Nikon Coolscan 8000

[1Scan]

I have acquired a used Nikon Coolscan 8000 which resolutely reports a
hardware failure when I switch it on. I've tried to connect it to two
Macs and an XP machine, with v4 of Nikon's scan software. Each time
the same standard hardware fault message although the power light is
solid green.

Before I draw the obvious conclusion can anyone suggest anything that
might overcome this, or a way to establish exactly what the fault
might be?

Jeff Underwood

1Scan.co.uk
freephotoscanning.com

 

[Robert Peirce]

I have acquired a used Nikon Coolscan 8000 which resolutely reports a
hardware failure when I switch it on. I've tried to connect it to two
Macs and an XP machine, with v4 of Nikon's scan software. Each time
the same standard hardware fault message although the power light is
solid green.

Before I draw the obvious conclusion can anyone suggest anything that
might overcome this, or a way to establish exactly what the fault
might be?

Have you tried VueScan?

 

[Toni Nikkanen]

I have acquired a used Nikon Coolscan 8000 which resolutely reports a
hardware failure when I switch it on. I've tried to connect it to two
Macs and an XP machine, with v4 of Nikon's scan software. Each time
the same standard hardware fault message although the power light is
solid green.

Is there any obviously out-of-place noise involved also? I bought one that
was DOA that exhibited what you just describe + lots of extra noise. The
official Nikon repair representative in Finland (JAS-tekniikka) fixed it
promptly and it has worked great ever since. I believe the unit was
broken in transport as the box it arrive din was also clearly damaged -
these things are very delicate.

If you're in the UK as it seems, I guess Nikon support over there is solid
and you have a good chance of getting it repaired, if it comes to that. While
it is an old device it seems the "professional" status means that spares are
available for much longer than in $50 devices..

 

[CSM1]

I have acquired a used Nikon Coolscan 8000 which resolutely reports a
hardware failure when I switch it on. I've tried to connect it to two
Macs and an XP machine, with v4 of Nikon's scan software. Each time
the same standard hardware fault message although the power light is
solid green.

Before I draw the obvious conclusion can anyone suggest anything that
might overcome this, or a way to establish exactly what the fault
might be?

Jeff Underwood

1Scan.co.uk
freephotoscanning.com

I would contact the seller and ask if it is a working scanner or a piece
of junk.

The seller may be selling a broken scanner to get it out of his/her
house.

One other thing you might try, ViewScan is a stand alone scanner
software. Supports over 1200 scanners (he says).

http://www.hamrick.com/

 

[Barry Watzman]

I service some Nikon scanners but not this model. Normally, if you
disconnect the scanner from the computer, remove all film adapters and
turn it on, the power light will blink for a while and then turn solid
(NO MATTER WHAT). If it ONLY blinks SLOWLY before turning solid, it
passed it's self test. But if it EVER blinks rapidly (even though it
stops), it has failed it's self-test.

 

[1Scan]

I have acquired a used Nikon Coolscan 8000 which resolutely reports a
hardware failure when I switch it on. I've tried to connect it to two
Macs and an XP machine, with v4 of Nikon's scan software. Each time
the same standard hardware fault message although the power light is
solid green.

Before I draw the obvious conclusion can anyone suggest anything that
might overcome this, or a way to establish exactly what the fault
might be?

Jeff Underwood

1Scan.co.uk
freephotoscanning.com

Thanks for all your messages and help.

I do have a licence for Vuescan so I downloaded the latest version of
that and tried it, sadly same result. Vuescan (and Nikonscan) can see
there's a scanner attached but reports it not working.

Having read Barry's comment I have watched the green light when I
switch it on. Initially it flashes steadily then a distinct set of
rapid flashes before settling to solid green. I think the obvious
conclusion has to be drawn.

I have contacted the seller and he is adamant that the unit works and
that somehow I've configured the software wrong. He is coming to see
me in a couple of days and says he'll get it working. He seems to be a
reasonable eBay trader so if, as I expect, he can't fix it then he
will be resigned to a refund.

Jeff Underwood

1Scan.co.uk
freephotoscanning.com

 

[Barry Watzman]

I believe that the 8000 is scsi, but I'm not sure. The self test can be
performed "stand alone" no matter what.

 

[1Scan]

I believe that the 8000 is scsi, but I'm not sure.  The self test can be
performed "stand alone" no matter what.

Just by way of a postscipt to my story with the Coolscan 8000 I bought
via eBay, and by the way the unit I had was firewire connected.

The seller visited me thinking this was nothing more than a software
glitch. After an hour tinkering on his MacBook, two of my Macs and my
Vista machine we came to agreement - the unit was faulty, he promptly
refunded my money and took the scanner away with him.

Subsequently a couple of things have happened. I got a reply from a
Nikon repair shop who said the worst case scenario was that the main
logic board needed to be replaced - £400 plus £100 labour plus cost /
time to transport the unit to their premises. Add VAT and that would
be over half what I had originally paid for the scanner.

The vendor has contacted me and independently he has had the unit
checked, the repair is less expensive and will come with a three month
warranty so if he puts it on the market again he can do so with
confidence.

I am left with the relief of a close shave, and wondering if scanners
such as this are worth buying without any form of warranty given the
potentially high repair bills.

Jeff Underwood
1Scan.co.uk
freephotoscanning.com

 

[Toni Nikkanen]

I believe that the 8000 is scsi, but I'm not sure. The self test can
be performed "stand alone" no matter what.

I think it was also available in SCSI, but also in FireWire. The ones I've ever seen have been
Firewire but an SCSI version is possible I guess.

 

[Kennedy McEwen]

I think it was also available in SCSI, but also in FireWire. The ones
I've ever seen have been
Firewire but an SCSI version is possible I guess.

Coolscan 8000 was only ever available as Firewire.

 

[Barry Watzman]

As I mentioned, I service some models of Nikon scanners although not the
8000 or 9000. I have serviced 300 to 500 units over the past 4 years or so.

In my experience, 80% of the units sold on E-Bay need service. Of
these, about 70%-80% don't work (at all), while of the remaining units,
they superficially work but the optics are so dirty that the images are
SEVERELY degraded compared to what the scanners should be producing.
Note that some users are so lacking in knowledge that they will not be
aware of a problem with these units.

A very common reaction from customers after I return a repaired unit is
"Damn you, now I have to rescan my entire collection of images !! You
created {hundreds, thousands} of hours of work for me !!"; I get this a
***LOT***

 

[Silicon Sam]

As I mentioned, I service some models of Nikon scanners although not the
8000 or 9000.  I have serviced 300 to 500 units over the past 4 years or so.

In my experience, 80% of the units sold on E-Bay need service.  Of
these, about 70%-80% don't work (at all), while of the remaining units,
they superficially work but the optics are so dirty that the images are
SEVERELY degraded compared to what the scanners should be producing.
Note that some users are so lacking in knowledge that they will not be
aware of a problem with these units.

A very common reaction from customers after I return a repaired unit is
"Damn you, now I have to rescan my entire collection of images !!  You
created {hundreds, thousands} of hours of work for me !!"; I get this a
***LOT***

Since I am a tech, I always clean and lube my scanners I sell. I
have sold about 6 or 8 in the past few years. True, it's not be as
good and thorough as what you do, but I'd rather not sell a dirty and
questionably working scanner.

I still have a LS2000 that was a freebie off of CL, that I've
already gone through real quick clean and lube to see if it was
working, and it does.

Amazing the resale value, I bought my Coolscan V ED for something
like $250 off CL, and now it sells for close to $900? Yikes...

 

[Toni Nikkanen]

Amazing the resale value, I bought my Coolscan V ED for something
like $250 off CL, and now it sells for close to $900? Yikes...

Yes, makes one wonder if Nikon should produce one more batch..