Need 35mm scanner advice

<p>Hello, I am thinking of getting a film scanner to scan 35mm B/W film and slides. Budget < $500, less is better. I am using Max OS X Snow Leopard. I am looking fior reasonable printable quality into 11x14 prints. Any advice welcome, I have very little recent knowledge about this field. Thanks, Dmitry</p>

<p>How many images are you planning to scan? Take into consideration the enormous amount of time needed to scan the pictures. Maybe you want to hand them over to a lab and have them scanned there?</p>

<p>A used Nikon V would be within your budget. I believe they are no longer in production.</p>

<p>Avoid any type of flatbed scanner if your need is specifically film. Avoid those cheap $~100 "scanners" you see advertised. The image quality is very poor from those IMO.</p>

<p>If you can find a used Nikon 5000 in that price range, that would be best, in my opinion.<br /> Very few, if any, scanners can use "Ice" to clean up B&W negs.</p>

<p>I'd avoid a used Nikon 4000 as its version of "Ice" is not compatible w/ Kodachrome.</p>

<p>I created a page of <a href="http://www.slidescanning123.com/tips/index.html">35MM slide scanning tips</a> .</p>

<p>The FAQ on my <a href="http://www.saugus.net/Photos/scanning.shtml">35MM slide scanning service</a> page my provide you with some useful info.</p>

<p>I use the Coolscan V (LS-50), so I can agree that it is a very good scanner, and you will save much time with the ICE software.</p>

<p>If you want new,the Epson V700 flatbed resolves about 2300 dpi.<br>

My B/W films invariably have curled across the width and I have the ANR glass to hold flat a frame to be scanned for printing:<br>

<a href="http://www.betterscanning.com/scanning/insert35.html">http://www.betterscanning.com/scanning/insert35.html</a><br>

Just to quickly look at the negatives they can be scanned 24 at a time in the supplied holder.<br>

If going used Nikon Coolscan V there is an additional holder for that,FH-3,to hold negatives flatter.</p>

 

<p>I highly recommend the Nikon Coolscan V ED film scanner. Excellent quality. You won't regret it, even though it is more than your planned budget.</p>

<p>If not mistaken I think the price diff is not much between a Epson V700 and a Nikon V dedicated scanner. </p>

<p>I got the V700 because I intend to shoot large format. If I was only in the 35mm I would of gotten the Nikon. </p>

<p>In fact after the V700, I intend to get the Nikon 8000 that does 35mm and medium format assuming I get into medium format, if not the V would be the way to go or maybe IV model if it supports ICE. </p>

<p>Keep an eye out for a used one.</p>

<p>Dmitry, I will also strongly suggest that you read some articles before buying a scanner/starting to scan. Well-writtten articles can save you from those annoying mistakes any scanning novice is bound to make, and will save you time doing it all over again.</p>

<p>If you google, there are lots of interesing sites on this topic beside this forum, for example <a href="http://www.scantips.com">www.scantips.com</a> I am sure that other members can reccommend other sites</p>

<p>You might also check out the Nikonians' recent podcast on the subject. </p>

<p>They discuss "Silverfast" scanning software: which you might need to run a Nikon film scanner on a Mac. I have a Nikon Cooloscan V ED — and it will not even run on Leopard (let alone Sno Leopard) because Nikon has stopped supporting the scanner software.</p>

<p>But Silverfast makes software for 10.5 and 10.6 — and judging by the reivews, it is significantly better than the Nikon Scan (which, considering the excellent quality of their film scanners, was rudimentary).</p>

<p>The Silverfast product continues to make use of the infrared channel of the digital ICE, but from everything I've heard, they have done a better job of it.</p>