35mm scanners

j-dogg · Jul 23, 2011

What are we all using to scan slides and negs? Not looking to spend a fortune, I have some Kodachrome I need to get done.

Worker 11811 · Jul 23, 2011

It all depends on what you intend to use the scans for.

If you only want to scan film to post copies on the internet, a relatively cheap scanner will do.
If you want to use your computer for digital proofing, so to speak, an expensive scanner is not needed.
If you want to create images that you can print with your inkjet printer, say, up to 4x5 in or even 8x10 a moderately priced scanner will be all right.
If you want to make art for framing and display or for sale, cheap scanners are right out.

It all depends on your ultimate goal and your budget. Without going into too much detail which would go outside of the scope of this forum, my best advice is to buy the best scanner you can afford. Beyond this, the digital forum is where all the people who know the details about scanning hang out.

MattKing · Jul 23, 2011

As Randy has hinted - DPUG.ORG, not here.

Kodachrome can be challenging.

I find scanning really frustrating.

j-dogg · Jul 23, 2011

Yeah I've noticed.....I just wanted to post some of my Kodachrome here.

I had some prints done of a couple of my slides and they looked fantastic. I was impressed.

2F/2F · Jul 23, 2011

j-dogg said:
What are we all using to scan slides and negs?

DPUG dot org. Having been signed up here for a year, you must know that by now.

maarten m · Jul 23, 2011

epson V600 + Vuescan.
i scan mostly MF @ 3200dpi and prints (50x50) come out real fine!

mm

M.A.Longmore · Jul 23, 2011

.
Are DPUG Members really shooting, and scanning that much film ?
It seems that APUG Members would have the answer.
The APUG Gallery seems to be loaded with scanned images.

Ron
.

timparkin · Jul 23, 2011

M.A.Longmore said:
.
Are DPUG Members really shooting, and scanning that much film ?
It seems that APUG Members would have the answer.
The APUG Gallery seems to be loaded with scanned images.

Ron
.

It would seem sensible for there to be a place on the forum that allows people to solicit help preparing their analogue pictures for posting on the forum?

Anyway - I use a drum scanner for my 'serious' stuff but bought a 'Minolta Dual Scan III' off ebay for about $100 which is almost as good for well exposed slides and most negatives. 3000dpi is more than enough for posting shots and details to forums.

Tim

MaximusM3 · Jul 23, 2011

Silverfast is key for scanning Kodachrome, with their custom profile. Word of caution: DO NOT UPGRADE TO MAC OSX LION IF YOU WISH TO KEEP USING ANY CURRENT VERSIONS OF SILVERFAST SCANNING SOFTWARE. THEY CATEGORICALLY WILL NOT WORK.

Worker 11811 · Jul 23, 2011

I scan most of my film. I scan to .DNG files using VueScan and my Canon flatbed scanner.

I do it for proofing purposes and to put pictures on the internet. I also use the files as digital backups for record keeping purposes.

I scan at 2,400 DPI and scale down to the needed resolution, usually 300 DPI for printing on my inkjet printer but I'll scale that down to 72 DPI before posting on the internet.

Occasionally, I am called upon to perform digital restoration, so to speak, on old or damaged photos. Sometimes people will ask me to scan film, slides or photos for their own purposes. On these occasions I'll scan at 4,800 DPI and scale down to the needed resolution as the situation calls.

I would like to have a dedicated film scanner like a Nikon but my budget doesn't allow that. I don't get enough paid scanning work to make it feasible. My Canoscan 8800F flatbed isn't the most optimal thing to use. It's not accurate enough and it's fairly slow and cumbersome to do production work but it does the job.

I don't think it's outside the scope of this forum to say that we scan film and to talk about the basic details of what we do and why but it is outside our scope when you want to talk about the details of scanning and how to do it.

Even if you never use anything digital in your photography, this forum is in the digital domain. Therefore, some discussion of digital technology is called for, provided the focus stays on film and film technique. It's okay to discuss digital technology as long as it is treated as an adjunct to traditional methods.

To that end, I have no problem saying that I do use a scanner and discussing general information about scanning but I leave the details to the forums where it is inside the scope of their missions statements.

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 23, 2011

The policy has been that it's okay to discuss scanning for the very limited purpose of posting images on APUG. If the discussion develops into scanning for the purpose of making digital or hybrid prints and everything that goes into that process, then it's off topic for APUG.

tkamiya · Jul 23, 2011

I scan for purpose of posting here and as an aid to visualize what's possible in the darkroom. I use an EPSON V500. It scans well enough except for the holder that comes with it are really flimsy and there's no way to hold the film flat. My film dries curled and often I have to deal with Newton's rings. While it's rated to much higher resolutions, going beyond 2400DPI yields no difference in quality. As a side note, I occasionally, I print from it up to 11x14. It's actually not bad.

You can buy this scanner inexpensively from EPSON's refurbish store. That's what I did.

zsas · Jul 23, 2011

Since your motive is to scan and post here, then I am fine replying as indicated by the mod (David) that this is within the rules of APUG.

I use a Epson 4490 ($120) and the full version of VueScan ($80) since I shoot 35 and MF. Silverfast is quite expensive and therefore why I went the route to VueScan.

Check out my images in the gallery if you wish to see what my combo yields.

If you will never scan MF, then maybe a dedicated 35mm scanner would be better? Not sure the cost on those though?

I look forward to seeing your images!

Les Sarile · Jul 23, 2011

j-dogg said:
What are we all using to scan slides and negs? Not looking to spend a fortune, I have some Kodachrome I need to get done.

Your time is a fortune and a one time - effortless, scan will save you a lot of that.

Tried all others (desktops and labs) and have found the Coolscans as not only the best in extracting detail and color/contrast accuracy but it is also the fastest just in terms of scanning at less then a minute per frame for scans with ICE compared to all others taking > several mintes each. Even faster considering workflow - pre or post scan, as the Coolscans are most accurate. Below is an example of how K64 scans when ICE is used. Notice the considerable artifacts created by Epson's ICE.

Link for larger 1.5Meg file -> http://www.fototime.com/056E802FBAE131D/orig.jpg

dnjl · Jul 23, 2011

I scan my negatives with an Epson V330 for viewing purposes. I bought it new only half a year ago and it's already broken. Its advertised resolution is 4800ppi, but there is no increase in quality beyond 2400ppi.
I will replace this piece of garbage soon with something than can also scan 120 film.

CGW · Jul 23, 2011

M.A.Longmore said:
.
Are DPUG Members really shooting, and scanning that much film ?
It seems that APUG Members would have the answer.
The APUG Gallery seems to be loaded with scanned images.

Ron
.

This sectarianism baffles me, too. THIS is the site with the most traffic and resources. I get the Old Testament thing about film but hybrid workflow is a reality.
DPUG's content is far from unique. APUG is another story.

michaelbsc · Jul 23, 2011

CGW said:
This sectarianism baffles me, too. THIS is the site with the most traffic and resources. I get the Old Testament thing about film but hybrid workflow is a reality.

We could start a fight about the Church of Rodinol for old times sake.

Roger Cole · Jul 23, 2011

No idea how good they are but the Plustek 35mm scanners are pretty reasonably priced. Not as good as a Coolscan I'm sure, but the top of the line model brand new is about 1/4 the price of a used Coolscan.

I'm planning to get a V700 or V750 for MF and LF, but in something of a quandary about 35mm myself as I don't think those will yield the quality I want from small negatives and I don't want to shell out the bucks for a Coolscan or similar, so I'm rather interested in the Plusteks.

For forum posting I'm sure the flatbeds with transparency adapters would be fine so I'll say no more about why I want better than that.

All that said, for posting my Kodachrome I took the easy way out and just had Dwayne's put them all on Photo CD when I had them processed, but then I shot all the Kodachrome I have last year when this was available and the obvious (to me anyway) thing to do.

Chan Tran · Jul 23, 2011

I don't want to violate APUG rule as it's one of the few forum I really like. But I believe APUG members have more knowledge about scanner than others. DPUG seems not very active.
I personally use the Konica Minolta Dimage Dual Scan IV. I found it's a fine scanner at 3200dpi. I have no problem scanning Kodachrome. In fact scanning slides is a lot easier than negatives. I wish that I had upgrade to the scan elite 5400 when they were still in production.

Ron G · Jul 23, 2011

I have a dedicated 35mm film scanner and also several flatbed scanners.If I could have only one scanner it would obviously be a flatbed.I have been using Microteks for over twenty years,I was scanning in DOS with a 300Z when I started.You can buy Microteks on ebay with a transparency adapter for very little money these days,if you don't mind the SCSI interface there are even more to choose from.Ron G

derwent · Jul 23, 2011

Don't have a film capable scanner myself, but one of my friends has an Epson V700 so if I want something scanned I head on over there.
Works well and seems to be pretty good bang for the buck.
Will probably get one myself someday. Will do up to 8x10.

BradS · Jul 23, 2011

what happened to the "ignore thread" button?.....oh, there it is.

Good bye!

j-dogg · Jul 24, 2011

Thanks guys, some pretty good info posted here.

I'm pretty much dedicated 35mm or digital, one or the other, but I have about 4 rolls of Kodachrome I have been meaning to scan in so I can post on here. If I have digital questions I hang out over on a dedicated Canon EF-mount forum, all else involving 35mm I come here.

The basis of this revolves around my Kodachrome project I have been tooling on for some time, I just need to scan in my Kodachrome. Plus some of my best work I've shot on K64 and it needs to be posted here. This is APUG after all.

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 24, 2011

The original poster has an answer, and discussion is moving beyond the question of scanning for the purpose of posting in the APUG galleries, so this thread is now closed.

35mm scanners

j-dogg

Worker 11811

MattKing

Moderator

j-dogg

2F/2F

maarten m

M.A.Longmore

timparkin

MaximusM3

Worker 11811

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

tkamiya

zsas

Les Sarile

dnjl

CGW

michaelbsc

Roger Cole

Chan Tran

Ron G

derwent

BradS

j-dogg

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

35mm scanners

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

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