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Scanning advice

seaninsurrey

By seaninsurrey
in Film Forum

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seaninsurrey

seaninsurrey

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Well, I now have my dream gear - M2, Summicron 35/2 and a Nikon Coolscan V ED! I've been shooting with Ilford b&w film (HP4/5) and am now ready to scan. I haven't scanned anything yet (it arrives tomorrow), so I'm looking for some guidance on scanning this type of film. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sean

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stunsworth

stunsworth

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Sean, simple things really.

 

Make sure you've got ICE switched off - this doesn't work with the film you've used. So also try to keep the negatives as clean as possible.

 

When you're scanning set the black and white point to something that gives a flat looking negative - try something like .1% for each - then adjust levels/curves in Photoshop (or whatever software you use).

 

Scan at the higest scanner resolution - this gives big files but your squeezing the maximum out of the scanner. Personally I scan b&w as 16 bit greyscale images.

 

Give Vuescan a try as your scanning software - VueScan Scanning Software - a messy interface, but very flexible.

 

Don't forget to post some photographs in the photo forum if you have any you want to share.

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stunsworth

stunsworth

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Sean yes,flat means low contrast. I can't really comment about the Nikon software as I haven't used for about 8 years and I'm sure it's changed in that period. Someone recommended Vuescan, I downloaded it and bought it the next day..

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Guest stnami

Guest stnami

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Forget Nikon software it's a battle to midday, I use Silverfast( greater manual control, $104}, most find Vuescan( more automation,about $40) easier.

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rob_x2004

rob_x2004

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How do we measure what is better? Familiarity with whatever you are using gets results.

 

I want to change over to Silverfast or Vuescan but is it just the grass is greener? I mean the scanner can only scan as it scans? I was getting better scans for uploading out of a $80LiDE than a 5400ii out of the box. Ok I couldnt go back to the cheepie flatbed now and my negs stay in better condition.

 

The other thing is printing software.....no one talks about it. You do all this editing and then let the printer make the adjustments to fit it to the paper?

 

I saw silverfast printing software or a package or something and I think it was about 800USD? Cant remember.

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marc_dufour

marc_dufour

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Interesting thread in this moment, for me: I've used a Nikon Coolscan II for many years and it's time to renew.

I've been thinking about other brands and models: Reflecta 7200, Minolta Dimage, some Microtek, etc. Generally, the criterias seem to be:

Optical resolution no less than 4000 p. / Dynamic range no less than 4,2 (better 4,8) / A/D conversion no less than 16 bits. But Hassel-Imacon Flextight Photo is not in my range of economic posibilities :-)

So I've almost decided to get a Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 ED. Any advice from a forum user? Does somebody here work with it?

Thanks to all.

Marc

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candresen

candresen

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Marc, I just ordered a Nikon Coolscan V ED.

 

Beside the decision to buy a Nikon Coolscan I chose the V ED based on a comparism test in the German magazine Color Photo between the V ED and the 5000.

From what I learned the 5000 has only two advantages: the first one is speed and the second one is more professional accessories.

The test results even said that the V ED is using 16 bit as the 5000 is using.

 

Regards Carsten

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bsmith

bsmith

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Interesting thread in this moment, for me: I've used a Nikon Coolscan II for many years and it's time to renew.

I've been thinking about other brands and models: Reflecta 7200, Minolta Dimage, some Microtek, etc. Generally, the criterias seem to be:

Optical resolution no less than 4000 p. / Dynamic range no less than 4,2 (better 4,8) / A/D conversion no less than 16 bits. But Hassel-Imacon Flextight Photo is not in my range of economic posibilities :-)

So I've almost decided to get a Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 ED. Any advice from a forum user? Does somebody here work with it?

Thanks to all.

Marc

 

biggest problem is it can't keep the film 100% flat , detail at edges go soft. get the Imacon

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bsmith

bsmith

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biggest problem is it can't keep the film 100% flat , detail at edges go soft. get the Imacon

there is no point to the great Leica lenses if you lose the edge sharpness when scanning. Epson's new flatbed might be an alternative

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DriesI

DriesI

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there is no point to the great Leica lenses if you lose the edge sharpness when scanning. Epson's new flatbed might be an alternative

 

We use an EPSON flatbed at art school.

Works ok, but it is incapable of scanning the whole negative. Instead it fiercly crops and yields images more like the 16:9 format than the original 3:2 negative. This is due to the negative holder which has a "slid with" of exaclty 24mm, not even half a mm to spare for the negative edge.

 

Do you know if any Nikon Coolscan is capable of scanning the whole negative?

 

thanks!

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peterv

peterv

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We use an EPSON flatbed at art school.

Works ok, but it is incapable of scanning the whole negative. Instead it fiercly crops and yields images more like the 16:9 format than the original 3:2 negative. This is due to the negative holder which has a "slid with" of exaclty 24mm, not even half a mm to spare for the negative edge.

 

!

 

This WAS indeed a problem with Epson flatbed scanners...

 

It still is a problem with the 4990. I bought it, and for the reasons mentioned above returned it within two days.

 

I'm happy to report that the V750 PRO scans the complete negative

 

Here's my scan workflow...

 

- batchscan my rolls with the V750 PRO in a resolution good enough to judge the photo's.

- I don't worry too much about colour correction.

- Negatives I really like and want to print for customers, I just have scanned by a pro lab.

 

the difference between the V750 PRO and the Nikon scanners is, I think, not as interesting as the difference between Epson/Nikon and professional Imacon/Heidelberg scanners.

 

The money and time I save batch scanning my rolls of film on the V750 PRO, is well spent on the pro-lab scans when I really need the quality.

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

Peter

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marc_dufour

marc_dufour

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Cartsen,

The VED works with 14 bits, 4,2 dynamic range, and 38" scanning time.

The 5000ED works with 16 bits, 4, 8 dymanic range, and 20" scanning time.

But I think the really important is dynamic range.

 

Dries,

The old Nikon Coolscan II can scan the whole frame, with the strip film holder FH-2.

So I hope the new models also :-)

 

William,

Hassel-Imacon is state of the art, I use it in my work, but... too expensive for my personal use :-)

 

Cheers, guys, and thanks for your help and comments. I just ordered he 5000ED :-)

Marc

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George61d

George61d

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I use the Nikon coolscan 5000 ED and find it to be very good. I dont print larger than A3+ and the quality of the print (using imageprint rip for bw on a fiber based gloss paper) is very good.

 

I use the supplied Nikon software - I tried vuscan and silverfast on Monochrome negs and thought the nikon software produced the same results or better but was free. Like all Nikon software the user interface is poor.

 

I solved the flat negative problem by pressing them in heavy books prior to scanning. Actually the books are by ansel adam, george tice, nick brandt and national geographic - so maybe its the weight of that brillliance that flatens the negative :-)

 

I have yet to scan color negs or tranies

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