scanning 35mm B&W negatives for screen displaying

[pedrorf]

I want to scan my 35mm B&W negatives. I won't be making digital prints at home, just want an image large enough for displaying on a computer (full screen), playing around with photoshop, eventually uploading it to my blog, and so on. I will only be printing one frame every now and then, and in that case I will take the negative to be optically printed or to be scanned with an high end machine for further processing. So, I don't think I need a large resolution scanner, but I want good image quality (dynamic range, sharpness, and so on).

With this in mind, I was wondering if a decent flatbed scanner with a negative holder would be enough for my needs. The dedicated film scanners I've seen are more expensive than I'd like to pay. Plustek has a cheap model, though, and if it's any good I may go for it. If there's no other option I suppose I'll get the entry level nikon coolscan, but these ones would be stretching my buget...

Can you provide me with some advice?

Thank you,
Pedro

 

[Bob Carnie]

Hi Pedro
You may want to consider a fuji frontier scan at a local printer for the needs you describe, 16 base is a bit more expensive but you can eventually make decent 8x10 prints if you go that route.
These scans should be around 5-8 dollars each for 16 base and cheaper for basic scans, if you do not have a lot to do this may be the route to go.
Lately we only process only our black and white film*do not cut*, and then we get full roll frontier scans burned to cd for under 10 dollars.
From there you can separate the images that you like and then get a selection of 16 base scans if you want to go up to 8x10.
I personally do this for all my work now rather than contact sheets.
Once I have made a generous select of what I like from the shoot, I will then make a ganged proof. From this point I will then go to a good scanner and make my files for printing.*I do this for colour and black and white and really like the process.*

I think if you wait for a year or two a lot of very good used scanners will be on craiglist and ebay where you should be able to get some amazing deals.
Bob

I want to scan my 35mm B&W negatives. I won't be making digital prints at home, just want an image large enough for displaying on a computer (full screen), playing around with photoshop, eventually uploading it to my blog, and so on. I will only be printing one frame every now and then, and in that case I will take the negative to be optically printed or to be scanned with an high end machine for further processing. So, I don't think I need a large resolution scanner, but I want good image quality (dynamic range, sharpness, and so on).

With this in mind, I was wondering if a decent flatbed scanner with a negative holder would be enough for my needs. The dedicated film scanners I've seen are more expensive than I'd like to pay. Plustek has a cheap model, though, and if it's any good I may go for it. If there's no other option I suppose I'll get the entry level nikon coolscan, but these ones would be stretching my buget...

Can you provide me with some advice?

Thank you,
Pedro

 

[Ray Heath]

Hi Pedro
You may want to consider a fuji frontier scan at a local printer for the needs you describe, 16 base is a bit more expensive but you can eventually make decent 8x10 prints if you go that route.
These scans should be around 5-8 dollars each for 16 base and cheaper for basic scans, if you do not have a lot to do this may be the route to go.
Lately we only process only our black and white film*do not cut*, and then we get full roll frontier scans burned to cd for under 10 dollars.
From there you can separate the images that you like and then get a selection of 16 base scans if you want to go up to 8x10.
I personally do this for all my work now rather than contact sheets.
Once I have made a generous select of what I like from the shoot, I will then make a ganged proof. From this point I will then go to a good scanner and make my files for printing.*I do this for colour and black and white and really like the process.*

I think if you wait for a year or two a lot of very good used scanners will be on craiglist and ebay where you should be able to get some amazing deals.
Bob

g'day Pedro & Bob,

Bob, does your reply actually answer the original question or just confuse the issue?

I too am interested in a cheap, convenient method for online presentation only.

 

[donbga]

IPlustek has a cheap modelCan you provide me with some advice?

Thank you,
Pedro

Generally speaking you get what you pay for. I would avoid the Plustek.

Don Bryant

 

[rwyoung]

I want to scan my 35mm B&W negatives. I won't be making digital prints at home, just want an image large enough for displaying on a computer (full screen), playing around with photoshop, eventually uploading it to my blog, and so on. I will only be printing one frame every now and then, and in that case I will take the negative to be optically printed or to be scanned with an high end machine for further processing. So, I don't think I need a large resolution scanner, but I want good image quality (dynamic range, sharpness, and so on).
Can you provide me with some advice?

Thank you,
Pedro

OK, IF you promise to never do anything but make posts to your blogs with the scans, something inexpensive like a PrimeFilm1800U plus SilverFast plus Gimp is just about as cheap as you can get. The 1800U is mostly a piece of junk (but can be had for next to nothing) with its included software. But using SilverFast and its multi-pass scanning and then a little edit with the Gimp, you can make nice web images. But don't expect to make 16x20 prints from them. In fact, 8x10 will probably be pushing it pretty hard.

Otherwise, look for a nice used Nikon CoolScan or Minola IV. I'd still get SilverFast for either of those too. The all-around route, maybe the Epson 4990 (referb or used for $$ saving) or a new V750.

OK, that is my $0.02 worth. I have put on my asbestos undies so flame away!

 

[frugal]

Personally, I'd go for a decent flatbed with a transparency unit, at least that way you have the use of a flatbed for scanning other things.

But, once you get scanning your film you might find that you want to use them for other things (digital prints, digital manipulations/compositing, etc) and then you're going to wish you had a better scan. And especially if you shoot slide film, get a film scanner. If you ever want to get a print from a slide then you'll probably be doing it digitally and having a good quality film scanner will give you great results at least up to 8x10 if not larger.

 

[toyotadesigner]

If you have a light table you can place your slides or negs on top of it, mount a wireless scanner (tiny P&S digicam) with macro mode on a tripod and 'scan' them. Don't laugh - it works. It's a very cheap and fast solution.

 

[pedrorf]

Thanks for your replies, folks. I'm pondering all options here. Can't find that PrimeFilm where I live, but in the meantime I found out that a fried of mine has the plustek and I saw some of his scans. For my needs, the quality is perfectly acceptable, as is the price, at about 200USD. I'll try to compare it with a flatbed before I make a purchase and see if there's a significant difference.

Thanks again,
Pedro