scanner for 35 & 2 1/4

Bountyphotographer

I am back into the scanner search, for this time I have to buy one.
What is out there that most of you are using?
I just want to do 35 & 2 1/4 .

Thanks

BP

ziggy53

Do you need to scan mounted slides?
Film strips?
B+W film?
Do you want automated digital dust removal?
What volume?

Bountyphotographer

ziggy53 wrote:

Do you need to scan mounted slides?
Film strips?
B+W film?
Do you want automated digital dust removal?
What volume?

ziggy,ziggy,ziggy you got a good point which leads me to another question

What about scancafe??????????

I do have color $ B&W 35 & 2 1/4 film strips and want a good job done saved on a DVD and I want to win the lottery :whip. ok, ok forget the last request

BP

ziggy53

ScanCafe et al.

I have not used any outside services for my personal stuff but I used an "agency" to scan work I did at my previous employers. Remember that anything you send away is "at risk" of loss or damage. If it's images that can not be duplicated, you may want to reconsider an outside source.

If it's new images, you might see if the processor lab can do the scans for you, many can.

As for scanner choices, it's more like "choice" because Nikon is the only major player still in the game, unless you purchase used. The Nikon Super CoolScan 9000 ED is capable of doing most of what you ask, and it will do a truly professional job of it. Count on long sessions if you have any volume to do.

There are flatbed scanners which will do an OK job for small printed images or moderate digital sizes, but nothing like a true film scanner.

Bountyphotographer

ziggy53 wrote:

ScanCafe et al.

I have not used any outside services for my personal stuff but I used an "agency" to scan work I did at my previous employers. Remember that anything you send away is "at risk" of loss or damage. If it's images that can not be duplicated, you may want to reconsider an outside source.

If it's new images, you might see if the processor lab can do the scans for you, many can.

As for scanner choices, it's more like "choice" because Nikon is the only major player still in the game, unless you purchase used. The Nikon Super CoolScan 9000 ED is capable of doing most of what you ask, and it will do a truly professional job of it. Count on long sessions if you have any volume to do.

There are flatbed scanners which will do an OK job for small printed images or moderate digital sizes, but nothing like a true film scanner.

Thanks

claudermilk

With Epson's current offerings, there is debate as to whether spending nearly $2k on the Nikon is really necessary. I am planning on getting a V700 very soon for scanning my 645 and three generation's worth of family photos (lots of 2 1/4 and 35mm negs and probably a number of prints). From the review at photo-i (here), the results can be so close that I find the $1300 price premium value questionable.

This is one of those gear questions where you often get a whole bunch of people advising you to spend a ton of money on the top-of-the-line gear when it may not really be necessary. Do some research & make up your own mind there. I'm not knocking anyone, but the big dollar solution isn't always the right one & only recommending that is a bit myopic IMHO.

For service bureaus, I know ScanCafe has gotten good reviews here, but hte idea of sending irreplacable family heirloom negatives to India and back gives me pause. AFAIK there's a competing service based here in CA, but it still involves shipping & I have the same concerns. For me it's a bit easier to justify investing in a scanner because I am generating my own negatives with a film MF camera.

ziggy53

Chris,

Be sure to look for user reviews relating to Epson flatbed scanners and 35mm strips. Apparently the Epson holders do not do a very good job of controlling film curl. Many folks have problems especially near the end of a roll where curl can be worse.

I too am looking for a scanner for medium format and larger. If you should happen to purchase the Epson V700 I would be very interested in both your impressions about the scans as well as image samples of the scans.

I have a Minolta Dimage ScanDual IV that I am happy with for 35mm work, so that's what I want to complement in the larger formats.

Thanks,

StephaneB

ziggy53 wrote:

Chris,

Be sure to look for user reviews relating to Epson flatbed scanners and 35mm strips. Apparently the Epson holders do not do a very good job of controlling film curl. Many folks have problems especially near the end of a roll where curl can be worse.

I too am looking for a scanner for medium format and larger. If you should happen to purchase the Epson V700 I would be very interested in both your impressions about the scans as well as image samples of the scans.

I have a Minolta Dimage ScanDual IV that I am happy with for 35mm work, so that's what I want to complement in the larger formats.

Thanks,

I have a V750. Holders found at www.betterscanning.com improve performance a lot. Like it scans the grain of APX 25...

I am looking for a Scan Dual IV for 35mm, though, because I consider the V750 just short of performance for those tiny negs.

The Epson V750 allows a good 8-9 times enlargement factor, but you need more to get really sharp 12x18 prints from 35mm.

On the other hand, it can be debated wether 35mm is appropriate for such large prints.

claudermilk

I was poking around a bit and saw that too. Part of my plan is to get one of those betterscanning trays. Now my only conundrum is: is wet mounting really worth the cost & trouble? I looks like I can try the standard setup with the replacement trays & add the necessary glass insert later if I feel like it.

ziggy53

StephaneB wrote:

I have a V750. Holders found at www.betterscanning.com improve performance a lot. Like it scans the grain of APX 25...

I am looking for a Scan Dual IV for 35mm, though, because I consider the V750 just short of performance for those tiny negs.

The Epson V750 allows a good 8-9 times enlargement factor, but you need more to get really sharp 12x18 prints from 35mm.

On the other hand, it can be debated wether 35mm is appropriate for such large prints.

Thanks Stephane, I was not aware of those.

ziggy53

claudermilk wrote:

I was poking around a bit and saw that too. Part of my plan is to get one of those betterscanning trays. Now my only conundrum is: is wet mounting really worth the cost & trouble? I looks like I can try the standard setup with the replacement trays & add the necessary glass insert later if I feel like it.

You and Stephane are starting to convince me that this might be a pretty good alternative to a film scanner, at least for personal use.

At least you will get a "very" good preview and, if you found an image that was really special, you could always use another method for the few images that might require it.

The fact that this scanner supports up to 4x5, maybe more if you get creative, puts it in a very special class. Hmmm ...

Thanks Chris and Stephane,

claudermilk

I'm convincing myself as well. I just cannot see spending nearly $2k on a scanner for a camera outfit that cost me $350. Even the V700 at refurb prices will now just more than double my MF investment. Those examples from the photo-i review are pretty convincing--that and the fact that he spent a while using the gear to get a really in-depth feel for it. See, here I go again talking us into the flatbed.