Recommend a scanner for some old B+W negatives

[mike james]

Whilst cleaning out my late father's attic, I found hundreds of old
negatives (he was a keen photographer about 20 years ago). Now I'd love to
get these scanned into my computer, but when it comes to slide/negative
scanners I haven't a clue.

The negatives are not a type I have seen before either. I'm used to the
35mm type and colour slides. They are all B+W negatives and they are approx
6 x 6cm in size.

Could somebody recommend a scammer that would be suitable for such negatives
please? I don't need professional type results, but then again I don't want
crappy images either.

Thanks,

Mike.

 

[bruceh]

The negatives are not a type I have seen before either. I'm used to the

35mm type and colour slides. They are all B+W negatives and they are approx
6 x 6cm in size.

Could somebody recommend a scammer that would be suitable for such negatives
please? I don't need professional type results, but then again I don't want
crappy images either.

6x6 cm are medium format negatives from 120 film. I'm scanning
some of my father's negatives as well.

I recently purchase an Epson 3200 scanner which has holders for
120 as well as 35mm. The scanner is being replaced by the 4870 model.

 

[Dominic Richens]

I recently purchase an Epson 3200 scanner which has holders for
120 as well as 35mm. The scanner is being replaced by the 4870 model.

Drool! http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson 4870/page_1.htm

They say it is better than a Nikon film scanner, but can scan a full 24
picture roll in 11 minutes!

 

[David R]

I'm scanning medium B/W negatives with my Epson 3200. It does a great
job for the price. You can only scan one negative at a time.
The 4870 I think you can scan two (2) negatives at a time. Don't get
excited about Digital Ice on this scanner. It will not work with B/W
negatives.

 

[Lew]

David:
What is the Digital Ice problem? Is it peculiar to this scanner or bw
negatives in general?
-Lew

 

[Simon Waldman]

David:
What is the Digital Ice problem? Is it peculiar to this scanner or bw
negatives in general?

ICE doesn't, sadly, work with black 'n' white negs. It relies on using
an infra-red scan of the neg to see where it's damaged, and black and
white film is apparently too opaque to infra-red.

C-41 black and whites are, of course, fine.

 

[Lew]

Simon:
May I assume that ICE will only work with scanners that have some sort
of infra-red scanning ability -- or do all scanners have this?
-Lew

 

[-]

May I assume that ICE will only work with scanners that have some sort of
infra-red scanning ability<<

You are correct .

Doug

 

[David R]

Q3: Can Black & White film be used with Digital ICE Technology?
A3: Black & White chromogenic film (C41 process) can be used on
Digital ICE Technology enabled scanners (for example Kodak Advantix
400, Illford XP2 Super, Konica Monochrome VX400, Kodak Select B&W+400
and Kodak T400 CN). When scanning chromogenic films for Digital ICE
Technology implementation, the film must be scanned as a color image.
After Digital ICE Technology processing, the color image may be
converted to Black & White using an image editor. Traditional
silver-halide Black & White film cannot be used with Digital ICE
Technology.

All you need to know about Digital Ice can be found at wwww.asf.com

 

[Burt]

Epson 3170 works fine - a cheaper version of the 3200 with a few less
features and for much less money. Got it with a discount coupon and with a
rebate for net cost of about $160 at Best Buy. I've done scans of old
family medium format negatives with great sucess. Also does a very good job
with scans of color and B&W prints.