Nikon Coolscan 9000

[adan]

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To clarify some things:

 

NikonScan 4 standalone software will run under Snow Leopard - very slowly (requires the Apple Rosetta software patch for running Motorola software on Intel Macs - more or less a "G5 emulator"). Type in a file name to save your file, and the software falls three keystrokes behind - I mean s-l-o-w. But it will work. The scanning activity is not any slower, just the interface.

 

The Photoshop plugin "works" if CS4 is run under Rosetta (but CS4 loses a lot of functionality under Rosetta - like the ability to quit(!!). That option is grayed out and one has to force-quit PhotoShop after every scanning session.) And the "sessions" are limited to about 3-4 scans, at which point the plugin can no longer find the scanner - requires a force-quit of CS4 and a reboot of the scanner to do the next 3-4 scans (Repeat as necessary).

 

As Marc says, there is also Vuescan. I got it to drive my old Epson 3200 flatbed (Epson is not supporting old scanners under SL either). My personal 5000ED has broken, and I was debating whether it was worth getting it repaired given the lack of support, and since I use it only to make scans for others these days. But now that I have Vuescan (which is fully 10.6.2-compliant) anyway to run it, the repair is likely worthwhile.

 

In looking into a possible replacement for the Nikon, I stopped by a local shop this week. (I was seriously considering a Sony 850 SLR + macro lens + a slide duplication adapter for "scanning" 35mm stuff). Several other customers were seeking scanners, so the subject was in the air. They reported:

 

The 9000ED is slated to be phased out this year.

 

That they occasionally get refurbished 5000EDs from Nikon - and that they usually sell out within a day. They assumed there would be 9000ED refurbs from Nikon for at least a couple of years once the new ones are gone.

[KM-25]

Boy, no kidding, used ones are going for upwards of $2,900 on ebay! Maybe I should sell mine and get an Imacon, sheesh!

[leicapages]

The fact that production had seized was the reason why I quickly picked up a new one from remaining stock about a year ago. You do not need to worry about software compatibility as Vuescan supports it fully. On the hardware front, that is another matter of course. Manufacturers do have a liability to provide support to discontinued hardware for 5 or 10 years (not sure of the exact timespan any more).

[mdozier]

Andy,

I have a fairly recently acquired 9000. I'm running Nikon Scan 4 on a Macbook Pro (intel) in Snow Leopard 10.6.2 and I haven't experienced any of the slow response or problems you're mentioning. I do not have nor run Rosetta. I have not tried the CS4 plug-in, I just get the scans done then open up in PS to process.

 

In fact, I have trouble with VueScan and can't seem to get it working satisfactorily (probably pilot error) so I basically only use the canned Nikon software.

 

Not sure how or if this helps but I thought I'd share my experience.

 

matt

[RITskellar]

Andy,

I have a fairly recently acquired 9000. I'm running Nikon Scan 4 on a Macbook Pro (intel) in Snow Leopard 10.6.2 and I haven't experienced any of the slow response or problems you're mentioning. I do not have nor run Rosetta. I have not tried the CS4 plug-in, I just get the scans done then open up in PS to process.

 

In fact, I have trouble with VueScan and can't seem to get it working satisfactorily (probably pilot error) so I basically only use the canned Nikon software.

 

Not sure how or if this helps but I thought I'd share my experience.

 

matt

 

I too have no issues running NikonScan in Leopard on MacPro. Though Rosetta (or classic) may be running in the background without being aware of it, I have to say that I don't experience any significant latency with NikonScan. Operates just as I would expect.

[thrid]

If you read the excellent reviews on the Scandig site, you will see that the 35mm output of the Coolscan 5000 is the same as the 9000 and that the 5000 is also much quicker.

The 5000 is cheaper too and more available.

 

I have both the 9000ED and 5000ED and although I haven't done any scientific tests I believe the 9000 makes slightly better scans from 135 material than the 5000ED does. I'm guessing the 9000ED uses higher grade A/D converters or other electronics.

 

Also the glass film holder for the 9000ED makes a huge difference. I find it very difficult to get sharp corners out of the 5000ED, even with the optional strip holder (which doesn't use glass)

 

But regardless the 9000ED is the best scanner this side of a Imacon and the 5000ED is a close second or even match.

[davek]

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The 5000 has been delisted my dealer in Canada tells me the 9000 will be once stocks are depleted globally likely less than one year. My dealer advised they have asked Nikon for information regarding service and spare parts. Quote.... any manufacturer has a obligation to provide parts and service for 7 years once a product is delisted. Bottom line Nikon does not sell enough of these units to justify the production runs required to keep the product current.

[musewanted]

I have ordered a Nikon Coolscan 9000 ED from Calumet (Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Photography Equipment - CALUMET) in January and if finally came this past Friday. I was told that Nikon does limited production runs when it collects enough orders-- takes 2 to 4 months on average from the time you place an order.

[adan]

I will just add to my post #21 that since that time I ran across a NIB 9000ED and bought it, and the Coolscan 4 software behaves better with the 9000 (firewire connection ) than it did with my 5000ED (USB connection). The Photoshop plug-in is still a non-starter, though (but that is an Adobe issue, not Mac/Snow Leopard).

 

I'd also note that the 9000ED comes with a Firewire 400 cable - and Apple has dropped support for FW 400 on current and future Macs. Fortunately one can still buy third-party 400-800 adapter cables today. but it's just a sign that enforced obsolescence is always a cloud on the horizon for any digital device (got any floppy disks? PCMCIA cards, SCSI devices?).

 

Which no doubt will make film users feel smug - so long as they don't need to scan their film in 10 years.

[jplomley]

I have both the 5000 and 9000, and for B&W the 9000 has a much softer light source resulting in less pronounced grain aliasing. I use SilverFast Ai Studio to drive the units.

[plasticman]

I'm about to order one of these - finally tracked a new boxed unit from a reputable dealer that hadn't been instantly shunted-off to ebay for an extra 1000 bucks (and don't even get me started on the dubious grey market that Nikon has created by leaving the future of this scanner in clouds of mystery and doubt), but before I put down my money I have a couple of quick questions (and I may have more to come...)

 

1. importing the unit from the States into Europe (haven't found one over here) - does this mean the unit will need a power adapter? Anyone have any experience of this?

 

2. Do people really think the scanner is worth the inflated price? I'm paying a little over the odds, because Calumet (the only dealer I've found who's stuck to the recommended price) can't say when they'll get new stock, and I'm worried that after waiting a few months they may say that no new scanners are gonna be made. But on ebay the scanners are being sold (by authorized Nikon dealers) for one-third or more over the MRP.

 

I'm disheartened about being left with the few options for film here in Stockholm. In my opinion, none of the very few labs here take reasonable care of scanning - so the 9000ED seems the best option (of no options....)

[Simon Baker]

I'm about to order one of these - finally tracked a new boxed unit from a reputable dealer that hadn't been instantly shunted-off to ebay for an extra 1000 bucks (and don't even get me started on the dubious grey market that Nikon has created by leaving the future of this scanner in clouds of mystery and doubt), but before I put down my money I have a couple of quick questions (and I may have more to come...)

 

1. importing the unit from the States into Europe (haven't found one over here) - does this mean the unit will need a power adapter? Anyone have any experience of this?

 

2. Do people really think the scanner is worth the inflated price? I'm paying a little over the odds, because Calumet (the only dealer I've found who's stuck to the recommended price) can't say when they'll get new stock, and I'm worried that after waiting a few months they may say that no new scanners are gonna be made. But on ebay the scanners are being sold (by authorized Nikon dealers) for one-third or more over the MRP.

 

 

 

I'm disheartened about being left with the few options for film here in Stockholm. In my opinion, none of the very few labs here take reasonable care of scanning - so the 9000ED seems the best option (of no options....)

 

Plasticman,

 

Robert White have "limited stocks" of brand new 9000ED available right now for £2415.00 +UK VAT @ 17.5% equating to a total price of £2837.62 they are advertising the scanner on their "home page" , go to Robert White - Specialist Camera and Photographic Suppliers of Nikon, Canon, Leica, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Zeiss Ikon, Voigtlander, Quantum etc.

 

regards Simon

[plasticman]

Plasticman,

 

Robert White have "limited stocks" of brand new 9000ED available right now for £2415.00 +UK VAT @ 17.5% equating to a total price of £2837.62 they are advertising the scanner on their "home page" , go to Robert White - Specialist Camera and Photographic Suppliers of Nikon, Canon, Leica, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Zeiss Ikon, Voigtlander, Quantum etc.

 

regards Simon

 

Thanks Simon - interesting to see Robert White have them back in stock. The price differential between the States and Europe is pretty amazing though - more than twice as expensive here. Even with courier delivery and 30% import duty it's still much cheaper to ship from the States. IF the power supply works, that is.

 

Real pity about the whole film-scanner situation - feels like you do have to grab one before they disappear altogether.

[adan]

IMHO:

 

1) I guess so? My US market 9000 came with a US 3-prong (2 power, 1 ground) plug. Also, Sweden uses 220v whereas the US uses 110v, so a transformer is probably necessary. I have no idea how Nikon preps units differently intended for the Euro market.

 

2) Depends. As I said above, the use of Firewire rather than USB seems to make it more stable with Nikon Scan under the newest Mac OS. The film carriers are much heavier duty than those that come with flatbeds or even the 5000ED - 1.2 cm thick with tracks on the sides for the cog drives that move the film/carrier during scanning. The 9000 is great for 35mm, but is obviously more valuable if you can also use the 120 film capabilities.

 

Put it this way - I don't even shoot film myself any more, but still grabbed a 9000ED when I ran across one because I do have archives to scan, and get some income doing high-quality scanning for others. The last, almost best dedicated film scanner we are likely to see.

 

Might check into warranty considerations, though, in importing from the US. Can you get service from Nikon Sweden or elsewhere convenient in Europe on a US-market product?

[plasticman]

PS: As a sidenote - and to continue my rant - by unofficially discontinuing the 9000 ED, but then still supplying dealers with a small drip-feed of 'limited availability' units, Nikon have created a market that just encourages gouging imo - and has absolutely no benefit to the customer searching around desperately and in the end paying third-parties a grossly inflated price, which doesn't flow back to the manufacturer either.

What's in it for Nikon?

 

As I said, this week there's been a sudden flurry of new units on ebay - and I'm disappointed to see that most of them are from established and authorized Nikon dealers - charging about one-third over the normal price.

 

I was very keen to get back into film, but I had no idea that the film-scanner situation was such an unholy mess.

 

Wondering if it's worth it...

[plasticman]

Thanks for the advice Adan - I thought I had most of the problems covered (I'd considered warranty issues, but mostly along the lines of "I'll cross that bridge when..."), but tonight the power transformer issue occurred to me.

 

I haven''t really found anyone with a 9000 ED in Europe until Simon's post (bought lots of stuff from RobertWhite, so I have no idea why I forgot them this time), but the price is prohibitive in my opinion: they can be found new for $1999 or $2199 in the States, but that RobertWhite price converts to almost $4400.

Really not sure why the differential in this case should be so enormous.

[plasticman]

Well with some more digging I found that the power supply is a non-issue: the units can work on both US and European systems.

 

So then it really just comes down to delivery/import duties, reliability worries, and whether I'll really end-up using it enough to justify the cost...

 

Guess I'll need to sleep on it.

[Simon Baker]

Well with some more digging I found that the power supply is a non-issue: the units can work on both US and European systems.

 

So then it really just comes down to delivery/import duties, reliability worries, and whether I'll really end-up using it enough to justify the cost...

 

Guess I'll need to sleep on it.

 

Plasticman,

 

Just to throw another one into the pot, I've just found a second hand one at a reputable UK dealer ( Dale Photographic Online website ) , look under their s/h Nikon gear , mint- with software, manual, 35mm mounted slide holder FH-869S , 120/220 film holder , and FH-869GR glass rotating holder ....... some say the later holder is near essential for best results and its a "chargeable" extra when buying new, something like £350 - £400 . Asking price £1999.00 no VAT on top, commission sale so only 1 month warranty though I've never found this to be a problem when buying from them. Descriptions are accurate and they are a good company to deal with.

 

This scanner has always been costly in UK, If I remember correctly it was available about 3 years ago for around £1900 but more recently its been "well" over the 2 grand mark. I guess RW are just are just playing the market to be fair to them ... retailing is all about trying to sell at the maximum the market will bear ..... demand for the scanner ( as scanner demand goes ) appears to be high and availability low .... "sold to the gentleman with the highest bid ! " so to speak. Just look at what happened with the AF Nikkor 28mm F1.4D lens ..... 2 years ago I could have bought a B/N one for £1.2k , Nikon discontinued it and suddenly s/h lenses rocket in price ..... hard to get one under £2k now.

 

regards Simon

[dicko101]

Thanks Simon - interesting to see Robert White have them back in stock. The price differential between the States and Europe is pretty amazing though - more than twice as expensive here. Even with courier delivery and 30% import duty it's still much cheaper to ship from the States. IF the power supply works, that is.

 

Power supply works fine. Just stick in your own three-prong plug (IEC C13/14) and you're in business. No wallwart, the transformer's in the unit itself 110-240V. I bought my 5000ED from Adorama in one of their last rounds of refurbished models. It works a treat.

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Hallo,

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[wattsy]

I doubt Robert White are price gouging. As has already been stated, the 9000 has always been around the £2k mark. The pound has lost around 25% in value in recent years and it is much more expensive to import from Japan. You only have to look at the current prices for ZM lenses and Nikon/Canon bodies to see the consequences of the economy being run into the ground.