scanner question

tom1468 · Mar 21, 2008

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I am new here and not sure where I should post this , so please be forgiving if I am in the wrong spot.
I have a chance at a nikon CoolScan IV

The asking price is $300 , I am sure I could get him down to about $250. I dont know what the true value of this scanner is but $300 is about my spending limit.

I looked it up on the internet and it seems to only be about 2900 dpi. Nikon's current model scanners are at 4000 dpi.

So how much difference is that ?
Are their any current drivers that will allow it to work with windows vista ?

How does this compare with some of the Epson scanners that are at 3200 x 9600 dpi ?

I see some epson that are 3200 x 9600 dpi ranging in price from $90 to $700
What is the difference?
How do you choose a great scanner?
I have no clue about scanners so any other advice or recommendations are welcome
This will be for 35mm film
Tom

Greg_E · Mar 21, 2008

None of the Epson scanners will really resolve beyond about 2400ppi.

keithwms · Mar 21, 2008

Well, let's see, the new coolscan V ED is running $550 or so. So the extra $350 buys you full warranty, new software (FWIW, I recall reading that you're better off with 3rd party software), and better performance.

Also, I have a [perhaps premature/unfounded] concern that there won't be many more Nikon scanners coming down the pipes. I have been watching these scanners for over a year and the prices haven't budged.

tom1468 · Mar 21, 2008

I have checked nikons website and it doesnt appear to be any updated drivers for vista when it comes to the coolscan. So it looks like I will have to go another route. So what are the best scanners in the price range of $300 to $600 ? As I state above , I dont know anything about scanners
Tom

Greg_E · Mar 22, 2008

I didn't see anything about Vista support for Vuescan, so it might be worth contacting him to find out. Otherwise you choice of scanners is going to be limited to manufacturer supported software.
http://www.hamrick.com/vsm.html

LaurenceO · Mar 22, 2008

Tom, Nikon have recently updated their software, Nikon Scan, to v4.0.3. Which is for Vista only. While that's not the scanner driver, I would infer that they are on top of any changes needed for the new platform.

Having said that, I'm still using XP with my 8000, so I haven't tested.

tom1468 · Mar 22, 2008

UPDATE , UPDATE :
I lost my chance to buy the scanner, I took to long.
So now I am looking for another option. Maybe the plustek 7200 but seems I keep reading allot of bad things about this scanner. My goal is to just have a back up to my Nikon D80. I already own a Nikon n90s(35mm film) and wanted to use it as my back up but it seems that it might be easier to just buy another camera (used). Not many choices when it comes to scanners in the price range that I want and with quality. Any options ??????

donbga · Mar 22, 2008

tom1468 said:
UPDATE , UPDATE :
I lost my chance to buy the scanner, I took to long.
So now I am looking for another option. Maybe the plustek 7200 but seems I keep reading allot of bad things about this scanner. My goal is to just have a back up to my Nikon D80. I already own a Nikon n90s(35mm film) and wanted to use it as my back up but it seems that it might be easier to just buy another camera (used). Not many choices when it comes to scanners in the price range that I want and with quality. Any options ??????

First of all don't waste your money on the Plustek. Your good options are to find a Minolta 5400 for 35 mm or one of the Microtek or Polaroid 120 scanners which can be used for 35 mm scanning. The Minolta can scan at 5400 spi and the Microtek/ Polaroid at 4000 spi. Research those online. The Minolta MF scanner is also an excellent product. The Minoltas aren't inexpensive though since they are no longer made as is the Microtek/Polaroid scannrer

I wouldn't worry about Digital Ice, personally I think it is a useless feature since it softens the image scan and doesn't work with B&W. or hold out for Nikon 8000 or 9000.

Don Bryant

tom1468 · Mar 23, 2008

Don Bryant said:
First of all don't waste your money on the Plustek. Your good options are to find a Minolta 5400 for 35 mm or one of the Microtek or Polaroid 120 scanners which can be used for 35 mm scanning. The Minolta can scan at 5400 spi and the Microtek/ Polaroid at 4000 spi. Research those online. The Minolta MF scanner is also an excellent product. The Minoltas aren't inexpensive though since they are no longer made as is the Microtek/Polaroid scannrer

I wouldn't worry about Digital Ice, personally I think it is a useless feature since it softens the image scan and doesn't work with B&W. or hold out for Nikon 8000 or 9000.

Don Bryant

First off, thanks for the advice.
Next are you saying that microtek and polaroid are the same company? and that they are still being produced?
I notice that microtek makes mostly flatbeds scanners , Are you saying that their flatbeds are as good as nikons stand alones?(both being at 4000dpi) If so that might be a very good option for me. I might have to save a little more money though. I am not into MF or LF but that would leave that option open to me.
I notice some of these scanners at 7200dpi why isnt that better? is it a optics thing? or isnt it real resoultion? if so how does one tell what the real resolution is?
Thanks again and sorry for all the questions

keithwms · Mar 23, 2008

Just wait until you can afford a new Nikon. If I weren't drumming my MF slides I'd be Nikoning them.

For LF I have an epson 4990- zero complaints. It's also just fine for MF down to 645, biut notice I said "fine," not "great." Fine = definitely good enough for web posts, but certainly not good enough for high-level prints and archival storage.

Regarding what the real resolution is, please don't make us rehash the many discussions of this, just look for Sandy's posts in the threads over the past few months. Suffice it to say that only a drum scanner delivers [approximately] the stated resolution, flatbeds achieve much less. And yes, it is an optics issue!

But for web posting, if you shoot slides, I think you will find DMax to be a much bigger issue than scanned resolution. You can get by flatbedding 35mm for web stuff. It's not the best way to go by a long shot, but it can be done. My issue with buying a flatbed is, I can tell you from experience that you will want a new Nikon within a few months.

Greg_E · Mar 23, 2008

The Polaroid scanners were made by Microtek. I compared a Microtek 4000TF scan of a Kodachrome slide to my then brand new to me Nikon 8000. With very rough color correction the Nikon scan gave FAR more details in the near black areas, while still grabbing everything in the highlights.
http://www.hybridphoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=638 the last couple of pages are the important part. This might be different with Vuescan running both scanners, but I'm not sure as I don't have Vuescan yet.

donbga · Mar 24, 2008

tom1468 said:
First off, thanks for the advice.
Next are you saying that microtek and polaroid are the same company? and that they are still being produced?

The scanners I'm referring to are dedicated film scanners not flatbeds. They were both manufactured by Microtek. Microtek 4000TF and Polaroid Sprintscan Pro 120, Both are no longer manufactured but represent potentiall very good buys if the price and condition are right. I use Vuescan and get very nice results with this scanner. Silverfast AI is also available for this scanner, however is very expensive with the price listed at over $500.

tom1468 said:
I notice that microtek makes mostly flatbeds scanners , Are you saying that their flatbeds are as good as nikons stand alones?(both being at 4000dpi)

No.

tom1468 said:
I notice some of these scanners at 7200dpi why isnt that better?

No.

tom1468 said:
is it a optics thing?

No.

tom1468 said:
or isnt it real resoultion?

Yes.

tom1468 said:
if so how does one tell what the real resolution is?

There are different methods, none that I will go into here.

Tom,

Based on the questions you have asked you need to do some online research about scanning and scanners. This will take more than some cursory internet searches.

I would reccomend that you check out these links for general information for scanning:

http://www.scantips.com/

Dead Link Removed

http://www.larry-bolch.com/scanning/

The Minolta scanners I mentioned are as good as or better than the Nikon 8000/9000 but is no longer made and usually almost as expensive, but highly recommended.

Good luck,

Don

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