What about the Nikon LD-4000?

Erik Petersson · Aug 16, 2008

Hi,

I have been searching this forum for opinions about the Nikon LD-4000, but most people are discussing more recent scanners. The reason is that I have been offered one for just above 200 Euros. Id use it to scan both for the web and for big nice prints. Using both slide, and colour and b/w film.

Id be very grateful for any thoughts on this scanner. Thanks in ahead
kind regards
Erik

toyotadesigner · Aug 18, 2008

Hi Erik,

you might check this link for additional information. The 4000 features 'ICE 3', whereas the 5000 features 'ICE 4'. I don't know the difference. The 200 Euro sound like a good deal if the scanner is functioning flawlessly.

Erik Petersson · Aug 18, 2008

Thanks for your reply, Jens. Basically I am glad that the scanner features ICE at all. However, it wont work for black and white anyway, right?

According to the seller, it works.

About that link, would you mind posting it again? I dont think it shows in the forum.

Erik

toyotadesigner · Aug 18, 2008

Erik, sorry I didn't paste the link. Here you go:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2001_reviews/nikon_coolscan4000.html

ICE or Digital Ice means it removes dust and scratches. Some people say you shouldn't use it with b&w, but as I do only slides I don't know too much about it. However, scanning b&w you can find some discussions here in this forum. Some say scan in color and just use the green channel later... Because the Nikon scanners use direct light, b&w films cause some problems due to the silver in the film. But as I said - I have little to no experience with black and white.

Erik Petersson · Aug 18, 2008

Thanks for the interesting link. I will probably find many reasons to search this forum for such questions when I get the scanner on Wednesday.

amphoto · Aug 19, 2008

Nikon LS 4000

I'm sure that in the dim and distant past I used this scannner, and at the time thought it was excellent. You can use ICE on chromogenic films (like Ilford XP Super) that form the image using dyes, but not on 'traditional' B&W (silver based) films. I don't think it works too well on Kodachrome either, but I may be wrong. At 200 euros it sounds like a good deal.

Erik Petersson · Aug 19, 2008

The digital era makes the time go fast!

If the scanner is not faulty, I will buy it for sure. But what do the new scanners do that this doesnt? Just out of curiosity.

Thanks for the advice, by the way!

Erik

pellicle · Nov 11, 2008

Erik Petersson said:
Hi,

I have been searching this forum for opinions about the Nikon LD-4000, but most people are discussing more recent scanners. The reason is that I have been offered one for just above 200 Euros. Id use it to scan both for the web and for big nice prints. Using both slide, and colour and b/w film.

Id be very grateful for any thoughts on this scanner. Thanks in ahead
kind regards
Erik

the LS-4000 is more or less the same as the recently discontinued LS-50 or LS-V The ICE on it works beautifully for anything except black and white or kodachrome. For 200 euro either buy it or tell me where it is and I'll buy it!

The 4000 also accepts the bulk film attachments to make batch scanning easier.

just make sure its working well

nsouto · Nov 18, 2008

Erik Petersson said:
If the scanner is not faulty, I will buy it for sure. But what do the new scanners do that this doesnt? Just out of curiosity.

The newer ones use usb instead of firewire connections and are slightly faster.
The dmax is also supposed to be slightly higher on the new ones - that's roughly the dynamic range of the scanner.
I wouldn't sweat too much over that: the ls4000 is one excellent scanner, if it is working fine at that price, snap it! You'll never regret it.

There is a Nikon firmware upgrade for that scanner that reportedly resolves the problem with Kodachrome.

What about the Nikon LD-4000?

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