Minolta Scan Elite 5400: best software to drive it?

[Fernando]

Hello,

given that my SS120, altough very good on medium format, is a bit soft
for 35mm, I'm looking into a 35mm film scanner to side it.
I'm narrowing to Nikon LS-50 and Minolta Scan Elite 5400.
I always use Vuescan Professional to drive my Polaroid, and I like it
very much; I understand it supports the Nikon LS-50 very well, but,
from what I'm gathering, it has issues (banding, shadow details et
al.) with the Elite 5400.
Do you know if those issues were fixed with the current 7.6.84 version
(it doesn't seem so: looking at the changelog there were no
5400-related updates)?
Or, how good is the included Dimage software?
In the end: how does Silverfast perform with this scanner? Worth of it
(quite expensive)?

Many thanks to all Minolta 5400 users!

Fernando

 

[Tom Harrison]

Hi Fernando

I use Vuescan with my Minolta 5400, I find the colours a lot more natural,
some colours with the minolta software are very exaggerated I find,
especially greens such as foliage. That's just what I find, best to try
both and see which you prefer.

Tom

 

[Fernando]

I use Vuescan with my Minolta 5400, I find the colours a lot more natural,

So you did not experienced any of the problems mentioned in this
forum?
Streaks / banding in dense shadows, clipped shadows details,
inconsistencies between Grain Diffuser On and Grain Diffuser Off?
That's interesting... which version are you using?

Thanks!

Fernando

 

[Tom Harrison]

Hi Fernando

No I have never experienced any of the problems mentioned, I believe Minolta
have supposed to have sorted out this problem in their latest software
update anyway, I am currently using Vuescan version 7.6.83

Tom

 

[Alan Browne]

Hello,

given that my SS120, altough very good on medium format, is a bit soft
for 35mm, I'm looking into a 35mm film scanner to side it.
I'm narrowing to Nikon LS-50 and Minolta Scan Elite 5400.
I always use Vuescan Professional to drive my Polaroid, and I like it
very much; I understand it supports the Nikon LS-50 very well, but,
from what I'm gathering, it has issues (banding, shadow details et
al.) with the Elite 5400.
Do you know if those issues were fixed with the current 7.6.84 version
(it doesn't seem so: looking at the changelog there were no
5400-related updates)?
Or, how good is the included Dimage software?
In the end: how does Silverfast perform with this scanner? Worth of it
(quite expensive)?

Many thanks to all Minolta 5400 users!

Fernando

For workflow and image quality I have been getting on fine with the
updated Minolta s/w. I haven't used Vuescan in many months.