Scanner for old negatives

[AJDupree]

I have a bunch of old film negatives that I'd like to scan so I can
print off photos. I don't know what "size" they are considered -
they're about 4" x 5" in size. Each negative is its own separate photo.
Anyway, I've seen a lot of people seem to like the Epson 4990 Photo
scanner, and was going to order that. But then some reviews I read say
negative things. So I don't know WHAT to get.

First off, what size negative is the size that I mentioned? Is that
considered Medium Format?

I have a HP Scanjet 3970 at work, and it has a thing in the lid to scan
35mm or slides. Most of the negatives I have are wider than the opening
for these sizes. I was able to experiment by putting a negative
directly on the glass, positioning it so the center of the negative,
where the subject matter is, is in line with the slide/film opening in
the lid. Then I closed the lid and scanned it, using the film setting.
The scan DID turn out, but obviously parts of the sides are cut off,
and I don't know if it's as clear as it could be, since I had to put
the neg directly on the glass in order to do this. When you're scanning
film the correct way, does the film sit directly on the glass?

 

[Homer J Simpson]

First off, what size negative is the size that I mentioned? Is that
considered Medium Format?

No. Medium is generally 2.25" square. Why not contact print them and scan
the prints?

 

[tomm42]

I have a bunch of old film negatives that I'd like to scan so I can
print off photos. I don't know what "size" they are considered -
they're about 4" x 5" in size. Each negative is its own separate photo.
Anyway, I've seen a lot of people seem to like the Epson 4990 Photo
scanner, and was going to order that. But then some reviews I read say
negative things. So I don't know WHAT to get.

First off, what size negative is the size that I mentioned? Is that
considered Medium Format?

I have a HP Scanjet 3970 at work, and it has a thing in the lid to scan
35mm or slides. Most of the negatives I have are wider than the opening
for these sizes. I was able to experiment by putting a negative
directly on the glass, positioning it so the center of the negative,
where the subject matter is, is in line with the slide/film opening in
the lid. Then I closed the lid and scanned it, using the film setting.
The scan DID turn out, but obviously parts of the sides are cut off,
and I don't know if it's as clear as it could be, since I had to put
the neg directly on the glass in order to do this. When you're scanning
film the correct way, does the film sit directly on the glass?

The replacement for the 4990 is the V700, which seems to have answered
a few questions from the 4990. The V700 can either take film in a
holder, there are many old formats that might not be covered by the
holders, or on the glass, you set the focus point.
Some of the questions about the Epson photo scanners were that flatbed
scanners are inherently not as sharp as dedicated film scaners and
especially drum scanners. This is still probably true with the V700. I
have one and it compares favorably with the 4 year old Nikon scanner I
also use (less and less), an LS2000, and will scan to a higher
resolution. For your older negs this would be a good scanner. The 4990
would be fine too.

good luck
Tom

 

[AJDupree]

What do you mean by "contact print"?

No. Medium is generally 2.25" square. Why not contact print them and scan
the prints?

 

[theo]

First off, what size negative is the size that I mentioned? Is that
considered Medium Format?

4x5 would be the low range of large format, and very few
naive-consumer-affordable FLATBED scanners can handle medium format (6x6cm
or 2 1/4"sq, 6x4.5, 6x7, archaic and legacy others) much less large format
of any dimensions. The Microtek i900 is one for medium and large
formats. I do not find any such naive-consumer-affordable FILM scanner in
current retail distribution.

When you're scanning film the correct way, does the film sit directly on
the glass?

Contact with the glass can cause diffractions in the image. See
discussions of Newton's rings, and special glass called "anti-Newton
Rings".
Regards,
Theo

 

[Homer J Simpson]

What do you mean by "contact print"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_print

 

[rwatson767]

I have a bunch of old film negatives that I'd like to scan so I can
print off photos. I don't know what "size" they are considered -
they're about 4" x 5" in size. When you're scanning
film the correct way, does the film sit directly on the glass?

In have a Nikon LS4500AF scanner that I use for 4X5. It has both a
conventional 4X5 film holder and a 4X5 glass film holder. Gives about a
200MB file. Does a real nice job. It has a SCSI interface and I have it
connected to an PC computer running Windows XP. Also does smaller
formats

The glass film holder is actually 2 pieces of glass and the film goes
in between.

A 4500 can usually be found on Ebay. Be sure to get one that has all
the film holders you need.

Bob AZ

 

[tomm42]

In have a Nikon LS4500AF scanner that I use for 4X5. It has both a
conventional 4X5 film holder and a 4X5 glass film holder. Gives about a
200MB file. Does a real nice job. It has a SCSI interface and I have it
connected to an PC computer running Windows XP. Also does smaller
formats

The glass film holder is actually 2 pieces of glass and the film goes
in between.

A 4500 can usually be found on Ebay. Be sure to get one that has all
the film holders you need.

Bob AZ

True it is a fine scanner. But there just aren't that many out there
and it is very difficult to find a good one. Every scanner I have
bought on Ebay has come in broken from poor handling in shipping, have
tried 3 time all were damaged beyond fixability, one had a forklift
jammed into its side. Unless you can pick up the unit I'd really be
warry of buying scanners on Ebay.

Tom