Scanning, you're the weakest link. Off you go!

[philipus]

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Pacific imaging has a new machine. It's 1900 bucks (after rebate and shipping)

 

Pacific Image PrimeFilm 120 Multi-Format CCD PRIMEFILM 120 B&H

 

I am patiently waiting for that new machine from plustek but they're running out of time (Mark? hint, hint

 

A dedicated film/neg/slide scanner is the way to go. I would advise against a flatbed for scanning strips using holders. The glass bed introduces an unnecessary extra surface that distorts the light and there's no autofocus (even on the Epsons). It is a pain in most cases to make the strips completely horizontal at the correct distance. This method, imho, introduces too many uncertainties for a good scan.

 

I don't know the Pacific Image/Reflecta so I can't comment on it, though 1900$ seems quite pricey given the competition.

 

I've seen lots of people suggest the Plustek models. The 7600 was reviewed by Imaging-resource.com as a competent, though not great, 35mm (and only 35mm) scanner.

 

Another, and in my view better, option is the Microtek ArtixScan F1 or M1 (very similar; the main difference is that F1 has Digital ICE and includes Silverfast Ai. Maybe there's a difference in the accessories, too, I'm not sure).

 

I looked into this a while ago when I doubted the quality of my decade-old Nikon Coolscan V ED and wrote about it in this thread. Microtek's models are quite competitively priced (here in Europe the F1 is about 950€ I believe) and seem like solid machines. Imaging-resource.com tested them (here and here) and they seem like a better candidate than the Plustek particularly as they (though they are flatbeds) have a dedicated film slot, have autofocus and offer batch scanning. Btw, you'll find more scanner info on this page.

 

All things considered, I am very happy with my Coolscan. If/when it breaks down I will either go for Microtek or for the Coolscan 9000 if I can find one (it is amazing how the second-hand prices have increased for scanners just in the last few years).

 

I recommend VueScan as it is compatable with any scanner and is excellent software without being pricy.

 

I agree, Vuescan is great. It has a rather odd interface but once one gets the hang of it it works really well. I should say that I have never used Silverfast but I feel no need to change sinec Vuescan is so good (79$ for unlimited future updates is a bargain imho). I am very pleased with the results.

 

If you are disappointed with your D7000/5DMKII then you are doing something wrong...

 

A bit of a tangent - I've used a 5Dmk2 for several years and while it is an excellent digital camera I can relate to sfage's feelings when I see the images. There's something missing which film has. Then again that goes for all digital cameras imho.

 

Cheers

Philip

[KevinA]

I will tell you that I scanned a lot of b&w white film for a few days

Well, I think the Epson V700/750 surpassed the Nikonscan , really !

 

Henry

 

That is not the Epson being a superior scanner , really !

 

Kevin.

Home Page | Tree Without a Bird | Kevin Allen

[EJohnE]

If you are scanning black and white negatives or colour slides of any format to be printed at A2 or less in size, well, why?

I scan only colour negatives. It is far quicker and easier to use a DSLR and macro lens with a good quality copying setup for the rest. The negatives will have to be inverted in your editing program, which takes all of pressing two keys simultaneously.

My setup is a Meopta Opemus copy stand and a Bowen's Illumitran. That has masks for formats up to 6 x 7 (cm), an exposure meter, an electronic flash. For larger negatives, it is easy to sandwich them between glass. Surely even one of those film holders connected to the camera lens would work well enough.

Colour negatives need some colour expertise, which I don't have, or a scanner to be printable.

John.

[erl]

If you are scanning black and white negatives or colour slides of any format to be printed at A2 or less in size, well, why?

I scan only colour negatives. It is far quicker and easier to use a DSLR and macro lens with a good quality copying setup for the rest. The negatives will have to be inverted in your editing program, which takes all of pressing two keys simultaneously.

My setup is a Meopta Opemus copy stand and a Bowen's Illumitran. That has masks for formats up to 6 x 7 (cm), an exposure meter, an electronic flash. For larger negatives, it is easy to sandwich them between glass. Surely even one of those film holders connected to the camera lens would work well enough.

Colour negatives need some colour expertise, which I don't have, or a scanner to be printable.

John.

 

If I understand what you are saying, you are recommending copying using a dSLR + copystand etc. Well, if that is all you have, fine. Better than nothing! However, using dedicated gear eg. scanner always has to be the superior technique. Faster, more accurate, easier to control. Either way, the right gear is essential. For any quantity of negs/trannies, a dedicated scanner is the only way.

[Doc Henry]

That is not the Epson being a superior scanner , really !

Kevin.

I see the final result in print 30x40

anyway, in my case, I use the Epson for b&w not Nikonscan

Henry

[EJohnE]

If I understand what you are saying, you are recommending copying using a dSLR + copystand etc. Well, if that is all you have, fine. Better than nothing! However, using dedicated gear eg. scanner always has to be the superior technique. Faster, more accurate, easier to control. Either way, the right gear is essential. For any quantity of negs/trannies, a dedicated scanner is the only way.

 

I do have a dedicated film Plustek 7300 scanner. I have compared the scans of 35 mm b/w negatives using the scanner versus the copy unit/ 5D-II/60 mm Macro-Elmarit-R lens/Lumitrans setup. That is quicker, easier, and less prone to dust attraction than the scanning process. If there is any quality difference, it is miniscule as far as I can see. Even better for slides. I can copy 10 in the time the scanner takes to do one. I can use an Expodisc to check the colour temperature of either/both focusing lamp or flash in the Bowen's unit, so I can have the colours as near as dammit to a good slide, or use raw and adjust somewhat faded ones in PP.

 

Perhaps a quality increase may be observable with a top scanner on very large prints.

 

I tried copying colour negatives, but the colours came out, at best, anaemic pastel shades, so I definitrely would use the scanner which does a good job on those negatives.

 

John.