Folks
I've presently got 4 scanners (I know, but its just not worth selling older ones), the list below represents the order in which I acquired each too:
I just purchased the LS-40 a little while ago.
Back in 2001 I bought the LS-20E and was more pleased with it than the LS-30 I sampled mainly because I was unsatisfied with the quality reduction of ICE on that model (and as I use black and white the ICE wasn't really helpful on it either).
After comparing the Nikon LS-20 to the Epson I found that the Epson was revealing more detail in my negatives (as well as enabling me to scan 4x5 film which I use a bit of) as well as having better shadow details, so I pretty much shelved the LS-20 (and SCSI was becoming a pain on XP anyway) and stuck to the Epson.
Then one day I used a (even then getting old) Nikon LS-IV ED at a friends and found that scans of 35mm slide were much better than the LS-20 and its ICE implementation was so good as to nearly be transparent. I considered buying a LS-V (then the current model).
Things happened and I didn't get around to getting the LS-V (silly me) and they are now discontinued. This leaves me considering the 5000 or the second hand market. (note: I'm not dripping with excess cash as at the time of writing).
So I picked up an LS-IV ED cheaply on that auction site and have been testing it for the last few days.
In short, I love the smooth dust free images I get from it, but I'm unsatisfied with the resolution of the 2900 dpi ... to be honest I'm sure that my 4870 exceeds it (happy to post my examinations).
I know from my comparisons that the Epson scans of 35mm went close to what my 20D yeilds (see this comparison for instance) so I'm feeling that a LS-4000 or LS-V would do be better ... BUT this would leave me out in the cold for my 120 and 4x5 films.
So aince I use 120, 4x5 and 35mm films I wonder what might be a good choice of scanner to buy next as I'm presently only using the Epson 3200 (no great shakes, but I think I know the animal well) and as I do not have my 4870 now.
I would like to consider buying a 4990 or perhaps a V700, but I just don't know how well the ICE works on these scanners, perhaps I might be just as well off selling the 40ED and looking for a LS-4000, then getting a 4870/4990 used to cover the 120 and 4x5
This would put me in the annoying position of having scans from my 35mm which come close to what I can scan from my 120 6x12 film.
I come back to then thinking that if I get a V700 it will perhaps do the 35mm as well as the LS-IV ED and do the 120 and 4x5 much better than my present 3200
Ohh ... and I did not yet mention that loading strips of 35mm into the Epson is just a breeze compared to scanning with the Nikon (no matter how much faster the scans may be .... which when using ICE on the 4870 was bloody slow)
I've presently got 4 scanners (I know, but its just not worth selling older ones), the list below represents the order in which I acquired each too:
- Nikon LS-20E (specs say 2700dpi)
- Epson 4870 (somewhere around 3000 dpi but again it depends)
- Epson 3200 (somewhere around 3000dpi but it depends)
- Nikon LS-40 (specs say 2900 dpi)
I just purchased the LS-40 a little while ago.
Back in 2001 I bought the LS-20E and was more pleased with it than the LS-30 I sampled mainly because I was unsatisfied with the quality reduction of ICE on that model (and as I use black and white the ICE wasn't really helpful on it either).
After comparing the Nikon LS-20 to the Epson I found that the Epson was revealing more detail in my negatives (as well as enabling me to scan 4x5 film which I use a bit of) as well as having better shadow details, so I pretty much shelved the LS-20 (and SCSI was becoming a pain on XP anyway) and stuck to the Epson.
Then one day I used a (even then getting old) Nikon LS-IV ED at a friends and found that scans of 35mm slide were much better than the LS-20 and its ICE implementation was so good as to nearly be transparent. I considered buying a LS-V (then the current model).
Things happened and I didn't get around to getting the LS-V (silly me) and they are now discontinued. This leaves me considering the 5000 or the second hand market. (note: I'm not dripping with excess cash as at the time of writing).
So I picked up an LS-IV ED cheaply on that auction site and have been testing it for the last few days.
In short, I love the smooth dust free images I get from it, but I'm unsatisfied with the resolution of the 2900 dpi ... to be honest I'm sure that my 4870 exceeds it (happy to post my examinations).
I know from my comparisons that the Epson scans of 35mm went close to what my 20D yeilds (see this comparison for instance) so I'm feeling that a LS-4000 or LS-V would do be better ... BUT this would leave me out in the cold for my 120 and 4x5 films.
So aince I use 120, 4x5 and 35mm films I wonder what might be a good choice of scanner to buy next as I'm presently only using the Epson 3200 (no great shakes, but I think I know the animal well) and as I do not have my 4870 now.
I would like to consider buying a 4990 or perhaps a V700, but I just don't know how well the ICE works on these scanners, perhaps I might be just as well off selling the 40ED and looking for a LS-4000, then getting a 4870/4990 used to cover the 120 and 4x5
This would put me in the annoying position of having scans from my 35mm which come close to what I can scan from my 120 6x12 film.
I come back to then thinking that if I get a V700 it will perhaps do the 35mm as well as the LS-IV ED and do the 120 and 4x5 much better than my present 3200
Ohh ... and I did not yet mention that loading strips of 35mm into the Epson is just a breeze compared to scanning with the Nikon (no matter how much faster the scans may be .... which when using ICE on the 4870 was bloody slow)
