Film scanners

[Paul]

Hi all

I am now in the position of being able to afford a film scanner: a while ago
I was considering a minolta one but I assume they are no longer available.
Discounting Nikon, which I think are probably too expensive, what would you
guys suggest. I want to scan slides and negative film, would like dust
removal and to be able to load more than one slide at a time. Is thgere a
reliable site with reviews, rather than the many sponsored links from
googling? I am in the UK

many thanks for any help

Paul

 

[Maris V. Lidaka Sr.]

Frankly, Nikon or Minolta - buy through eBay if necessary. I bought both my
Nikon LS-30 and my Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400 (1st version) through eBay
and have had no problems with either.

For reviews, check at imaging resource

http://www.imaging-resource.com/SCAN1.HTM

Be sure to check out Wayne Fulton's filmscanning site for some basic
information and leads:

http://www.scantips.com/

Maris

 

[Pete Rissler]

Hi all

I am now in the position of being able to afford a film scanner: a while
ago I was considering a minolta one but I assume they are no longer
available. Discounting Nikon, which I think are probably too expensive,
what would you guys suggest. I want to scan slides and negative film,
would like dust removal and to be able to load more than one slide at a
time. Is thgere a reliable site with reviews, rather than the many
sponsored links from googling? I am in the UK

many thanks for any help

Paul

You may also want to check out the Epson v-700 and v-750 flatbed scanners.

http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson V700/page_1.htm
http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson V750/page_1.htm

 

[Steve]

Hi Paul -

Do you have only 35mm slides/negatives to scan? If so, then the Nikon
V or Nikon 5000 are good choices. If you have lots of slides to scan,
the 5000 has a slide feeder that really helps to make things more
efficient. If you have larger format films, then a good flatbed will
work, though you probably sacrifice some quality in 35mm scans
(debatable, for sure). True medium format film scanners like the Nikon
9000 are a bit on the expensive side and are significantly slower than
a flatbed or dedicated 35mm scanner. (Though the Nikon 9000 does a
very nice job.)

You should be able to resell these Nikon scanners for a good price. I
doubt that this is true for many lower-end film or flatbed scanners
(something like the Epson v700/750 perhaps being an exception).

Another alternative to explore is paying a scanning service to do the
work for you. Going this route, you don't have to buy the scanner or
spend the time doing it. Depending on your goals and skills, this
might be a better path to pursue. My company is in the US; I'm sure
there are good choice in the UK, though I don't have any suggestions.

Regarding reviews, the previously posted photo-i site is great, but
they haven't reviewed every scanner that might be interesting. My
company website (http://www.pixmonix.com) will soon have a more
comprehensive index of good reviews of film scanners (and decent film-
scanning flatbeds). (Please check in there early next week.)

Good luck!

--Steve
Pixmonix slide and negative scanning