digital and film. All the quality of film and all the flexability of digital files. My less discerning clients are happy with the prints from the ip5000, but you might want to go with the Epson 2200 or a Frontier (maybe it was the Lightjet) print for traditional quality. Of course, no consumer printer on the market can make use of the image information on a 4x5 slide or negative, or even 645 for that matter, but you can always load that huge file onto a DVD or CD and take it down to the local shop and have them do it. In Los Angeles, "The Icon" on Wilshire is AMAZING. And they have great prices. In Seattle, Ivey Imaging is decent.
My current system is a 3170 and a Canon IP5000. The IP5000 is a fantastic printer, and does things with black and white that will amaze even the most skeptical viewers. My prints on the IP5000 look like traditional prints for the most part, and with Photoshop, I can perfect my images to levels previously impossible through traditional methods. Now, every single image I intend to sell is EXACTLY how I want it.
Buy the newer Epson or Canon, and a printer like the IP5000 or the Epson 2200 or the Canon i9900. You'll never need anything printed or retouched again. It has saved me thousands, and that terrible feeling you get when you get the prints back and they aren't what you expected? Well, those days are over.
medium (and large) format film scanners
I currently own an Epson 3170. It scans 645 black and white very well. It can scan up to 6x9, and if you stick to black and white, it does a fabulous job. For color, slide or negative, it is terrible. But for 170 bucks, you can't beat it for the black and white digital darkroom.
If you want to be able to do large format, the new Canon model and the Epson 4870 ( I think it's this one) are both awesome. The newest from Epson and Canon are both very high resolution, can handle up to 4x5 large format, and work at 4.2 dmax, which is something previously left to the drum scanners and high end dedicated film scanners. DMAX is related to density and dynamic range (I am not entirely sure of what it means), and higher is better. The difference between, say, 3.2 and 4.2 is enormous from my experience. Pay the extra cash for the newer scanners, it is worth it. And they can do batch jobs on 35mm frames. VERY USEFUL.
For 500 bucks, buy the newest Epson or for 350 the newest Canon. Both are awesome scanners, and I have seen both do their thing. For large format, they are the only options, and if you have the computing capability to work with super-huge files, you can do some amazing stuff with a large format negative or slide and photoshop. I know that I will be doing all my portraits and landscapes 4x5 now, and doing all the post-processing in Photoshop CS. A nice mix between digital and film. All the quality of film and all the flexability of digital files. My less discerning clients are happy with the prints from the ip5000, but you might want to go with the Epson 2200 or a Frontier (maybe it was the Lightjet) print for traditional quality. Of course, no consumer printer on the market can make use of the image information on a 4x5 slide or negative, or even 645 for that matter, but you can always load that huge file onto a DVD or CD and take it down to the local shop and have them do it. In Los Angeles, "The Icon" on Wilshire is AMAZING. And they have great prices. In Seattle, Ivey Imaging is decent.
My current system is a 3170 and a Canon IP5000. The IP5000 is a fantastic printer, and does things with black and white that will amaze even the most skeptical viewers. My prints on the IP5000 look like traditional prints for the most part, and with Photoshop, I can perfect my images to levels previously impossible through traditional methods. Now, every single image I intend to sell is EXACTLY how I want it.
Buy the newer Epson or Canon, and a printer like the IP5000 or the Epson 2200 or the Canon i9900. You'll never need anything printed or retouched again. It has saved me thousands, and that terrible feeling you get when you get the prints back and they aren't what you expected? Well, those days are over.
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