This seems to be a common question...

[Ces1um]

*disclaimer* I've read through a few other posts asking this question, but everyone else had different requirements than I do.

I need a scanner...

I just started home processing 35mm black and white film and I need a way to digitize them. My needs are not professional but social. I simply want to share photos with family members that are all across the country. My budget is sub $1000. In fact, the lower the better really. Basically I just need the quality of the low res scans you get back from a film development lab. I believe that's 1544*1024 for resolution. I don't need high end but I don't want to buy junk either. I initially was thinking of the wolverine type scanners but the reviews often say "broken out of the box". I develop a roll a week maybe so it wouldn't be horrible to have to scan a frame at a time for me. I don't plan on buying a 120 film camera so I also don't require that capability. Bearing these requirements in mind, does the community have any suggestions? I'm aware I could just get the lab to develop my black and white film and that would get me the scans for a reasonable price, but I actually enjoy processing my own and I can do it much faster than the labs month long turnaround time. Thanks for your contributions.

 

[John_M_King]

If you don't need high resolution I would suggest any of the lower to middle range of flatbed scanners. I have heard good reports of the EpsonV600. (I have a V500, the preceeding model and it has given superb service) You would be able to scan close to what you need and make final tweeks afterwards. The V600 does have the facility to remove dust marks from film so would be ideal.

 

[Les Sarile]

I'm aware I could just get the lab to develop my black and white film and that would get me the scans for a reasonable price, but I actually enjoy processing my own and I can do it much faster than the labs month long turnaround time.

Are you talking about true b&w film (like Kodak TMAX) as opposed to chromogenic b&w film (like Ilford XP2) that is required to be processed using the C41 process? Just want to point out that if it is the former then there is no ICE (scanner dust and scratch removal) that will work with true b&w film due to the silver in the film.

 

[albada]

You can build your own scanner using a DSLR if you are (1) good at making things, and (2) good at using Gimp or Photoshop or Lightroom. This thread in DPUG explains how two of us did it.

Mark Overton

 

[John_M_King]

With the Epson v500 flatbed there IS a dust removal button and a ICE defect removal button. There is a difference. the dust removal is not as effective as the defect ICE button but it does make an improvement.

 

[juan]

I have an Plustex Opticfilm scanner for 35mm which works well. The only difference between the various models appears to be the included software. As I use Vuescan, I picked the cheapest model. For 35mm, it works much better than my Epson V750.