Film Scanners to avoid for 1st time buyer???

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ivan
  • Start date Start date
I

Ivan

It will be a while before I will have enough free time to really get the
most out of a high end scanner. But in the mean time I want to gain
experience working with digital medium and work flow. I want to buy a
reasonably priced scanner to use for the next year or two. I don't want the
experience to be bogged down with troublesome hardware and software
problems. My initial thoughts are to spend around $500-$750 Cdn. Is there
anything in that price range that I should be AVOIDING?

Ivan
 
This probably doesn't apply in your case, but if there's ever a chance that
you might want to scan film larger than 35mm, get a medium format scanner
now; don't make the same mistake I did and spend $700 for a scanner that you
might outgrow. Ya wanna buy a very slightly used Nikon Coolscan IV ED? :-)
 
stick with the brand names like Canon, Nikon and Minolta - the others
are so-so and you do lose having drivers updated over the years and support.

that said, even the basic Minolta Scan Dual IV at $350 USD
(bhphotovideo.com) is an excellent beginner's film scanner to start with
- high 3200dpi resolution, good dynamic range, very fast scan times, and
all of the prior Dual I-III series have been very good scanners.

One of those "can't go wrong with one" beginner's film scanners.
 
Actually I DO plan to scan 6x7 negs in the future. Also various other
formats from family that go back 75 years, documenting ancestors, steam
driven farm equipment and vehicles. The reasoning behind purchasing a
cheaper 35mm scanner NOW is that when I out grow it, it will be easier to
sell, or lend out or give away.
 
Thank you, that is helpful.
I've been reading in here now and then about certain models even amoung the
big three brands that have inherent problems. I can't recall any specifics,
but it's things like "banding" or "noise" or "focusing". So before I plunk
down even a modest sum on one of the big three, I wanted to be aware of any
known lemons to avoid.
Thanks again, Ivan
 
Okay, I've been reading reviews for Minolta scanners. Some people are
mentioning color problems all of which can be easily corrected in PS. I've
scanned hundreds of photos and successfully corrected color and sharpness in
various "lite" versions of PS (including currently Elements 2.0). Is
Elements going to cut it for me as far as correcting color? Or are the
reviewers talking about major corrections using the full version of
PhotoShop?
 
It will be a while before I will have enough free time to really get the
most out of a high end scanner. But in the mean time I want to gain
experience working with digital medium and work flow. I want to buy a
reasonably priced scanner to use for the next year or two. I don't want the
experience to be bogged down with troublesome hardware and software
problems. My initial thoughts are to spend around $500-$750 Cdn. Is there
anything in that price range that I should be AVOIDING?

Ivan
Click to expand...

You are not the only one making such noise. My point is that the
'new' stuff coming out is faster and better and cheaper than the stuff
that came out last year.
So don't even consider an older scanner.
 
You are not the only one making such noise. My point is that the
'new' stuff coming out is faster and better and cheaper than the stuff
that came out last year.
So don't even consider an older scanner.
Click to expand...


Why not? I've sold hundreds of prints made on a
Polaroid SprintScan 35+ that I bought new in 2000
or so for $1400. You can get one now on eBay for
$100, easily. OK, it's not 4000 dpi, but it still makes
a fine 8x10 or even 12x18" print from a 35 mm film
scan.

Choices for scanning MF film at similar quality are
nowhere near as easy, however.


rafe b.
http://www.terrapinphoto.com
 
www.pubperfect.com

They're recent ad had several older 35mm slide scanners on sale,
refurbished.

eg. Nikon Coolscan IV $399
Dimage Scan multi - $299
Dimage Scan Multi w/ROC/Gem software $399
Dimage Scan Dual II $199
Coolscan 8000 $1899
Coolscan 4000ED $699
 
Ivan said:
Is there anything in that price range that I should be AVOIDING?

Ivan
Click to expand...

I purchased a Minolta Scan Dual III last summer. I had huge banding issues
with it. I took it back to the store (a reputable photo shop) and they did
some scans and concluded that there was no problem with it. I leaned over
the counter and asked them to zoom in on one of the scans on the screen that
they had taken with my returned unit. The banding jumped out of the screen
to everyone. They were shocked, having sold many units like that and never
seen the issue before.

I don't know if it was inherent in the design, or unique to the particular
unit, but they accepted it back for a full refund. I walked out with a
Nikon Coolscan IV and never looked back. Happy ever since. Even though I
had to drop an extra $500 Cdn on the table, I'm still happy with my choice.

Besides, it's still cheaper than golfing.
:)

Dave
 
I purchased a Minolta Scan Dual III last summer. I had huge banding issues
with it. I took it back to the store (a reputable photo shop) and they did
some scans and concluded that there was no problem with it. I leaned over
the counter and asked them to zoom in on one of the scans on the screen that
they had taken with my returned unit. The banding jumped out of the screen
to everyone. They were shocked, having sold many units like that and never
seen the issue before.

I don't know if it was inherent in the design, or unique to the particular
unit, but they accepted it back for a full refund. I walked out with a
Nikon Coolscan IV and never looked back. Happy ever since. Even though I
had to drop an extra $500 Cdn on the table, I'm still happy with my choice.

Besides, it's still cheaper than golfing.
Click to expand...


In my experience, banding is endemic to all
CCD scanners using cold-cathode light sources,
and it shows up mostly in the blue channel,
particularly when scanning color negatives.

Very careful calibration can minimize this
problem but not competely eliminate it.
The root of the problem is that the blue-
channel sensitivity of most CCDs is quite
low compared to either the red or green.

Nikon scanners have a leg up on this matter
since they use individual R, G and B LEDs
for illumination and thus have a real exposure
control that can be tuned for each color channel.


rafe b.
http://www.terrapinphoto.com
 
Go Ebay and look at any Nikon or Minolta with Digital Ice. Make sure
you have or it comes with the SCSI card (if needed).
I've got a Minolta F-2900 and love it. It's far from the best but I
paid less than $200(US) and it included the SCSI card and shipping.

Good Luck and don't stop asking questions.
 
Dave R., thanks for your input as well.
What would be a good routine to put the scanner through to discover any
possible defect, such as banding? I'm thinking the sooner it's brought
back to the dealer, the more likely they are to replace it on the spot if
you can duplicate the problem in the store.
 
Ivan said:
Dave R., thanks for your input as well.
What would be a good routine to put the scanner through to discover any
possible defect, such as banding? I'm thinking the sooner it's brought
back to the dealer, the more likely they are to replace it on the spot if
you can duplicate the problem in the store.
Click to expand...

If you have any Kodachromes, especially underexposed they will show up
any problems in the dark areas.
 
Back
Top