Nikon 9000 or Epson flatbed

Tom Kershaw · Nov 6, 2006

First post here on hybridphoto.com, over from APUG.

I am not going to have access to a darkroom for several months and need a way to deal with my negatives, scanning for web, and making digital RA-4 prints, inkjet proofs etc. My first reaction was to just go for an Epson 4990, but after further consideration the Nikon 9000 seems more appropriate as the main usage for the Epson would be scanning 6x6 negatives (black & white, and colour), and I already have access to a scanner that is reasonable for prints. I also want to start getting into some commercial photography including stock, so would want and need decent quality, presumably provided by the Nikon. Imacon scans are available locally but the costs are prohibitive for my purposes.

Although I am the UK it looks as though I could save several hundred GBP (on the UK price) by importing from the US, however this brings issues about the warranty into consideration.

Any further help on my deliberations would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Tom Kershaw.

michaelsalomon · Nov 6, 2006

I own a coolscan 9000 and its a great scanner capable of great scans. Is it a drum or imacon scan? No, but just for kicks I sent out a 6x6 velvia chrome to be drum scanned as well as scanned on an imacon - for my purposes I was not unhappy that I bought the coolscan nor was I totally blown away by the imacon and drum scans (mind you, I only print as big as 12" x 12" and scan medium format, mainly slide film) It seems that the coolscan has quite a following of happy users and as long as you learn the software (I use nikon scan) its a very capable machine. I would also say the the glass holder is a must, the nikon supplied medium format film holder does not do a good job in keeping the film flat. I've just started making digital negs from scans of b/w film output on an epson r2400 and the scans are just great from my b/w negs. Hope this helps.

Mike

Tom Kershaw · Nov 6, 2006

Interesting point about the glass carrier; looks as though I'll have to factor that into the price. Anyone with experience using Epson flatbeds (4990 or V700/750) for medium format?

Tom.

livemoa · Nov 6, 2006

I use a V700 (Epson Hong Kong wont import or support the 750) and I am very happy with it. I am scanning 35mm 120 (mainly 645) 5x4 and 10x8. It's not a drum scanner, but for my purposes it's good enough. I have not used a dedicated film scanner like the Nikon but my understanding is that they are better for 35 mm.

I am looking at buying a glass holder for my 120 negs.

Tom Kershaw · Nov 7, 2006

It would be good if someone had a cropped TIF or PSD sample scan from the Nikon with 120 film at 4000 DPI up online, but I haven't been able to find anything.

Helen B · Nov 7, 2006

Here's one from the 8000, using the rotating glass holder. I'll post another later - this one was hand-held at about 1/30 or maybe 1/15.

Best,
Helen

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Helen B · Nov 7, 2006

And one on Fuji Pro 160S, tripod-mounted:

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Tom Kershaw · Nov 7, 2006

Thanks for that Helen. Looking forward to the other examples later. What are your own impressions regarding the glass holder? (non/rotating/non-rotating)

Tom

(Opps didn't see your post)

Helen B · Nov 7, 2006

I agree that one or the other glass holder is essential for getting the best out of the scanner. As you've already spotted, I use the rotating one. I rarely have problems with Newton's Rings, and I do use the rotating facility on occasion.

Best,
Helen

Doug Fisher · Nov 7, 2006

Tom -

>>It would be good if someone had a cropped TIF or PSD sample scan <<

You might find the comparisons on the following pages to be a good read:

http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson V750/page_5.htm

While the Epsons are a good value for their price point, if you have the money I don't think you can go wrong with the Nikon 9000.

Doug
----
BetterScanning.com

Tom Kershaw · Nov 7, 2006

Helen Bach said:
I agree that one or the other glass holder is essential for getting the best out of the scanner. As you've already spotted, I use the rotating one. I rarely have problems with Newton's Rings, and I do use the rotating facility on occasion.

Best,
Helen

The scan from Fuji 160S negative was very helpful, thanks. What does the rotating holder actually do?

Tom.

Helen B · Nov 7, 2006

Tom,

The rotating holder allows the negative holder assembly to rotate a little in the carrier, so that you can straigten up a tilted image before scanning. You can either line it up before you put the holder into the scanner (I have a small piece of OHP film printed with a grid to help me) or afterwards - the tail of the holder sticks out of the scanner, enabling you to adjust the angle without ejecting and re-inserting the holder.

The photo-i review prices the 9000 at GBP 2500. Is that really the street price? No wonder you want to buy it in the States for $1850 (about GBP 1000). Did they do the test with the standard holder or one of the glass holders, I wonder. It seems like they did it with the standard holder.

The Microtek M1 ($700 basic) is due out early next year, if you can wait that long for another contender.

Best,
Helen

Tom Kershaw · Nov 7, 2006

Helen,

Thanks for the description of the rotating holder. I might well order the 9000 and rotating glass holder later this week.

Yes, the SRP does appear to be GBP 2500 inc VAT, although Robert White does have the Nikon at GBP 1750 ex VAT, 2056.25 inc VAT. As a quick exercise I did a price comparison between the Nikon F6 US price USD 2000 and the UK price, around GBP 1100, so roughly the same.

The photo-i.co.uk review struck me as slightly odd because although the reviewer claimed the differences were small between the Epson V750 and Nikon 9000, I thought they were quite noticeable. I think you're right, no mention is made of using a glass film holder.

Thanks for the heads-up on the Microtek M1. I did a quick Google search, and while it looks promising, I need something I know will work now.

Tom.

Helen B · Nov 7, 2006

A B&W example: T-Max 100 developed in DiLussol Vitesse, EI 125.

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Tom Kershaw · Nov 8, 2006

That black & white scan looks good. What has been your experience with scanning b&w negatives in terms of density, contrast, developer etc?

Tom.

Tom Kershaw · Nov 9, 2006

Um... I've just noticed that bhphoto.com say they don't accept VISA or Mastercard payments over 1500 USD from customers in the UK, Australia, France or Denmark, will probably give them an e-mail later. It seems a bit strange that a couple of hundred miles east from me in the Netherlands they'll accept an order, but not here in the UK.

Helen B · Nov 9, 2006

What about Adorama? I'm sure that we'll be able to find a way round the B&H limit if you wish to buy from B&H.

Best,
Helen

Tom Kershaw · Nov 9, 2006

Helen,

They will apparently accept American Express.

Tom.

crispinuk · Nov 12, 2006

For what it's worth I did a comparison between my Epson4870 and a friends Nikon 9000 (with glass carrier) last weekend, so here is a direct comparison between the two. As a caveat the Epson is over a year old so the latest generation may be sharper, but this might help anyone considering justifying upgrading from a similar model flat bed scanner to the Nikon.
The subject is a 600x400 pixel crop from a 6x9 Velvia50 frame scanned at 3200dpi in both cases, no sharpening etc in either case.

Nikon scan:
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Epson scan:
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GoGo · Nov 12, 2006

good info

Thanks for posting the side by side comparison.

Tom Kershaw · Nov 12, 2006

Thanks for that Crispin. Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to post some scans from the Nikon 9000.

Tom Kershaw · Nov 27, 2006

As I am now expecting the scanner to arrive sometime this week, I realise I need to implement some kind of colour management system. I've been looking at reviews of the GretagMacbeth Eye One Display-2 colorimeter and this appears to do what I would need in terms of providing a consistent standard of colour to the scans I produce and any digital RA-4 prints that get made by a lab.

Any thoughts?

Tom.

PS) I realise colour management is a very big topic.

donbga · Nov 27, 2006

Tom Kershaw said:
PS) I realise colour management is a very big topic.

I wish we could have a seperate Forum dedicated to this.

Don Bryant

Greg_E · Nov 28, 2006

Don Bryant said:
I wish we could have a seperate Forum dedicated to this.

Don Bryant

Ok, I'll bite... Why? I haven' seen enough questions get asked on this subject yet to really justify having a separate section.

And yes the i1 Display2 is a good device, and is the current product. The (very soon to be discontinued Xrite Optix XR is also a very good device, so say the hardware is superior, but for some reason it didn't survive the consolidation.

donbga · Nov 28, 2006

Greg_E said:
Ok, I'll bite... Why? I haven' seen enough questions get asked on this subject yet to really justify having a separate section.

I think a seperate forum covering color management would be better since there are so many issues related to CM and it would be convenient to lump discussions about CM in one place. Eventually there will be more posts concerning CM, so why not.

So far there has been little discussion about color inkjet printing and I assume that will change.

Don Bryant

Nikon 9000 or Epson flatbed

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