Which 35mm film scanner?

[OurManInTangier]

I've been using my old Polaroid Sprintscan 4000 for years but since I got myself a new computer it won't connect without a lot of money and hassle for new parts (modern technology eh?)

As such I think its time I got myself a new scanner. I can't afford it yet so have time to make sure I get the right one for me - any suggestions from current users?
It would need to connect via USB and offer excellent sharpness and resolution - though not with any great trade off in dynamic range.

So what do you use and what do you think of it - positives AND negatives would be very helpful.

 

[Spyderman]

I have Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III. I don't recommend it. Here are the pluses and minuses:

-
low dynamic range
cannot really get anything from shadows on slides
poor automatic exposure (manual exposure setting necessary)
lots of noise
slow

+
has manual exposure
sharp enough for me
has multi-sampling (but it doesn't really remove any noise, so it's next to useless)
8/16 bits per channel

I recommend you buy something with ICE for dust and scratches removal. It's a pain to retouch all the little dust specks with clone brush... :bang:

 

[iml]

What's the budget? I had up to £500 to spend and the choice was either a dedicated 35mm scanner (Nikon Coolscan V) or a flatbed (Epson V700). I went for the Epson because of its greater flexibilty. Initial results seem very promising.

Ian

 

[rxmd]

Er, the old one is a SCSI scanner?

I would presume you can get a good PCI SCSI controller for sub-$20, and it won't be much extra hassle if you get a well-supported one (e.g. Adaptec 2920). If connecting it is the only reason for your upgrade plans, I would first try whether if it's really not possible to hook it up with minimal investment. It's substantially cheaper (by an order of magnitude or two), and if it doesn't work, which seems unlikely to me, you won't have lost much money anyway.

Philipp

 

[anselwannab]

I would get one with ICE as long as I wasn't going to do just B&W, which ICE doesn't work with.

I have a DSIII also. On my TMAX 100, I scan as color postive and invert in PSE3. Works for me. I find it does better with thinner negatives, highlights get blocked up too much.

Dynamic range isn't the best, but with curves and layers I can get what I want. All my RFF pics are with a SDIII.
The bigger thing to me is "Are you going to do MF?" IF you are I would look at one of the flatbeds.

DSIII are only a couple of hundred bucks now (One sold here recently).

Mark

 

[OurManInTangier]

rxmd - It is indeed a SCSI connection. My knowledge of computers is pretty much soley PS CS2 and not alot else. I was told ( more fool me for believing them ) by staff in PC World, that nothing was available that would connect a SCSI product to my new computer. I did an internet search and found a 'board' thing that I'd have to insert into my computer for £150 or thereabouts. If I can rig up the old scanner I will as it will do me for now.

Long term I'd still very much like to upgrade, simply to get the best out of the negs.

Ian - My budget would be around the £500 mark too - less would be great but I'm happy to save and get the best I can. I've looked at the Nikon Coolscan V, I do own and old Mamiya 645 but it very very very rarely goes out these days so it's predominantly 35mm.

Spyderman - thanks for your input, its great to have people recommend NOT to buy something as it is to actually say you should buy something.

My Sprintscan is AF....I assume, and I'm happy enough with that, it hasn't let me down yet. I'd go for the ICE as I shoot colour as well sometimes though I'm not averse to cloning myself for the ultimate in anal control!!

 

[iml]

Ian - My budget would be around the £500 mark too - less would be great but I'm happy to save and get the best I can. I've looked at the Nikon Coolscan V, I do own and old Mamiya 645 but it very very very rarely goes out these days so it's predominantly 35mm.

In that case I suspect the Nikon is going to be the best choice if you're looking to buy new. I've seen them for around £425 (AJ Purdy were listing them for that price I think). Otherwise your only choices around that price are secondhand or a flatbed. The V700 seems very good so far, but if I wasn't thinking about MF I'd have gone for the Nikon.

Ian

 

[OurManInTangier]

Long term its the new scanner for me but does anyone know of something that will connect my SCSI scanner to my computer which is USB? I'm going to check out the Adaptec 2920 as mentioned by Philipp but any other info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ncd_photo]

If you have a desktop PC then a PCI SCSI card should do the trick and you should be able to pick one up on ebay or from a second hand computer reseller for not a lot of cash. You used to be able to get scsi to firewire adaptors but the chances are these things will give you more trouble than they are worth.

I've recently upgraded to a Nikon coolscan V and its superb, the level of detail and sharpness is fantastic. At 4000 dpi you get an 18x12 image @ 300dpi but it tends to pick up all the grain.
For my needs I scan at a lower resolution to produce an 8x12 file which gives me sharpness and tonality and smooth grain.
The plus with a dedicated scanner is the autofocus and the ability to pick out the shadow detail from transparencies.

 

[ncd_photo]

Here's a Scan from HP5+ That I did the other day. Its scanned for an output of 8x12@300 dpi, scanned 14 bit colour Tif then converted to 8 bit jpeg. No sharpening apart from the Nikon scan default 5%.

 

[OurManInTangier]

That looks impressive enough to me. i'm currently scanning at a max of 1200dpi so the Nikon will really give me a boost.

Nick, I assume the PCI SCSI card is something I need to have inserted into one of my PC's spare ports?! I'll google it and see what comes up.

 

[sooner]

I got the Minolta Dimage Multi Pro for just over $300, so it's a little more than the Dimage III/IV but I believe has better dynamic range and ICE. I found ICE worked like magic to remove the dust spots and saves me lots of time. It does a nice job and doesn't cost as much as the Nikon. But now that I'm shooting more MF, next time I would probably go with the Epson V700.

 

[OurManInTangier]

Anyone know anything about the Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400 Film and Slide scanner?

 

[Kim Coxon]

Simon,
I think I have a spare (or two) PCI SCSI cards lying around. If you want to try that route, drop me a PM and I will send one. The bigger problem may be XP drivers. I wouldn't trust PC World with a bargepole.

 

[stumar]

I have the Epson V100 Photo, and so far, as i have only devloped 2 rolls of HP5, the results appear great! its a 3200Dpi but it has selections for 4800 in the menu, dont ask me how that works!!

If the V100 is anything to go by i can the imagine the V700 to be rather good!

My next purchase now has to be a good printer!!

Stu

 

[markinlondon]

Simon, what computer are you using? I have an Adaptec SCSI card collecting dust which you can have (says AVA-2904 but I think it's a 2920 in disguise). It doesn't fit in my Mac mini 😀

PM me if you're interested.

Kim types so fast 🙂

 

[Kim Coxon]

The 2904 is 10Mps as opposed to 20 of the 2920. 😉
It won't make any difference to the speed of the scans.

Kim

Simon, what computer are you using? I have an Adaptec SCSI card collecting dust which you can have (says AVA-2904 but I think it's a 2920 in disguise). It doesn't fit in my Mac mini 😀

PM me if you're interested.

Kim types so fast 🙂

 

[markinlondon]

The 2904 is 10Mps as opposed to 20 of the 2920. 😉
It won't make any difference to the speed of the scans.

Kim

Darn you, Kim!

You wouldn't think I did this for a living, would you? 😀

 

[Gray Fox]

I've got the Microtek 4000t scanner which I think is the same machine. Polaroid supposedly just rebadged it. I took the adaptec card out of my old Windows ME machine and stuck it in a spare slot in my new dual core XP media desktop. I know little about sticking things in computer boxes, but I got it right on the second try. There were two vacant slots and the second one I tried communicated with the scanner. The new box is much easier to access than the old one was. Microtek has upd ated drivers online, but I have no idea if Polaroid does. The new machine with a world's better processor and 2 GB of RAM finally gets what the old 4000t is capable of producing--faster, too.

 

[georgefspencer]

I just- as in 30 min ago - ordered a Nikon Coolscan V ED. I'm anxious to see what it will do.