Flatbed Scanner

[caimi]

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I am looking for recommendations for a flatbed scanner - specifically for b&w negatives. I see a good recommendation for the Epson Perfection 500v but I am wondering what forum members use and recommend. I can't justify the cost of a Nikon Coolscan V for he little bit of film shooting I am doing but I want the best quality under that level Recommendations?

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[FiZZ]

The CanoScan is getting a lot of good reviews from photographers I know. I think the current model is the 8800.

[andybarton]

I have an Epson v700 which I use for medium format, but it doesn't hold a candle to a Coolscan V for 35mm. Which isn't surprising.

[earleygallery]

What will you do with the scanned negs?

 

I have the Epson flatbed and am happy with the results, although I'm sure that a dedicated film scanner will be better with larger than A4 prints, but then I don't make many of those and tend to have prints from the negs for large prints anyway.

[samwells]

I have an Epson V750 flatbed - like Andy says, it's ok for medium format, but I find my Nikon Coolscan is better for 35mm; having said that, the V750 will produce what I might call 'acceptable' results with 35mm. For a comparitive review of the Epson, have alook at the website of photo-i.

 

cheers:

Sam

[Carl E]

Horses for courses, I think. I have a Minolta 5400 II (dedicated 35 mm scanner) and an Epson 700 (flatbed) and there is no question about which scanner resolves the most detail.

 

However, a guy I talked to in a professional lab told me to always set up your scan to match the intended output format, ie. if you only want to print at 20 x 30 cm and 300 dpi it is better to scan with this output in mind than to downsample a huge scan, eg. one intended for making a 60 x 90 cm print at 300dpi.

 

So if you never intend to print big, you would probably be happy with the performance of a flatbed scanner.

[caimi]

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Thank you for the responses. looks like I've got a coolscan in my future.

[koray]

Thank you for the responses. looks like I've got a coolscan in my future.

 

How about Konica Minolta Dimage Dual Scan series? You can get them at a fraction of Coolscans, and they are decent scanners. Previously I owned a Dual Scan IV and it gave me great results, especially when combined with VueScan software. When I sold it after 5 years' use I received more money than I initially spent on it (new).

 

I bought a flatbed for scanning B&W when I got back to 35mm film, no match. A friend gave me a faulty DS II, which I repaired, and it gives very similar results for B&W when compared to DS IV. For colour, I recommend the IV. You can get a used DS II for about £100 I think...

 

Here is a scanned B&W negative from my Dual Scan II.

 

 

Cheers,

 

K.

[fotohuis]

V500 at 2400dpi.

 

Rollei Retro 100 TONAL

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[frozenace]

That's a beautiful picture fotohuis.

[Mystic]

Hi, I also got the Epson V500 flatbed scanner and for the price of round about 250€ its pretty good value for money.

My next scanner will probably be the Epson V750, because I like to scan pictures, slides,..... everything. Thats why this kind of scanner is perfect for me.

 

If I would only scan slides and negs I would probably buy a Nikon Coolscan.

 

Here is an example:

 

klick

 

klick

[tobey bilek]

Any scanner will work for web use. For 11x14 prints you need a really good one.

 

There is no inexpensive one that gives top quality.

 

My Epson 4780 is ok up to 7x. After that my KM5400 needs to be put into service.

[rulnacco]

I have an Epson V750. It is great for medium format and large format. Within limits, it can be used for 35 mm.

 

I have made 8x12 inch Frontier prints from Fuji ProZ scanned with the V750 which were better than minilab prints from the same negatives, and were very sharp indeed. I would not try any larger than that, though, as I'm sure there would be an appreciable loss of quality.

 

With black and white 35mm, the V750 is fine for Web scans (as we've seen above in Fotohuis's image, and as I've discovered myself). I'm certain my full-rez scans (at 2400 dpi, the maximum realistic optical resolution) would not look nearly as good as darkroom prints from the same negative, other than it is of course easier to dodge & burn digitally with precision.

 

Why not look at the Plustek line of 35mm film scanners? They seem very reasonably priced and, while probably not as good as the increasingly rare Nikon scanners, most users seem quite pleased with the results. I'm probably going to plop down the cash for a 7600i in a couple of months to see if I can't get some of the film I've shot with my M3 digitized satisfactorily.

[caimi]

I just purchased and received the Optek 7600i. Haven't had time to get it out of the box yet but I will after experimenting with it for awhile.

[earleygallery]

I have tried A3 prints from 35mm slide scans made on my Epson and they are fine - certainly good enough for most purposes and at normal viewing distances.

 

Pixel peep and yes I'm certain the Nikon will be better. It will also be faster in use of course.

[caimi]

This is my first effort at scanning from a HP-5 neg. Leica MP photo of my horse Diablo. It will take some messing around but I think this scanner is going to give me what I need. I'll report on prints later. Plustek OpticFilm 7600i SE scanner

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[Jeff S]

From LL site...Plustek Optic Film 7600i-Ai Film Scanner Review

 

Jeff