Nikon 5000ED & SF-210 Initial Impressions

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3RI

Nikon Coolscan 5000ED/SF-210 Initial Impression

I waited through four long years of the 4000ED/SF-200 because of its high
price and because the SF-200 auto-slide feeder was frequently reported to
have problems jamming. With 5,000 slides to scan, purchasing the 4000ED
without the auto-feeder was incomprehensible, so I waited. And waited.
Finally, the 5000ED was released.

I found the 5000ED online for $999 (free ground shipping) at Harmony
Computers. The SF-210, the “new and improved” version of the auto-slide
feeder was purchased from Delta International for $403 plus S&H.

The technical discussions here and elsewhere over color quality are mostly
over my head. In layman's terms, I spent several hours tweaking color and
digital ice settings for Kodachrome and Ecktachrome slides. Once I had it
where I thought it looked right, I saved both settings and began sorting
through my collection of slides for automatic scanning with the SF-210.

The SF-210 has an adjustable plate which keeps two or more slides from being
pushed in simultaneously. Never-the-less, “automatic” scanning does not
quite mean “unattended” scanning. But it is close. So very close.

My experience so far is jamming is caused by two problems. The first,
slight imperfections around cardboard slide frames will cause the next slide
in the queue to be caught by the slide about to be scanned as it is pushed
into the scan chamber. Can't fault Nikon for that, but the second problem
relates to the first. The pressure mechanism to hold the slides in queue is
very taut. The result is two pronged. One (good), it will help slides with
slightly bent frames get by the adjustment plate. Two (bad), it puts too
much pressure on the slides and causes the next slide in queue to catch on
the slide being pushed into the chamber. Cardboard just isn't meant to
slide against cardboard. Plastic mounts have posed me no problems what so
ever. I have been able to “set it and go to bed” with plastic mounts.

I really don't know where the balance should be between too much and too
little pressure; however, suffice it to say Nikon has resolved the
auto-slide scan jamming issue to the extent possible. As of this writing, I
have scanned 200 slides and not encountered any problems other than noted,
above. I have done only a little scanning of 35mm negatives using the
provided SA-21 film scanner, so at this point can only offer qualified
positive comments. The bottom line: I am very pleased with the product.


Rob



3ri.com
RR videos ftp://[email protected]
 
3RI said:
Nikon Coolscan 5000ED/SF-210 Initial Impression

I waited through four long years of the 4000ED/SF-200 because of its high
price and because the SF-200 auto-slide feeder was frequently reported to
have problems jamming. With 5,000 slides to scan, purchasing the 4000ED
without the auto-feeder was incomprehensible, so I waited. And waited.
Finally, the 5000ED was released.

I found the 5000ED online for $999 (free ground shipping) at Harmony
Computers. The SF-210, the “new and improved” version of the auto-slide
feeder was purchased from Delta International for $403 plus S&H.

The technical discussions here and elsewhere over color quality are mostly
over my head. In layman's terms, I spent several hours tweaking color and
digital ice settings for Kodachrome and Ecktachrome slides. Once I had it
Click to expand...

I would recommend to scan "raw files" and use Vuescan later!!! I scan
everything using this method. Or, if you have a fast computer, skip
Nikon Scan completely and use Vuescan from the beginning.

where I thought it looked right, I saved both settings and began sorting
through my collection of slides for automatic scanning with the SF-210.

The SF-210 has an adjustable plate which keeps two or more slides from being
pushed in simultaneously. Never-the-less, “automatic” scanning does not
quite mean “unattended” scanning. But it is close. So very close.

My experience so far is jamming is caused by two problems. The first,
slight imperfections around cardboard slide frames will cause the next slide
in the queue to be caught by the slide about to be scanned as it is pushed
into the scan chamber. Can't fault Nikon for that, but the second problem
Click to expand...

Yes you can! Of course you can! Slide feeder should be taking
regular slide trays. With this product they are forcing you to
reload all the slides into piles, in which each slide rubs of
its neighbor. Especially with cardboard mounts generation of
dust particles, static electrical charge attracting particles
is the result.

In addition you have to manually rotate vertical slides and
later undo the process.

Only one scanner, made in cooperation between Pacific Image and
Braun takes regular slide trays and avoids these problems:

http://www.scanace.com/en/product/ps3600.php

Unfortunately its resolution does not seem very contemporary...

relates to the first. The pressure mechanism to hold the slides in queue is
very taut. The result is two pronged. One (good), it will help slides with
slightly bent frames get by the adjustment plate. Two (bad), it puts too
much pressure on the slides and causes the next slide in queue to catch on
the slide being pushed into the chamber. Cardboard just isn't meant to
slide against cardboard. Plastic mounts have posed me no problems what so
ever. I have been able to “set it and go to bed” with plastic mounts.

I really don't know where the balance should be between too much and too
little pressure; however, suffice it to say Nikon has resolved the
auto-slide scan jamming issue to the extent possible. As of this writing, I
have scanned 200 slides and not encountered any problems other than noted,
above. I have done only a little scanning of 35mm negatives using the
provided SA-21 film scanner, so at this point can only offer qualified
positive comments. The bottom line: I am very pleased with the product.
Click to expand...

....considering all what you wrote... Hm.. let me think about this.
It appears to me that SF210 is just a minor improvement over the SF200.
The jamming prevention in SF210 simply corresponds to what they users
of SF200 achieve using the "old credit card and a paper clip" trick...

Anyway, enjoy! I have LS4000+SF200+SA30 for few years, and other that
the weak Nikon software (color reproduction) and the intrinsic SF200
problems, I consider it a magnificent device. I am sure 5000 brings
a few new additional features.

Thomas
 
True enough--and even more unfortunately, the "regular" slide trays it uses are
maybe not all that regular at least in the U.S. Now if it only used Carousel
trays...

Gary Hunt <[email protected]>
 
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