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[innerimager]

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I started a thread a while back in which I expressed frustration aligning my roll of film on my coolscan 5000 with Vuescan. It just wouldn't auto align and tweaking with frame offset was very finicky. I started using Nikonscan which had no troubles and felt the output was good. My update is I shot a close friend's 60th b-day dinner in tough light with a nocti at f1. i could not get good scans with Nikonscan, and went to Vuescan, tweaked the offset, and got much, much better results. Also, I communicated with Ed Hamrick and we figured out the problem. I leave 3 blank frames (standard) when I load, and Vuescan needs to see a real frame within 15mm to auto align. Just cutting the blank frames, (leaving a bit less than `1/2 of a blank) and it aligns just fine. If you are interested in the images, they are here. best....Peter

Zenfolio | Peter Halperin | Deede's 60th

[andybarton]

When you first load a strip, Vuescan runs through an inch or so to find the edge of the first frame.

 

If you shoot three blank frames (why?), then it has nothing to find, and cannot give you the registration of frames correctly.

[innerimager]

Remember, I'm new to film. I shoot 3 blanks cause that's what the M7 manual tells me to do, and it brings the register to "1". Isn't this correct?

[andybarton]

Sorry, didn't know you're new to film. If you shoot 3 blanks, you will be wasting a shot per roll. I generally get 39 shots on a 36 roll.

 

I shoot a couple after loading (3 is excessive IMHO), but always trim off the blanks before storing.

[innerimager]

ahh, thanks, wonder how many rolls of film this will save me over the years? ;>) best...Peter

[gwelland]

With the M7 it's also worth remembering to set the camera to a manual shutter speed when firing off the first few frames, particularly if the lens cap is on. If you shoot in auto you may surprised at how long the shutter is kept open

[gesper]

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What are the advantages of Vuescan over NikonScan?

[Guest jimmy pro]

With the M7 it's also worth remembering to set the camera to a manual shutter speed when firing off the first few frames, particularly if the lens cap is on. If you shoot in auto you may surprised at how long the shutter is kept open

 

If you accidentaly forget, just turn the shutter dial off AUTO or shut the camera off and the shutter will close. No need to sit there like a moron waiting for it to close by itself.

[petercs]

What are the advantages of Vuescan over NikonScan?

 

If you run Windows, and only have a Nikon Scanner, IMO you can stick with Nikonscan.

 

If you run Mac OS X on an Intel Mac, better go for Vuescan.

 

If Linux then Vuescan is the only choice.

 

Pros:

 

User interface: I liked Nikonscan while I had a PC - you need to get used to Vuescan (and Silverfast if that is an option). But once used to the UI it is powerfull.

 

Stability/Updating: Vuescan is constantly updated and adapted to OS versions and scanners. It is a native app for the respective architecture it runs on (contraryto Nikonscan on Intel Macs).

 

Licensing: pay once per host platform and get perpetual updates and can use it for a lot of scanners in the market.

 

Functionality/Scan Results: with some fiddling you will have similar results as with Nikonscan or Silverfast. The Pro version can even scan to a raw file, e.g. for postprocessing in Photoshop. Good hRDWARE SUPPORT: I run a LS5000ED and Vuescan does support multi-exposure, multi-sampling. All adapters (Slide feerder, roll feeder) supported as well.

 

Calibration: with the Pro version of Vuescan you can calibrate colors using a IT-8 target. You cannot do that with Nikonscan.

 

Good drivers: e.g.

 

Cons:

 

Documentation: documentation ? (yes, there is some but here Nikon is better, while Silverfast has too much ...)

 

Setup: could make more use of the mouse intescad of using sliders/direct numeric input).

 

Auto-framing and spacing: not so reliable. Setting up the frame offset (stripe or roll scanning) is a bit tricky (does not use mouse click but slider or direkt numeric input).

 

Digital ICE not supported, though Vuescan has it's own scratch/dust removal based on the scanners IR channel. It works ok.

 

Vuescan seems to be a one man show. Some risk in that but: Nikon is only half -heartedly supporting their scanners anyhow (e.g. no OS X Leopard support).

 

For my LS5000ED connected to an Intel Mac (OS X Leopard) I have meanwhile completely switched to Vuescan (Pro version).

 

Best regards, Peter