Scanning negatives

[johnnywalker]

I have a PrimeFilm 1800u 35mm film scanner. It was cheap ($200?) and it's old (7-8 yrs?). I also have an inexpensive Canon LiDE 70 I use for scanning prints for the internet, but it's main purpose is scanning documents for work.
The Canon scanner doesn't do a very good job on my black and white prints, and the film scanner doesn't do black and white very well either (although it doesn't do badly on colour film, the few times I've tried it for that).
It's likely that I'm not versed enough in Photoshop Elements to tweak the files enough to make them look like the print (I always have a print I'm trying to emulate).
My question is, with which of these scanners would I be better off investing my time to learn how to get a good copy of the print? In other words, which one will give me the best starting point?
I realize that no one may have these particular scanners, so my question boils down to cheap negative scanner vs. cheap document scanner to get the best representation of the print.
I'm not interested in purchasing a new scanner of any type unless the Canon breaks down, in which case I would need a new one for documents.

 

[Ray Heath]

g'day Johnny

i'd suggest you learn how to better use both pieces of equpment, which is best for your purposes only you can decide and only when you know what each is capable of

i have a cheap Canon LIDE 20 and have always been happy with the results when scanning prints, see attached image

i scan a little soft using the scanners own software and then tweak contrast and tone in PS

it doesn't have to be complicated, though undoubtedly the next several replies you get will try and make it so

 

[johnnywalker]

Thanks Ray. I guess I'll just forget the film scanner, which seems to have pre-set functions for various films, none of which seem to work well on black and white film. Easier just to play with Elements and the print scan and get it as close as I can. Your print seems to have nice tones so it looks like it can be done.

 

[pellicle]

Johnny

My question is, with which of these scanners would I be better off investing my time to learn how to get a good copy of the print? In other words, which one will give me the best starting point?...

well I don't know the Prime well, but I thought it was only a film scanner, so for a good copy of the print it'd have to be the flat bed

having said that a scan of the negative will be better than a scan of a print IF you can get it scanned in 16 bits ... it not ... well ...

I'm not interested in purchasing a new scanner of any type unless the Canon breaks down, in which case I would need a new one for documents.

ok ... but keep in mind that you can get a Nikon LS-20 film scanner out there for about $50 ... it'll knock the socks off the stuff you've used so far, but its got limitations (like its a SCSI scanner and it'll need win95, Win2k or XP to work)

if that appeals to you and you get one, then feel free to PM me for help in setting it up.

You can get scans like this with it:



click for large

with ordinary negative films