How good are Minolta Dimage Scan Duals?

[mehguy]

I'm in the market for a film scanner, and these seem to be somewhat affordable (found around $100) and I was just wondering how they compare to other scanners.

Are they cheap for a reason, or are they a good value?

 

[MattKing]

Probably an SCSI connector, which means lots of issues when connecting to current computers.

 

[mehguy]

Probably an SCSI connector, which means lots of issues when connecting to current computers.

The newer ones are USB and are supported under Vuescan.

 

[MattKing]

They have been out of the business for a long time, so it may be challenging to get them serviced.
I had a Minolta Scan Multi that I bought used about 20 years ago. It had a lot going for it, including good optics, but even then the specs and in particular speed were clearly outclassed by the then current Nikon models.
With any scanner though, the mechanicals are critical. So malfunctions in old scanners are difficult to solve.
What are your needs? If they are relatively undemanding, you might luck out. If they include speed and volume, you may be dissapointed.

 

[koraks]

I have a Minolta Scan Dual IV. It's USB indeed, and I use it with the original Minolta software. It runs just fine on Windows 11 if you disable driver signing, which isn't difficult to do. I think it's a great little scanner; it's compact, fast and yields surprisingly good scans. If you need examples, let me know.

If you can get one of these for $100 I would definitely recommend doing so.
I've had to replace the power supply on mine with a generic 24V SMPS; at some point the old unit burnt out and it's been chugging along nicely on the replacement.

 

[mehguy]

I have a Minolta Scan Dual IV. It's USB indeed, and I use it with the original Minolta software. It runs just fine on Windows 11 if you disable driver signing, which isn't difficult to do. I think it's a great little scanner; it's compact, fast and yields surprisingly good scans. If you need examples, let me know.

If you can get one of these for $100 I would definitely recommend doing so.
I've had to replace the power supply on mine with a generic 24V SMPS; at some point the old unit burnt out and it's been chugging along nicely on the replacement.

The trick is to find one with the trays since it seems like a lot of the listings don't include them

 

[koraks]

Ah yes, I've heard about that before. I bought mine new when it just came out so I've just kept the trays.

There's a thread here on Photrio with some 3D printable designs for Minolta trays. IDK for sure whether the ones for this particular scanner are part of it.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

You can get a refurbished Epson V600 from Epson with a one year warranty for $300.

Epson Perfection V600 Photo Scanner - Certified ReNew | Products | Epson US

The Epson Perfection V600 Photo delivers outstanding quality scans from photos, film, slides and everyday documents. With 6400 x 9600 dpi resolution, this high performance scanner ensures precision film scanning for sharp, vivid reproductions up to 17 x 22 Featuring DIGITAL ICE® for both film...

epson.com

 

[koraks]

That doesn't compare in any way honestly.

 

[sednoid]

I've had a Scan Dual III and then switched to IV (not a big difference in image quality, but the IV is much faster), overall nearly 6 years of use and I'm very happy with the results. My tray has broken latches so I have to close it together with some strategically placed double sided tape but otherwise the scanner is running without any issues, not minding its old age.

 

[mehguy]

You can get a refurbished Epson V600 from Epson with a one year warranty for $300.

Epson Perfection V600 Photo Scanner - Certified ReNew | Products | Epson US

The Epson Perfection V600 Photo delivers outstanding quality scans from photos, film, slides and everyday documents. With 6400 x 9600 dpi resolution, this high performance scanner ensures precision film scanning for sharp, vivid reproductions up to 17 x 22 Featuring DIGITAL ICE® for both film...

epson.com

I feel like dedicated film scanners are naturally going to be better because the only functionality they have is to scan film, so they will always do a good job at it.

As long as it's from a reputable brand.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

That doesn't compare in any way honestly.

What doesn't compare?

 

[fiddle]

I had a Minolta Scan Dual IV, great scanner. Will do plenty better than a flatbed, and quicker.

 

[Required]

The scan dual II is extremely slow but for 30€ it handles old and badly handled negs ok for a 10MP scan.
The IV model is really good. It’s plenty fast and delivers very good images. Vuescan or Minoltas original software can be used. I’ve ran it virtualised before I bought Vuescan. Just make sure you get all the carriers. They are otherwise very expensive to hunt down.
Some asks 200€ for them but they often be found for around 100-130€.

 

[bernard_L]

Probably an SCSI connector, which means lots of issues when connecting to current computers.

Can be solved fairly easily, then becomes a non-issue. I run a Coolscan LS2000 with SCSI-II under 64-bit Win10. See:

Windows 10 support is over. Likely switching to a version of Linux

FWIW, while I've been grousing about Microsoft since I started using their operating systems - mostly - I have also used their operating system products to good effect for 40 years now, so most of my grousing is fairly muted. I've always been amazed at how much support and updating I've been...

www.photrio.com

 

[koraks]

What doesn't compare?

Flatbed V600 vs. Minolta Dimage.
V600 scans reflective and film, but the latter fairly poorly.
Dimage scans no reflective and only 35mm film, but does so very well.

Can be solved fairly easily

Depends a bit. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard.
Easy: https://tinker.koraks.nl/photograph...tight-precision-ii-scanner-on-windows-10-x64/
Hard: https://tinker.koraks.nl/photography/paradise-lost-no-more-flextight-scans/
Back to easy again: https://tinker.koraks.nl/photography/paradise-regained-the-flextight-rides-again/

 

[Franklee]

I used to buy every Minolta Dual Scan IV for under $100 and keep several on stand by because they can freeze and jam up. Overall the Nikon scans are better but there is a nice contrasty crispness to the raw Minolta scans.

 

[Alan9940]

I ran a Minolta Scan Elite 5400 II for years until it decided to stop feeding in the film carrier. I dug out my Minolta Scan Dual III and used Vuescan to see if I'd be happy with the results. It certainly doesn't provide a file that will render large prints, but what it does provide is acceptable to my eye.