Which scanners have roll film loaders?

[akptc]

Recently there was a scanner for sale here in the Classifieds, with a roll film loader, unfortunately I failed to buy it. I have so much film to scan, there is no way I will find the time to do it 4 or 6 frames at a time. I cannot locate that scanner ad here, probably deleted - does anyone know of a < 400 scanner with a roll film attachment? Thanks!

 

[vicmortelmans]

I use a Microtek FilmScan 3600. Here's a reference on the web:
http://www.dealtime.co.uk/xPF-Microtek-Filmscan-3600

The same machine can be found under different brands.

It only does 135 film, but it can scan a complete roll unattendedly. My experience is that it worksl quite well (I use Vuescan); the only problem is that sometimes the alignment goes wrong... let's say that this happens once every 10 rolls.

The dynamic range (claimed to be 3.6) is disappointing me, but I've no comparison to other scanners, so maybe I'm just making high expectations.

Also throughput is not tremendous: at 1800 dpi it will take more than 1 hour to scan a complete roll.

If I'd buy a new scanner, I'd be looking for a flatbed model than can hold at least 4 5-image strips, so it will scan a complete roll in two batches. I was looking at the Epson V500 for this... seems to clain higher dynamic range as well.

Groeten,
Vic

 

[nikola]

I'm not sure Vic about flatbeds, the word is that the worst dedicated is better than the best flatbed. I would advise to try it before and compare results. 🙂 btw I would like to see how that Microtek performs (I found one locally under Reflecta brand but can't find anything online), could you maybe send me full scan or crop? Thanks.

Andy: Nikon has attachment for their scanners, but the price of only attachment is about 450$. link

 

[JohnL]

I recently retired my Konica Minolta Dual Scan IV and got a Nikon Coolscan 5000 ED with the roll-film adaptor. Night and day. The Digital Ice plus the higher resolution on the Nikon makes for *far* better scans (and I was not unpleased with the Minolta, except that it is very worn and beginning to give a bit of trouble), and the ability to scan an entire film unattended has cut the active time actually spent scanning a film by about 80% - and the same for time spent removing minor defects in the image. Previously I would prescan each image, then do a full scan only on those I expected to print. Now I scan the entire roll, then delete only the obvious failures.

 

[nikola]

I found full scans from Reflecta = Microtek on flickr... click on All sizes than Original!

first
second

This is way better than my Canon 4400F 🙂

 

[akptc]

Thank you Vic, Nikola, and John for your generous advice. The Microtek FilmScan 3600 sounds just like what I need. No luck this morning finding one online, unfortunately, but at least I know what to hunt for! I’d love to get a Nikon scanner with film roll attachment but it’s a bit too expensive for my amateur use.

________
Found 2 more. Dynamic range reportedly 3.2 or so but user reviews positive:

Pacific Image PrimeFilm 1800AFL 35mm Film Scanner (review)
For sale on Amazon

Pacific Image PrimeFilm 3610AFL 35mm Film Scanner

 

[rich815]

I have a Nikon LS-4000 with the roll film adapter and it is simply fantastic. You can find a used 4000 for less than a 5000 and perhaps justify the price? It will be worth it for the ICE, better DMAX and higher resolution I think. I had a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual II before this and let me tell you, do NOT underestimate the need for a high enough DMAX, especially for slides like Velvia and for smooth tonality needed in B&W. Not enough is simply not enough and you're almost wasting your time and any money spent.

 

[akptc]

I have a Nikon LS-4000 with the roll film adapter and it is simply fantastic. You can find a used 4000 for less than a 5000 and perhaps justify the price? It will be worth it for the ICE, better DMAX and higher resolution I think. I had a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual II before this and let me tell you, do NOT underestimate the need for a high enough DMAX, especially for slides like Velvia and for smooth tonality needed in B&W. Not enough is simply not enough and you're almost wasting your time and any money spent.

You're probably right.. in the long run it makes more sense to get the best possible scanner. So far though, I have been pretty happy with the results I get from scanning slides and b&w on my rather old Minolta Dimage Scan Elite F-2900.. probably because I have not tried anything better! 🙂

 

[rich815]

You're probably right.. in the long run it makes more sense to get the best possible scanner. So far though, I have been pretty happy with the results I get from scanning slides and b&w on my rather old Minolta Dimage Scan Elite F-2900.. probably because I have not tried anything better! 🙂

I was happy, nah, thrilled with my results from the Epson 4990 for my MF scans. But then I got a LS-9000 at a good price and I now wonder HOW I was ever satisfied with the Epson.

 

[akptc]

I was happy, nah, thrilled with my results from the Epson 4990 for my MF scans. But then I got a LS-9000 at a good price and I now wonder HOW I was ever satisfied with the Epson.

Holy cow, the LS-9000 is $1600-$1900! (just checked on ebay).

 

[trph_2000]

How much better is scanning than developing to CD and working off
the disc?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Recently there was a scanner for sale here in the Classifieds, with a roll film loader, unfortunately I failed to buy it. I have so much film to scan, there is no way I will find the time to do it 4 or 6 frames at a time. I cannot locate that scanner ad here, probably deleted - does anyone know of a < 400 scanner with a roll film attachment? Thanks!

Hmm, that's tough. The bulk film attachment for the Nikon Coolscan 5000 by itself can cost you anywhere between $300 and $500...if you are lucky enough to find one. And the Coolscan 5000 is about $1,500 new.

I think I remember seeing a Microtek scanner that was dedicated for roll-loading, but I've read horrible customer service stories. Perhaps I got it confused with some other brand 😕

 

[furcafe]

Depends on the quality of the scans on the CD. If you pay them enough, certain pro labs will give you a good scan from an Imacon, etc., but most places don't you give you anything close to the quality that you can get off a decent film scanner.

How much better is scanning than developing to CD and working off
the disc?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Depends on the quality of the scans on the CD. If you pay them enough, certain pro labs will give you a good scan from an Imacon, etc., but most places don't you give you anything close to the quality that you can get off a decent film scanner.

This is true. And if people are satisfied with the 1200 (sometimes 300) dpi scan, then literally any currently-available scanner is good enough. I'm not saying that's bad. I'm saying that you shouldn't buy something that will be overkill for your needs.

 

[furcafe]

They're currently $449 before shipping/taxes @ B&H, where, surprisingly enough, they actually have 1 in stock right now.

Hmm, that's tough. The bulk film attachment for the Nikon Coolscan 5000 by itself can cost you anywhere between $300 and $500...if you are lucky enough to find one. And the Coolscan 5000 is about $1,500 new.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

They're currently $449 before shipping/taxes @ B&H, where, surprisingly enough, they actually have 1 in stock right now.

Wow, that is a surprise. When I got mine last year, nobody, and I mean nobody had a single one (I searched eBay, UK sites, German sites, French sites...you name it)...except some obscure shop in New Jersey, whose name I have forgotten. They tracked one for me, and had it shipped in two days.

Now that's what I call soivice!

 

[rich815]

Holy cow, the LS-9000 is $1600-$1900! (just checked on ebay).

Got mine for $1100. 🙂

 

[furcafe]

True. I eventually decided not to get 1, but they were very scarce last year (maybe some problem @ the Nikon accessories factory); the few used ones I saw on eBay sold for about the same price as new.

Wow, that is a surprise. When I got mine last year, nobody, and I mean nobody had a single one (I searched eBay, UK sites, German sites, French sites...you name it)...except some obscure shop in New Jersey, whose name I have forgotten. They tracked one for me, and had it shipped in two days.

Now that's what I call soivice!