Sub $100 Film Scanners

<p>Are any of these any good? Can anyone recommend a model/brand that has worked well? I only need this device to scan old slides for FB and emailing purposes. I want (reasonably) sharp, nicely exposed scans though. Most of the reviewed sub $100 scanners on Amazon seem to have many sharpness and "washed out" image issues.</p>

<p>The short answer: No.<br /><br />I haven't seen what's on Amazon but one of the in-flight airline magazine always has a film scanner somewhere in the $100 range. To start with it's only 5 megapixels -- my iPhonen has more than that. If you only want to use the images on Facebook or for email, that might be good enough. But you get what you pay for.<br /><br />Some people try to scan slides and negatives on a flatbed scanner, but even the best ones can't match an actual film scanner. Unfortunately film scanners start at about $500. And I'm not sure how many are being made at this point. I have a Canon that cost around $600 several years back.</p>

<p>Is your budget $100, or are you willing to go higher? A good $200 flatbed scanner operated with care will provide decent images for online use. You might get lucky and find a decent used film scanner (e.g. Nikon Coolscan V) for $350, but expect to pay $500 and up.</p>

<p>The sub $100 film scanners are usually not scanners (especially if they advertise fast scans). Typically they are more or less a cheap P&S digital camera with appropriate optics to cover the size of the slide/negative (36x24mm).</p>

<p>I don't know if there are many true, dedicated film scanners being made these days, at least nothing cheap. Canon no longer make one.</p>

<p>Your best bet would be to buy something used. I think I have an old HP Photosmart around somewhere, but unless you can use a SCSI interface it won't be of much interest to you!</p>

<p>Several years ago (2007?), I bought a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan IV for around $400. It's a pretty nice scanner. I thought surely it would be an outdated model by now that could be picked up quite cheaply. Nope. It's still a current model at $800 new! However, you can possibly get a used one for $250'ish (?), which I realize is over your stated budget. It might be overkill for what you're doing. It has auto or manual focus, letting you focus on the grains of the emulsion. Probably more resolution than you'll want/need. Reasonably good user interface. Not speedy, but good. It can scan in 16 bit, and you can alter the exposure. It's a very competent little machine.</p>

<p>Sample scan:</p>

<p><img src="http://www.graphic-fusion.com/phchismancreeksm.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Chisman Creek</p>

<p>You can find a used Minolta Scan Dual III on eBay, from a reliable seller, complete and working, for under $100. It will attach to any normal computer with a USB cable (no need to deal with SCSI or Firewire). The software will run at least under Windows XP, and quite possible Windows 7, or you can download and use Vuescan ($40 and $80 options) for use with most modern operating systems.</p>

<p>I have the follow-up model, the Konica Minolta Scan Dual IV, same as Sarah. However, I'm pretty sure it <em>is</em> discontinued, although no doubt there are a few unopened ones out there for who knows what prices. They are available on eBay for quite reasonable princes, but you're unlikely to get a complete, working one from a reputable seller for under $100.</p>

<p>Bob's post above gave me an interesting idea. What if I projected the slides backwards, (rear projection) onto a sheet of thin paper(or fabric), and shot with a digital camera?</p>

<p>These are only going onto web pages. I'm thinking this could work better than a $69 "film scanner". As long as they're sharp, I can adjust the details in PS. Most of these slides are nicely exposed , (low to medium contrast) Kodachromes.</p>

<p>I will test this idea and post results in a few days. I have nothing to lose, and I'll save $69 plus shipping.</p>

<p>If this fails. There are still new flatbed scanners made with slide doohickies.</p>

<p>There is a Nikon Coolscan III on eBay right now for under $100. I have one and got good results with color negs and E-6 slides. It was difficult to get good results from Kodachrome which are a large part of my collection (and nearly all of my grandfather's collection). I get better results from Kodachrome with a Minolta Dimage Scan Elite. The Coolscan III requires a SCSI port. I keep an old desktop Mac running to support my old film scanners. </p>

<p>I have tried using a slide copier with a digital camera. I got much better results with a 2700 ppi film scanner. I didn't have much better luck photographing prints on a copy stand. Results might have been better with a good macro lens rather than extension bellows. The spectral sensitivity of my digital camera (a Nikon D200) didn't match up well with the dyes in film and prints. I dropped this idea because I had a much higher quality option.</p>

<p>The venerable Epson V500 is being phased out. Look for discounts.</p>