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Film scanner?


hermannhkg

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  • 3 weeks later...

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Hello All,

 

I'd like to re-invigorate this thread to gain feedback on what high quality film scanners are still being produced.

 

I've had a recently failed attempt to get hold of the last of the Nikon 5000-ED. I don't want to spend big dollars on the last of the 9000-ED.

 

I get very good, yet low-res, scans from my local Fuji digital shop, so have started to question the 'business case' of buying my own scanner. Although, the appeal of control is still, well, appealing.

 

Am reluctant to invest in what I would call 'Indie' scanners like 'Plustek' until I see some real-world examples.

 

Any ideas, info, examples?

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hi Digby, I use a Microtek i900... (with Silverfast Ai software)

 

Microtek International Inc. - Europe, Asia Pacific, & South and Central America - Professional

 

It covers 5x4 to 35mm, with up to 16 passes to eliminate noise.

 

It has a flatbed on top, but film is placed in a tray underneath, so is scanned directly (not through glass).

 

Cheers,

John

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Does the Nikon 9000 scanner also scans negatives automatically? if not is there a good rapid solution for 35mm negatives at 6 frames per strip? My current flatbed doesnt do a very good job and its seems to take forever.

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Another great bargain to be had is the Minolta dimage scan elite 5400, I got mine off US ebay for 499 (had to use a freight forwarder to get it to Australia). With Vuescan it's quick and the detail it can get out of even cheap superia xtra 400 is amazing. It also produces .dng raw files with vuescan. I have some Sensia and Provia still to scan but it comes with both the 6 negative strip feeder and slide holder.

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Does the Nikon 9000 scanner also scans negatives automatically? if not is there a good rapid solution for 35mm negatives at 6 frames per strip? My current flatbed doesnt do a very good job and its seems to take forever.

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hi Digby, I use a Microtek i900... (with Silverfast Ai software)

 

Microtek International Inc. - Europe, Asia Pacific, & South and Central America - Professional

 

It covers 5x4 to 35mm, with up to 16 passes to eliminate noise.

 

It has a flatbed on top, but film is placed in a tray underneath, so is scanned directly (not through glass).

 

Cheers,

John

HI John,

 

What is the "real" DMax for the 900i and 900e? I read an on-line review a couple of years ago (I think of the older Plustek products) which in real world tests showed that the DMax was less than Plustek's advertised DMax when compared to Nikon and Epson 750 scanners?

 

Thanks

 

Ravi

PS Can anyone show comparison scans of the same slide with the Nikon and Epson scanners?

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I own an Epson V700 flatbed. It's cheap (around 550 euros), it scans 35mm and medium format and the quality is more than fair. And you can pop in 4 x 6 frames strips at once! If you are not planning scanning with commercial intentions, I suggest to check Epson out.

 

J.

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Hi Ravi,

Sorry, I don't know how to tell what the DMax actually is!.

This review from 2004 was one that convinced me to buy it. I use 5x4, 6x7 6x12 and 35mm, so it was ideal.

I must say, though, that to get a reasonable scan from 35mm B/W film, I use max resolution and 16bit HDR mode with 8 passes. The best film I found is Ilford Delta 100. though I haven't tried all the films available. Delta is great for my needs.

 

Scanner Review: Microtek ScanMaker i900

 

I guess, if I had the money, I'd buy a dedicated 35mm scanner, just for 35mm and keep the i900 for larger formats, it scans without glass up to two 5x4s at once, with a glass "tray" to go up to 10x8, or awkward sizes.

 

Salford Photography Group

click on the gallery

 

My pics are all 6x12 except the Spanish hotel corridor shot, which is on my R8/35f4 PC and the phone booth in France, on 6x7.

All scanned on the i900.

 

Cheers,

John

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