Nikon Coolscan 8000 purchase

<p>The other thing I have been thinking about is backwards compatibility of the newer FireWire PCI cards. <br>

The card I originally bought was advertised as a FireWire 800 card, but it did have 1 6 pin port. I wonder if that is causing communication issues. <br>

I ran a test with my old Camcorder: when hooked up to my Win XP 32 bit laptop that only has the 4 pin Fireware port, its Plug and Play and works great. The same camcorder when connected to my "Firewire 800" card on Windows 8, refuses to cooperate. I hear a sound each time I connect it to the comp and turn it on, but no recognition. <br>

I just purchased an older Firewire 400 only card (2 6 pins and 1 4 pin) to test out....worth a shot I guess.<br>

I am also going to try the Mac experiment with my friend's Macbook pro laptop tomorrow. His however only has a 9 pin port. <br>

Thanks.<br>

Avi</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>I am also going to try the Mac experiment with my friend's Macbook pro laptop tomorrow. His however only has a 9 pin port. </p>

</blockquote>

<p>Obviously you will need a Firewire 800 (9 pin) to Firewire 400 (6 pin) cable but it should work. I use an additional Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 cable to connect a Nikon 9000 ED to a modern MacBook Pro. Application is Vuescan.<br>

Ferdi.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I just purchased an older Firewire 400 only card (2 6 pins and 1 4 pin) to test out....worth a shot I guess.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>It should be "OHCI Compliant" whatever that means.<br>

Ferdi.</p>

<p>Hi Ferdi,<br>

Yeah...both my cards are OHCI compliant. <br>

Regarding the Mac, I don't have the thunderbolt adapter, but I am going to try it with the 9 pin--> 6pin first. Probably with both Vuescan and Nikon Scan.<br>

Avi</p>

<p>sorry if this is too obvious, but did you try:<br>

ConfPanel > DevManager > Action > Check for changes</p>

<p>Hi Bernard, <br>

I did...<br>

I am assuming that it will show up under "Imaging devices"? At least that is how my camcorder shows up. <br>

Avi</p>

<p>Avi, have you found this thread:</p>

<p><a href="/digital-darkroom-forum/00cMq9">http://www.photo.net/digital-darkroom-forum/00cMq9</a></p>

<p>I am successfully using Nikon Scan for my 9000 scanner on Windows 8.1.</p>

<p>Ferdi,<br>

Thanks for pointing out that thread...I had seen it before, but I will read it in detail now. <br>

I am pretty much convinced that it is a hardware problem on the Nikon 8000. <br>

I installed a new FireWire 400 PCI card and even that did not work. <br>

I still have the last MacBook expt to try and after that I need to weigh my options.<br>

Avi</p>

<p>Andre,<br>

Could you give me details of what exactly happens when you plug in the scanner to your Windows 8.1 machine? Are you using a 6 pin to 6 pin connector? <br>

What happens the first time you connect the scanner after power on? <br>

Based on what I have read in the manuals, the scanner will show up under Imaging devices. That is not happening in my case. <br>

On the bright side, I found this video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__p16B1THBw<br>

My scanner starts up exactly the same way. It even handles the slide holders well. <br>

Thanks.<br>

Avi</p>

<p>Final update: I have thrown everything at this scanner and I am sad to say that nothing works. <br>

I have tried a Macbook Pro and even that refuses to budge. <br>

As frustrating as it is, I now have a $350 paper-weight. :(<br>

I contacted Nikon as a last resort and this is what I got in response: <br>

I tried each step outlined in the link below and even then it does not work. The issue is on the hardware end. The scanner does not show up as a device when I connect it and power it on. </p>

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<td bgcolor="#C6D3BA"><strong> Response Via Email (Catherine F.)</strong></td>

<td align="right" bgcolor="#C6D3BA">11/10/2014 12:14 PM</td>

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<tr>

<td colspan="2">Hello,<br /><br />Unfortunately Nikon is no longer able to service the COOLSCAN LS8000. However, since the scanner is powering on properly, we'd recommend trying the troubleshooting steps posted on this page: <a href="https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16290" target="_blank">https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16290</a>. Following the steps on this page can take some time, but they can also be very helpful in resolving connectivity issues. Also, please confirm that your computer meets the system requirements posted here: <a href="https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13802" target="_blank">https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13802</a><br /><br />If you have any questions please update this incident online or call us at 1-800-NikonUS. <br /><br />Thanks,<br />Catherine<br />Nikon Support</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

<p>At this point I would open up the scanner (I would have opened it up earlier, but that's me). Check the connectors and wires from the FireWire connector to the board, make sure the ribbon connectors are attached. Even if they are, disconnect and reconnect them. Contact and connectors are usually the most likely places to electronics failure. Solder connections are next, and chip failures are usually last.</p>

<p>Hi Tom.<br>

Yeah...I finally did. The firewire board is proving to be difficult to get to, but I will work on it. <br>

I have 2 boards that are potentially things to go after if other options don't work out. <br>

I see a 91X538 that interfaces the Firewire board to the lens housing. And I think the firewire board itself is 91X689. <br>

Lets see if I am able to source these boards...highly doubt it.<br>

Thanks.<br>

Avi</p>

<p>If it seems to be a software issue, another suggestion is to try the scanner under Linux (Debian, Ubuntu or Mint, for example). Then, you can use Vuescan (which works _very_ well). Also the open source software Sane seems to support the Coolscan 8000, but not the 9000 unfortunately.</p>

<p>Hi Avi / Hello all:<br /><br /><br>

I am curious as to what happened next. Could you kindly throw some light on whether something worked out or not?</p>

<p>I have recently acquired a Nikon Coolscan 8000 ED as well, and am also having connectivity issues with Scanning Software(s). I have a 13" Macbook Pro (Early 2011) with FW800 port and OS X 10.10.5. Initially, all worked well for a few test scans with Vuescan Demo and a Belkin FW400 - FW800 Cable. However, then Vuescan started to hang and ultimately stopped recognising my Scanner's presence. </p>

<p>I do however see the Scanner in Hardware under Firewire, when connected. It sometimes shows up with its name, or most times, at least as an unknown device. But no longer does it show up on Vuescan (or Silverfast Demo either -- which I installed just to be sure). </p>

<p>Also, further to this, I have tried a FW400-800 Adapter from Moshi (with the original FW400 cable that came with the scanner) and a Moshi FW800-800 Cable with a FW800F to FW400M adapter. Both of these were acquired from an Premium Apple Reseller store. And - not much luck yet with these either. </p>

<p>Though same as was in your case, my scanner seems to blink and boot just fine and even take-in and eject the holders as it ever did -- which makes one rule out the hardware issue, as you said. Additionally, not to mention that these scanners are known to be notorious about which FW ports and cables they will or will not work with -- ironically enough, that is a shimmer of hope too. Well, another FW400-FW800 cable is also on its way for me. <br /><br />Fingers crossed. Gaaahh-- just want things to work. :/<br>

Any help and guidance from any and all fellow-forumers is much appreciated in advance. :)<br /><br /><br>

Sincerely,<br />Paresh</p>

 

<p>Paresh,<br>

I tried everything and gave up. It just wasn't worth it anymore. <br>

I ended up selling the scanner to a fellow enthusiast who wanted to give it a shot. Not sure if it worked for him. <br>

Best of luck with your project!<br>

Avi</p>

I just came to this old thread to comment on FireWire card selection for running the Coolscan 8000, which is how I found the thread in the first place. I had successfully connected two different 8000 units to a Windows 7 PC (using modified NikonScan drivers obtained through the post at sevenforums.com

Windows 7: Getting your Nikon Coolscan to work on W7 x64), using a PCI card with a VIA VT6306 Firewire chip. When that PC died, I built another Win 7 machine using a motherboard that didn't have PCI, so I tried a TI-based PCIe Firewire card (XIO2200A chip), based on the recommendation here to use Texas Instruments Firewire chips. While the 8000 was recognized using both NikonScan and Vuescan, I could not get a scan with either software using either of two 8000 machines. I purchased an inexpensive new VIA VT-6307-based generic PCIe card from a Chinese seller on eBay, and both scanners are now able to scan. In all cases, I simply installed the cards and the standard software with drivers (modified for Win 7 in the case of NikonScan). I didn't go looking for different FireWire drivers.

I bought a used Nikon 4000 same era as your one, I got off a pro it looked like after googling his name. It was working at the start but not with the Nikon software b/c it would spit our a error and then give me a deep cyan cast but it worked with Vuescan. After eventually it just died and like you it's not recognised in my PC which has a firewire on the motherbaord nor on my laptop which has the firewire builtin. I have also used a spare hard drive and put in Windows XP just for it to no avail .. I have also replaced the firewire cable.

 

Basically even without a work around software. If you plug it in, it should recognise it with an "unknown device" that pops up. Because it is unrecognized it won't install but you should at least see that.

 

Mine now, doesn't do that either. I contacted Tokyo, have friends there they have no parts, cannot fix.

My LS 8000 became unrecognized by the software, but it started up ok just like the scanner of the opening poster in this thread. My 8000's problem was the Firewire chip on the scanner's mother board. For a reasonable price I got this competent guy to replace the chip: Nikon Coolscan LS-8000 ED / LS-9000 ED service and repair notes This site explains the symptoms for various 8000 problems

The price might be a steal. There are things to consider. Reasons why I sold my Coolscan 9000.

1) Nikon no longer has parts nor will accept these for repair.

2) other repair places charge as much as you will pay.

3) if you want a Nikon, find.a 9000.

4) You will need a computer with a FireWire port and runs Windows XP to take advantage of Nikon's software (which is excellent)

The 800 will run on Silverfast 8ai but it's going to cost you and you won't have all the features that Nikon Scan did.

5) the 8000 scans slow.

6) if you had to ship your Nikon for repair it will cost well over $100.

 

I sold mine and bought a Epson V850 which came with Silverfast 8, runs on Windows 10 and USB2. I do miss my Nikon, it was much better built. But my scans are just as good and faster. There are more expensive options like drum scanners, but they cost 10x as much.

 

I am assuming your scanning 120, otherwise buy a Plustek for 35mm. The Epson will also scan 4x5.

I am the original owner of an 8000ED and I use Vuescan. I have attempted to connect using adapters - firewire to thunderbolt & tunderbolt to USB A / USB C - and failed.

I now understand that I need to buy a computer to run the scanner.

If I purchase a used Macbook Pro with a Firewire 800 port, will I succeed (assuming both scanner and computer are working)?

Difficult for me to believe that all this has anything to do with photography, but my wold view is pre-computer.

I have attempted to connect using adapters - firewire to thunderbolt & tunderbolt to USB A / USB C - and failed.

That's because most of those 'adapter' cables are fakes and cannot work. There's a fundamental difference between Firewire and USB hardware and their protocols that makes adaption a non-trivial matter.

 

You need a computer with a proper Firewire/1394 interface, and with an operating system that supports it. Basically something using Noughties technology and software to match.

As Joe said, native firewire works best.

 

I'm not a Mac user, but their interfaces use to be great, successful plug and play. But the more recent Macs are much more finicky - just a warning. An older Macs with native firewire "should" work. But old Macs have the same reliability issues as any old computer, and you need to verify the OS version that works.

 

I have an old firewire PC card that still works, and run it on a Linux box with current OS & hardware with Vuescan. Reliability with new hardware and software. Except my old 8000ED that has a intermitant finicky fire wire chip...

Not familiar with that terminology. Is this something specific? - or a non-specific descriptor for 'old'?