Scanning-CoolscanIV or Coolscan V ?

[Bsmooth]

New member and it was suggested I come here and join ,so I have.I used to shoot film and have oodles of negs and slides,maybe 500 or so,maybe a few more.
from what I have read and seen the Nikon dedicated scanners are the best for something like this.The Coolscan V seems to be the best bang for the buck,but its been discontinued,and I haven't had any luck at all finding one.The original price was around $600.00 which seems very reasonable ,but now all Nikon offres is something almost double the price. I can't afford over $1000.00 for something I'll use and then later I'll probably never use again.
Is there someplace I can get a used Coolscan IV or V. I have looked on ebay,but to tell the truth just don't trust it too much.
So what are my alternatives? I'v even asked If I could rent one ,but that never even got a response.
Any help would be greatly appreciated . Thanks

 

[nsouto]

ebay should be perfectly fine for either scanner.

There are quite a few dealers there and provided you check their latest feedback is reasonable, there shouldn't be any problems.

I got my V through ebay and never regretted it.

Given the choice, I'd go with the V: it's newer, has the latest firmware and software and I remain unconvinced that the IV gives the same results for everything.

The V is discontinued, so is the IV, the 4000, 5000 and 8000. The only scanner Nikon still makes is the 9000, unfortunately.

Don't let that stop you from getting a discontinued model: scanners can be repaired if necessary and they last for ages.

 

[pellicle]

Hi and welcome aboard

I used to shoot film and have oodles of negs and slides,maybe 500 or so,maybe a few more.
from what I have read and seen the Nikon dedicated scanners are the best for something like this.

yep ... although it can be a close call for resolution. But ICE on the other hand make all the difference.

I have an Epson 3200 a 4870 and a 4990, a Nikon LS-20E and an LS-4000 (I sold my LS-IV ED recently)

the short answer is that I can scan 35mm faster and with less of my time to attend it on the Epson 4990 than I can on any of my Nikons. The results are similar up to large sizes. On this page you can find my examination of 200 ISO and a comparison between high quality Drumscan (cost about 60 bucks per image) LS-4000 and Epson 4990.

On this page you can examine what a local minilab scan looks like (when using a Noritsu minilab) in comparison to scanning with my LS-IV ED.

so don't discount getting stuff done for you ... some places actually use the Nikon LS-5000's for scanning. But then there are scans and there are scans. It will take time to learn. For example you will get better results using this method than just using automated settings. The same strategy works on Epson too.

The Coolscan V seems to be the best bang for the buck,but its been discontinued,

well ... if you are at all comfortable with fiddling around, I'd say that the LS-4000 offers best bang for buck. Its more or less exactly the spec of the LS-v but has the options to drive bulk film scanning attachments. The drawback however is that it is firewire not USB 2.0 ... if you don't have a firewire card (cheap too) then you'll have to acquire one.

this wasn't a hassle for me but YMMV

almost double the price. I can't afford over $1000.00 for something I'll use and then later I'll probably never use again.

my friend ... scanning is a dedication ... if your interest is to get stuff done then I urge you to consider a bureau ... otherwise if you are lucky some person may toss you a scrap of bread and some water while you are in there chained to your scanner hell.

seriously I've scanned stuff since 1996 and I've learnt more in the last 3 years than I've learnt before mainly because I stopped just reading the stuff written on the net and started experimenting and understanding the stuff. You've got stuff to consider such as color profiles and when to and how to assign or convert to them. Understanding histograms and how to set your levels.

Happy to discuss this more if you wish to speak about it ... typing is a little tedious for this sort of thing. PM me for contact details.

Is there someplace I can get a used Coolscan IV or V. I have looked on ebay,but to tell the truth just don't trust it too much.
So what are my alternatives? I'v even asked If I could rent one ,but that never even got a response.
Any help would be greatly appreciated . Thanks

Ok. I've never ever had a hassle on ebay ... but then I'm careful (examine feedback, use snipe software ... blah blah.

Where are you? USA?? If so KEH is the best (heck, I'm in Finland and I use them) soruce of used gear. They have them from time to time.

Rental ... yes you can, but you'll spend so much that you'll wish someone could send you back in time to kick your butt into buying one and then on selling it on ebay. Even if you pay $200 too much and sell for market value you'll have it for as long as you need it for $200 ... what does that rental come out to per day?

Anyway ... pardon the long winded answer ... hope it helped

 

[pellicle]

Given the choice, I'd go with the V: it's newer, has the latest firmware and software and I remain unconvinced that the IV gives the same results for everything.

quite right. And why not as it has 4000dpi vs 2900dpi on the IV ED. I'd put the 4000 and V together on the same table but the IV is just that little bit less sharp.

Having said that unless making enlargements on the edge I'd say that if the price is right the IV will be good enough. Crazy thing is though that the 4000 often sells for the same price.

 

[Bsmooth]

Well here's the thing.I am unemployed right now.Been in manufacturing doing mechanical inspection for Defense and medical systems for over 30 years.
But the months I've had with time on my hands has given me time to think(probably a mistake !).
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Photography.I'm in Beverly,MA and most of the photography stores here have closed,most others charge absolutly outragous prices for there services.
Sounds like the Nikons are good enough to output work good enough to have prints made.I have a HP Photosmart S20 now and I've never been pleased with the results.
Being in QC I have over the years become somewhat of a perfectionist.Thats spills into everything else I do.
If I ever do any work for anyone else it has to please me first.I guess that got me into hot water a few times at work,but they have there standards and I have mine.
Bottom line I think I could do scans for less than most places here.Thing is I don't mind taking time to do things right. I also might regret it later,but I have gone to quite a few websites and offered my services as photo retoucher and image doctor.I can usually improve just about any image that needs work,and I'll take the time to do it right.Not only that ,but I'm also doing this free of charge.I've done a couple so far and I think they were quite happy.I just took a look again at what I have and yes I think I could get it done by someone else.But I sure would like to give it a shot myself.

 

[pellicle]

Hi

Sounds like the Nikons are good enough to output work good enough to have prints made.

Without a doubt. Did you read the page on the drum scanner comparison? Heck if you can't make a decent print with that then you can't make a decent print with anything. Even the owner of the drumscanner contacted me to say that if I was getting quality like that from my 4000 then why indeed bother with drum scans of 35mm. (just can't get my 4x5 sheets into the Nikon though ;-)

I have a HP Photosmart S20 now and I've never been pleased with the results.

I have a HP S20. It was a well regarded device in the year 2000 but either of my Nikons has much better dust removal using hardware based ICE and any of my Epson flatbeds exceeds its optical quality (in that order of decreasing impression of it).

Being in QC I have over the years become somewhat of a perfectionist.Thats spills into everything else I do.

I recommend the LS IV ED, LS-4000 or LS-V to you ... you'll get the 4000 for a better deal (as long as installing firewire doesn't faze you). Clean the mirror (for example this page helps) and you'll be fine!

Since you know something about scanning I suggest you get one on ebay (buy cunningly and pay less), read my above mentioned pages on settings and give it a whirl.

Ohh ... and don't forget to select a focus point each and every time for the best in focus, it will make a difference.

 

[Bsmooth]

Thanks Pellicle,If I find one I'll give it a whirl.