Microtek scanmaker 5

Someone's giving this away and I'm wondering if it's much better than an Epson 2580 for scanning 35mm negs. I still have a B/W darkroom so at this point I just use the scanner for proofs.

Thanks, Jesse

I doubt the Microtek will be all that much better. It will be a lot more awkward to use, since the Microtek has a SCSI interface. Getting SCSI devices to work on modern computers is often a chore, and sometimes simply not possible. I'd stick with the convenient Epson instead. If you feel like upgrading, I'd consider something like a Plustek (8100-8200), or consider 'camera scanning' instead.

Is that the scanner, or the software?
If it is a Scanmaker 8700, using ScanWizard 5 software, it is a lot more modern - firewire and USA.

I assume it's the Microtek Scanmaker 5: https://www.ephotozine.com/article/microtek-scanmaker-5-4034

Probably, but it is worth double checking.
These scanners have the advantage of not having platen glass between the negative/slide and the imaging sensor.