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Photo Forum / General Photo Topics / UK Photography / March 2004Film Scanner Suggestions
I've just started to look at purchasing a film scanner and wondered whether anybody could answer some of the questions I've got: 1. I mainly take 35mm slides (velvia/sensia) using a Nikon F80 and would like a way to digitally edit these and make prints of them (up to about 10" x 16" or even larger by emailing them to good photolabs). Will a dedicated film and slide scanner give me scans of a quality good enough to do this? 2. I'm looking at spending ?300 ($500) as an absolute upper limit. So far, my choices seem to be either the Minolta Dimage Scan Dual 4 or one of the jessops own brand scanners (which are a bit cheaper). What are people's experiences of these models? In particular, the Jessops Primefilm 1800U caught my eye (mainly as it's so cheap at ?99) - will this give good enough scans for what I want? 3. Is it worth buying a slightly older film scanner on eBay or is it worth sticking with the newer models? Many thanks for any help and advice! David > I've just started to look at purchasing a film scanner and wondered whether > anybody could answer some of the questions I've got: [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > David Searching google has made me come to the conclusion the a Nikon LS-2000 on the 2nd hand market is the way to go. >I've just started to look at purchasing a film scanner and wondered whether >anybody could answer some of the questions I've got: [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > >David I have a Minolta Dual Scan and find it to be excellent. It is the older model SCSI type. Ian > >I've just started to look at purchasing a film scanner and wondered whether > >anybody could answer some of the questions I've got: [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Ian Is the "Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III" any good for negs? > Is the "Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III" any good for negs? I have the version II Scan Dual, and I've had really good results scanning both slide film and black and white 35mm. My previous scanner was the Primefilm 1800U, and I saw quite a difference in results upgrading to the Scan Dual II. Later models of the Scan Dual will give you the equivalent of Digital ICE for dust removal. These are definitely going to produce scans good enough for printing via an internet service. Bear in mind that the output of all film scanners will need some processing before printing, even if it's just sharpening and restoring colour balance. Make sure you find out from the service you use if they automatically sharpen during their processing, as this will affect whether/how much you sharpen the image you send them.  SignatureJanie http://www.janie-thomson.co.uk > I have the version II Scan Dual, and I've had really good results scanning > both slide film and black and white 35mm. My previous scanner was the > Primefilm 1800U, and I saw quite a difference in results upgrading to the > Scan Dual II. Later models of the Scan Dual will give you the equivalent of > Digital ICE for dust removal. Is that correct? I hope so because I am dithering about whether to buy one. According to a pdf on Minolta's website http://www.minoltaeurope.com/pe/pdfs/DiMAGE_Scan_Dual_IV_UK.pdf it has "Auto Dust Brush", but is that "Digital ICE" by another name? Mark Atherton > > I have the version II Scan Dual, and I've had really good results > scanning [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > it has "Auto Dust Brush", but is that "Digital ICE" by another name? Yep, they introduced this from version 3 (which came out about 3 weeks after I bought my version 2 - bugger!) so obviously I have no actual experience of using it. If it's as good as Minolta claim (and I haven't heard anything to suggest it isn't) it would be very handy, given the amount of time I spend getting rid of dust on trannies manually. No matter how thoroughly I clean the tranny before scanning (which you still have to do, of course) there is always dust on the scan. I blame the cat. Even having to manually clean up scans, I'm delighted with the Scan Dual. My only niggle about choosing this model is that I fancy having a go at medium format at some point, and this only does 35mm (or APS with an adapter), but you can't have everything at that price! I'd used one of the Epson flatbeds that scan trannies of any size at college, but my Scan Dual produces better results for 35mm, which is after all what I shoot mostly. SignatureJanie http://www.janie-thomson.co.uk > > I have the version II Scan Dual, and I've had really good results > scanning [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > it has "Auto Dust Brush", but is that "Digital ICE" by another name? I don't believe it uses infra-red scanning to prescan as ICE does. We have not yet tested this scanner but generally, if something doesn't offer digital ICE, then it's using another method to find dust and may possibly soften other detail unintentionally. Digital ICE makes an infra-red scan of the film, which shows all the dyes in E6 and C41 as transparent, and maps the marks and dust only. This is then used to 'remove' these, and the software fills in information from surrounding pixels. It does not work on black and white negs or Kodachrome slides because these are not transparent to IR. This concept is or was a patent of Applied Science Fiction and has been licenced to Nikon (first user), Artixscan aka Microtek, Minolta, Durst, and Kodak - maybe a few others too. It's expensive and does add to the cost of the scanner since a licence is paid to use the hardware concept and the software processing. The extra prescan also makes ICE scanning times quite lengthy. Other dust removal systems, including Canon's and Polaroid's, generally cab't use this patent and just identify blemishes by their 'fingerprint' in terms of density, colour (absence of) and size. Much like Photoshop's Dust and Scratches filter. David - Minolta Club of GB. > I don't believe it uses infra-red scanning to prescan as ICE does. You are correct, the Minolta Scan Dual 1, 2, 3 and 4 do not have ICE. They use Minolta's very lame dust removal software. > You are correct, the Minolta Scan Dual 1, 2, 3 and 4 do not have ICE. They > use Minolta's very lame dust removal software. I should clarify that 3 and 4 have the dust removal software. The Scan Dual that has ICE is their Elite line. >>You are correct, the Minolta Scan Dual 1, 2, 3 and 4 do not have ICE. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I should clarify that 3 and 4 have the dust removal software. The Scan Dual > that has ICE is their Elite line. but it's not a Dual (APS+35mm). I use the Elite 5400 which does have ICE and it is expensive and very slow compared to the Dual III, and I also use the Multi II for rollfilm - this does not have ICE, and I wish I had the Pro instead - then I would not have needed the 5400 as the Pro could have done all the 35mm stuff which really needs ICE. David > > > I have the version II Scan Dual, and I've had really good results > > scanning [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > offer digital ICE, then it's using another method to find dust and may > possibly soften other detail unintentionally. Thanks for the clarification, David. SignatureJanie http://www.janie-thomson.co.uk If you use Velvia, dynamic range should be one of your main criteria. The Minolta Scan Dual 4 and other new scanners have good range. Older scanners generally have poor dynamic range, losing a lot of shaow detail, particulalry on Velvia Spending mre will give greater resolution (nice to have) and ICE, great if you have old slides, not so important if yu can keep your slides clean and are willing to spend time cloning dust specs out > I've just started to look at purchasing a film scanner and wondered whether > anybody could answer some of the questions I've got: [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > David > I've just started to look at purchasing a film scanner and wondered whether > anybody could answer some of the questions I've got: [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > David When I was looking for a scanner 2 years ago, the best piece of advice I received was to get one with Digital Ice. It has saved me hours of retouching. A Minolta Scan Elite II might be in your price range on eBay. If you could find the original Scan Elite, and if you have a SCSI port, you can save even more. -- This E-Mail has been checked by eTrust EZ Antivirus > > I've just started to look at purchasing a film scanner and wondered > whether [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > you could find the original Scan Elite, and if you have a SCSI port, you can > save even more. My Son has a Minolta Dimage Scan which works very well. Ray I take mine to Sam's Club. If you pay $100 dollars (low end cost) for a scanner how many pictures are you going to copy to digital? You don't have a Dark Room so who does the developing? For a very low cost I just go to Sam's for now. In the long run it saves me time / money / and headache. I wish you luck, Jerry Hi David If you buy second hand you have to know it's in good and working condition As for new "what you pay is what you get" as they say I have a Nikon coolscan 3 very good If you only want the odd one scanned into digital. pay I think even high street enterprises scan to CD regards Roger >I've just started to look at purchasing a film scanner and wondered whether >anybody could answer some of the questions I've got: [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > >David >I've just started to look at purchasing a film scanner and wondered whether >anybody could answer some of the questions I've got: I have a Canon CanoScan FS2710, and I'm reasonably happy with it, however, if I were buying one today then it's not the one I'd get. I'd go for one with a separate IR channel, and possibly look for one which had the capability to batch scan slides. There is nothing more boring that feeding slides (or negatives!) into it at a rate thats just to long to sit comfortably in-front of it... (and then spend far too long removing dust specs with GIMP) Also, regardless of which scanner you get, you might also want to check out VueScan: http://www.hamrick.com/ Gordon > Also, regardless of which scanner you get, you might also want to check > out VueScan: http://www.hamrick.com/ Wot's that do then? >> Also, regardless of which scanner you get, you might also want to check >> out VueScan: http://www.hamrick.com/ > >Wot's that do then? It's independant scanner software. Reckoned to be better than the manufacturers own software when it comes to scanning lots of slides, etc. and performing basic image sharpening, dust reduction, etc. Lots more details of his web site... It's not free. ( but only $40 or something) I first used it because I wanated to use my scanner under Linux and didn't like the SANE stuff, but it runs under Windows as well as on the Mac now I think too. Gordon > >> Also, regardless of which scanner you get, you might also want to check > >> out VueScan: http://www.hamrick.com/ [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > manufacturers own software when it comes to scanning lots of slides, > etc. and performing basic image sharpening, dust reduction, etc. Interesting. I'll give it a try with my Canon FS4000US as Canon's software is pretty appalling. I have contemplated buying Lasersoft's Silverfast software, which is excellent (I've used it on a Nikon LS1000 and currently on my Epson 1680Pro) but am a bit niggled that you have to buy a different version for each device. Thanks for the pointer. > Interesting. I'll give it a try with my Canon FS4000US as Canon's > software is pretty appalling. I have contemplated buying Lasersoft's > Silverfast software, which is excellent (I've used it on a Nikon LS1000 > and currently on my Epson 1680Pro) but am a bit niggled that you have > to buy a different version for each device. > Thanks for the pointer. Why is SilverFast Ai is individual for each scanner? Substantial development and research has been put into the adaptation of SilverFast Ai for each scanner. That is why there is no generic version of SilverFast Ai. Also our development is making sure, that all options are supported in a professional way, such as manual focus or exposure control, etc. In addition we honour customers buying multiple copies of SilverFast Ai with a Multiple Version rebate. http://www.silverfast.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1894&highlight=rebate+multi best regards Karl-Heinz Zahorsky LaserSoft Imaging AG http://www.SilverFast.com > Why is SilverFast Ai is individual for each scanner? > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > all options are supported in a professional way, such as manual focus > or exposure control, etc. Thanks Karl-Heinz, it's always nice to see a manufacturer taking an interest in discussions of their products. > In addition we honour customers buying multiple copies of SilverFast > Ai with a Multiple Version rebate. > > http://www.silverfast.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1894&highlight=rebate+multi Just what I'm after! I'll definitely look into this. > Karl-Heinz Zahorsky > LaserSoft Imaging AG > http://www.SilverFast.com > > Also, regardless of which scanner you get, you might also want to check > > out VueScan: http://www.hamrick.com/ > > Wot's that do then? In my experience, a waste of 40 quid -- Good Judgement Comes From Experience. Experience Comes From Bad Judgement >> > Also, regardless of which scanner you get, you might also want to check >> > out VueScan: http://www.hamrick.com/ >> >> Wot's that do then? > > In my experience, a waste of 40 quid But you can try it out for free. After doing so and finding it crap why did you pay the 40ukp? > -- > Good Judgement Comes From Experience. > Experience Comes From Bad Judgement Indeed. Your sig separator is broken. SignatureChris Savage Kiss me. Or would you rather live in a Crawcrook,UK land where the soap won't lather? > >> > Also, regardless of which scanner you get, you might also want to check > >> > out VueScan: http://www.hamrick.com/ [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > But you can try it out for free. After doing so and finding it crap why > did you pay the 40ukp? I didn't, however after trying it out and finding the results were inferior to those I get from NikonScan, it would have been a waste of ?40 had I purchased it -- Good Judgement Comes From Experience. Experience Comes From Bad Judgement > > >> > Also, regardless of which scanner you get, you might also want to > check [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > to those I get from NikonScan, it would have been a waste of £40 had I > purchased it I've just had a good play with it and don't think I'll bother buying it either. Results were no worse than with Canon's Filmget, but the interface was not better either. Still, it's handy to find out about these things. > I've just started to look at purchasing a film scanner and wondered whether > anybody could answer some of the questions I've got: [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > David Browse through the archives of the comp.periphs.scanners news group for lots of info. You can use google groups for this. SignatureRobert D Feinman Landscapes, Cityscapes and Panoramic Photographs http://robertdfeinman.com mail: robertdfeinman@netscape.net > I've just started to look at purchasing a film scanner and wondered whether > anybody could answer some of the questions I've got: [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > David I bought the Prime1800 (under its own name, not Jessop's) used on Ebay and find it adequate at the very best and poor most of the time. It is inexpensive for a good reason. SignatureMichael Weinstein | "Those who cannot remember the Nashua, NH | past are condemned to repeat it." -George Santayana |
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