Do People Still Seek or Use the Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 8000 ED (LS-8000 ED)?

Kleiny41 · Dec 22, 2021

I have a Nikon Super Coolscan LS-8000 that I used to use to scan medium format negatives. I used it with VueScan and scanned to an Imac from 2011, with a firewire adapter. I'm curious how many of you still use and their lifespan? I had some part of the negative track reinforced by a local Nikon scanner repair specialist. I'm considering selling it but the prices I've seen on eBay seem insane to me. I have the medium format film holder without the glass- that's the only film holder I had. I'm curious to hear from people that still use these scanners. I also have an Epson V700 because I got into large format. I'm trying to figure out if I should keep it or sell it, and if I sell it, what would be actually a reasonable price. Thanks!

albireo · Dec 23, 2021

I use it. Absolutely unbelievable results. One of my best photo-related purchases ever.

Kleiny41 · Dec 23, 2021

Yes, it makes beautiful scans. Maybe I shouldn't sell it. The internal struggle is ridiculous.

Sirius Glass · Dec 23, 2021

I have an Epson V-950, but if you have a Nikon Super Coolscan LS-8000 that works the way you want then keep it. If it is broken and totally unrepairable then sell it on eBay as a vintage rare hard to get classic example of a period scanner in museum condition for $10 Million US.

BMbikerider · Dec 23, 2021

I still use the Nikon 35mm version and it is superb. It has a higher D Max than any flatbed and the ability to scan in RAW. I had it serviced a couple of years ago and all it needed was the dust cleaning out and lubrication of some moving parts. The technician, a retired Nikon engineer has stated these devices are bomb proof and the mechanics will fail first. I don't use any aftermarket software but still have a good working XP laptop on which I scan the negs or slides and transfer the items on a memory stick to my desk top to be worked upon and finished off. The prices for the 35mm are holding up well too, a good one which is clean and with the software plus instructions will fetch around £600-£700 in UK.

Les Sarile · Dec 23, 2021

Kleiny41 said:
Yes, it makes beautiful scans. Maybe I shouldn't sell it. The internal struggle is ridiculous.

If you think that your V700 would provide good enough results then it would make sense to sell it.

PhilBurton · Dec 23, 2021

There is a Facebook group focused (oooh, bad pun!) on Nikon scanners. It is a private group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1514948298527146/ It's full of knowledgeable people and there is always somone interested in either buying or selling a scanner.

benveniste · Dec 26, 2021

I still use mine, although I really should buy a USB-to-Firewire cable while I still can.

albireo · Dec 26, 2021

benveniste said:
I still use mine, although I really should buy a USB-to-Firewire cable while I still can.

Don't. Those converters are notorious for frying the firewire chipset on the Coolscans. Join the Facebook Coolscan group mentioned earlier. A real goldmine of info about these scanners

Chan Tran · Dec 26, 2021

Kleiny41 said:
I have a Nikon Super Coolscan LS-8000 that I used to use to scan medium format negatives. I used it with VueScan and scanned to an Imac from 2011, with a firewire adapter. I'm curious how many of you still use and their lifespan? I had some part of the negative track reinforced by a local Nikon scanner repair specialist. I'm considering selling it but the prices I've seen on eBay seem insane to me. I have the medium format film holder without the glass- that's the only film holder I had. I'm curious to hear from people that still use these scanners. I also have an Epson V700 because I got into large format. I'm trying to figure out if I should keep it or sell it, and if I sell it, what would be actually a reasonable price. Thanks!

I would want to buy and use it but I won't pay any insane price.

Les Sarile · Dec 26, 2021

Chan Tran said:
I would want to buy and use it but I won't pay any insane price.

Sold working condition listings on ebay for the 8000 start at $1000 on up depending on holders included.

OP, knowing what you get from the Coolscans - workflow and quality of results, what else would you get to replace it if you still want to scan medium format?

Sirius Glass · Dec 26, 2021

The Epson ~~V950~~ V850 is a whole lot less.

Les Sarile · Dec 26, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
The Epson V950 is a whole lot less.

You stated that version earlier. Is that inside information on a yet to be announced new model number?

Sirius Glass · Dec 26, 2021

Les Sarile said:
You stated that version earlier. Is that inside information on a yet to be announced new model number?

Sorry 850.

Les Sarile · Dec 26, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
Sorry 850.

According to https://www.filmscanner.info/en/EpsonPerfectionV850Pro.html, the 850 improves greatly on the scan speed - less then half the V7XX. As well as a moderate improvement in scan resolution of 2600dpi instead of 2300dpi.

Since the OP does have the V700, only the OP can assess if the Epson would be suitable enough to sell the 8000.

Sirius Glass · Dec 26, 2021

Les Sarile said:
According to https://www.filmscanner.info/en/EpsonPerfectionV850Pro.html, the 850 improves greatly on the scan speed - less then half the V7XX. As well as a moderate improvement in scan resolution of 2600dpi instead of 2300dpi.

Since the OP does have the V700, only the OP can assess if the Epson would be suitable enough to sell the 8000.

The Epson V850 gets the work done that I need, but then most of my work is with film and darkroom.

Les Sarile · Dec 26, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
The Epson V850 gets the work done that I need, but then most of my work is with film and darkroom.

No doubt there's no need to compare if you're getting the results you need. This may be the case with the OP hence considering selling the 8000.

Sirius Glass · Dec 26, 2021

Les Sarile said:
No doubt there's no need to compare if you're getting the results you need. This may be the case with the OP hence considering selling the 8000.

Most modern scanners should get you what you want as long as it can handle the format sizes which you use. Once scanned then the work starts with the software. Again, I do film so my needs are simple, scan, reduce, crop, align, send, post. No great shakes.

BMbikerider · Dec 26, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
The Epson ~~V950~~ V850 is a whole lot less.

But optically no where near as good when compared with the ED Nikon Glass. Additionally the benefit of being able to scan in RAW makes it worthwhile above anything else. The D Max of the NIkon Coolscan is higher, although by only 1 decimal point. but it is higher and that could make all the difference.

For a piece of equipment up to 14 years or more old when compared to a plain flatbed says an awful lot about the Nikon technical expertise.

PhilBurton · Dec 27, 2021

Chan Tran said:
I would want to buy and use it but I won't pay any insane price.

Chan,

Since you can't biuy a new Nikon 8000 (or 9000), it's a question of supply and demand. That Facebook 5000 group is a great place to research this question. If that's worth it you, that's a personal decision.

Chan Tran · Dec 27, 2021

PhilBurton said:
Chan,

Since you can't biuy a new Nikon 8000 (or 9000), it's a question of supply and demand. That Facebook 5000 group is a great place to research this question. If that's worth it you, that's a personal decision.

Thanks but I do think they are asking insane price. Price new in 2000 was around $3000 and they want $1000 plus for a used one today? No thanks. As I said it's still a useful scanner to me even if I have to have a computer with firewire and with WinXP to run the software but not for $1000.

Les Sarile · Dec 27, 2021

I wonder if KEH would buy this and how much they would offer for it?

I bought my 9000 used from them many years ago before it was discontinued. I had the 5000 and V700 but was disappointed with the results from the Epson and that's when I bought the 9000. Even though I haven't used medium format - and the potential sale price for the 9000 and holders is tempting, I can't imagine getting rid of it.

PhilBurton · Dec 30, 2021

Chan Tran said:
Thanks but I do think they are asking insane price. Price new in 2000 was around $3000 and they want $1000 plus for a used one today? No thanks. As I said it's still a useful scanner to me even if I have to have a computer with firewire and with WinXP to run the software but not for $1000.

Chan,

IF you do just 35 mm, then you might be well served by a any Nikon 35 mm scanner. The two guys who professionally repair these scanners sometimes sell used AND just serviced scanners. Both of these guys are very reputable.

Do People Still Seek or Use the Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 8000 ED (LS-8000 ED)?

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