pavlo Posted October 22, 2009 Share #1 Posted October 22, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Dear Forum, After years of hesitation and even more years of using digital, I purchased an M6 with a 50. One of the reasons is that I want to take more time to make the photograph and put in more thought and care to it. I feel like digital makes it so easy to make an image that sometimes quantity takes over quality. I think I will pay a lab to develop film and then I want to scan film myself and pick only the best for print. Could anybody please suggest a good scanner that does not cost thousands? Greatly appreciate your advice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 Hi pavlo, Take a look here Scanning options at reasonable prices. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
microview Posted October 22, 2009 Share #2 Posted October 22, 2009 Current scanners summarised at Detailed test reports and experience reports about film scanners slide scanners: market overview, application in practice. Seems Nikon has bowed out of scanner production, its Coolscan models being a first recommendation for affordability/performance. (I bought mine form Kingsley Photohgraphic Tottenham CT Rd, and they might have stocks remaining.) BTW having bought an M9 to replace my M8 I don't really agree your views on digital vs film! I found it hard to get processed film even at professional sources without endless minor scratches and dust issues which made scanning something of a chore. I am only now (after many years of miserly use of film:eek:) getting used to the freedom to shoot umpteen images and examine them at leisure when back home! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericperlberg Posted October 23, 2009 Share #3 Posted October 23, 2009 Dear Forum, After years of hesitation and even more years of using digital, I purchased an M6 with a 50. One of the reasons is that I want to take more time to make the photograph and put in more thought and care to it. I feel like digital makes it so easy to make an image that sometimes quantity takes over quality. I think I will pay a lab to develop film and then I want to scan film myself and pick only the best for print. Could anybody please suggest a good scanner that does not cost thousands? Greatly appreciate your advice. I've researched this issue over and over. The Epson 700 and Epson 750 both do very good scans at a relatively modest price but don't reach the level of the Nikon film scanners which either Nikon has discontinued or keep an ultra low supply of due to low demand. If you shoot very fine grained films then the Nikon scanners will capture detail that the Epson scanners won't. But Nikon scanners don't do well with silver halide B&W, they work much better with chromogenic B&W film. However if you shoot 400 B/W film and like the kind of grainy look then you don't really need a Nikon scanner's better definiton anyway. The Nikon definitely yields better scans of well shot colour and chromogenic b/w. You can also take a look at vuescan to control your scanner. Many swear by it. The Epson scanners are good but additionally there are all sorts of tweaks. You can get better holders to hold the film flatter and you can get oil filled holders which improve yet further the quality of the scans. This remains one of the most thorough reviews of the Epson scanners giving a clear comparison between the Nikon and Epsons and shows results with different holders and the oil process. I owned a Nikon scanner at one point. You gotta love the process to scan film and remove dust spots. Digital ICE will remove many of the spots and scratches on the film. I believe both scanners have this. I'm not sure it works on b/w film. its been a long time since i last looked at the details but the photo-i review above will clarify all. e Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleeson Posted October 25, 2009 Share #4 Posted October 25, 2009 Get the Nikon Coolscan V if you can find one -- it's fine for most. VueScan software works best for me, and will be more likely to be around if Nikon stops supporting its Nikon Scan Digital ICE works with C41 films, not TriX, etc. Negatives need to be spotlessly clean to scan best. You'll likely wish you had developed your own negs once you spend hours with the healing brush in PS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted November 4, 2009 Share #5 Posted November 4, 2009 pavlo, having just gone through the process of re-evaluating scanning for an upcoming project here's what I found. I did several tests using Vuescan as the front end software with a Nikon coolscan 4000 & an Epson 700. Bottom line: both do a fine job with slightly different output. The Nikon uses a procedure to sharpen the image, which also increases the contrast. For some that can save time, but you just gave the machine the controls & you now have fewer choices. I scanned 5 different negs with both machines & was able to reproduce the same results from either of them. My preference is the Epson V700 (the V750 is identical in output, but more $). It renders all the details in the neg, but the scan is less contrasty and unsharpened. Since I prefer to detail & process my images to my liking, the Epson was more versatile for me. You can get the same results for either scanner. I just bought a new Epson V700 for $512. A new Nikon 5000 (lastest & maybe last model that does only 35mm) is over $1,200, BTW, I also use the V700 for scanning my 120 negs as well. Even better results, as the larger negs love a less sharpened & more neutral look once they make their home in Photoshop, where I can fashion them the way I want them to look. Either way, have fun. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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