Nikon 9000 scanner: Inaccurate scans of 6x6 film

[william_carter1]

We recently got a Nikon 9000 in our studio. We've found that when

scanning 6x6 film, the scanner does not get the entire image. I'm not

just talking about missing the outer borders of the film -- it's like

it's not seeing the frame lines at all and therefore randomly

scanning only part of each frame. So, for example, if I insert a 3

frame strip of 6x6 film, the preview will show the first half of the

first frame, then the next preview will show the second half of the

first frame and the first half of the second frame; then the last

preview will show the first half of the last frame. This problem

persists regardless of whether the film is negative, slide or B&W.

And we are telling the scanner software the proper size (we

set "6x6cm" in the Nikon Scan software). We've tried cutting the

strips into 2 frames rather than 3 -- same problem. And we've tried

inserting a single frame of 6x6 -- again, same problem. The only

workaround we've found is to (a) insert a 2 frame strip into the

center of the medium format film holder, rather than at the top end

of the film holder as the manual instructs and (b) tell the scanner

that it's 6x9, rather than 6x6. This results in the scanner getting

all of one frame and half of the second frame. We then have to crop

to select the first frame; scan that frame; then move the film and do

it all over again for the second frame. BTW, this problem does not

happen with 35mm film. This leads me to believe that perhaps the

scanner is having trouble seeing the frame lines of the medium format

film itself when loaded in the medium format holder, which doesn't

have the same plastic dividers in the holder itself that the 35mm

holder does.

 

Has anyone else had or heard of a similar problem with the 9000 not

accurately picking up the frame lines as described above? Am I

missing something simple in terms of how to load the film or perhaps

some software setting? Or do I have a defective scanner?

 

Thanks for your help.

[smooch]

I know this might seem lame but have you tried reloading the software.?

I have an 8000 and had a similer problem and it went away after I reloaded the software... don't know if it was the reason or not...just never did it again.

[mag_miksch]

I have this problem with my very dark Velvias

[william_carter1]

I haven't yet tried deleting and reinstalling the software, but it's worth a shot.

 

(Also, I should have mentioned that this problem happens regardless of

whether the negs are properly exposed or not)

[nik4s]

I have the same problems and am doing the same thing as fooling it saying I have 6x9 instead of 6x6. Before I go to reinstalling the software I emailed Nikon for an answer yesterday and am waiting for a response from them.

[david_littleboy__tokyo__ja]

I'm using an older version of the software on an 8000, so it may be a different issue. If it is the same issues, there needs to be a FAQ.

 

What happens here is that it scans the whole area in thubnail mode and then automagically crops out the frames. That automagic crop function isn't the best and it misses. There's a slider in the tool palette Scanner Extras box (Film Strip Offset) that allows you to reposition the frame cropping to whatever you want. Adjust the slider and click the reload thumbnails button under that slider. Repeat as necessary. Since the redraw does not require a new thumbnail scan, it's a minor irritation, not a serious problem.

 

You may notice that what you get in the preview window differs slightly from the thumbnail window: mine's 1 or 2 clicks off.

[william_carter1]

David: I'll try your suggestion this weekend and see if it works. Thanks.

[mattb1]

Try this, in the thumbnail drawer click on the icon that will give you thumbnails rather than just numbered frames. The software will actually process the frames differently this way. When I try using the numbered frames in the thumbnail drawer only the first frame is correct, after that I get partial frames. When using the actual thumbnails in the thumbnail drawer all frames are framed correct, or at least very closely to correct. It is very particular, but it really does work. Check the manual pages for the thumbnail drawer for info. I found this solved all my framing problems.

[nik4s]

Thanks Matt for your info, tried that and I prefer that. Called Nikon and they suggested using the scanner extras box and using the slider in the film strip offset. That works also, but I prefer what you suggested. Nikon did't mention what you suggested.

[william_carter1]

Matt, I will try your method this weekend as well and report back.

[nik4s]

Matt- when I use the thumbnail drawer the sound from the scanner sounds like something is broken compared to when you use the individual numbers which is almost quiet. Does yours sound similar between the two? Thanks

[mattb1]

I get a little clunking, but wasn't concerned about it. It also seems to pull the film holder deeper into the machine.

 

I was pretty irritated with the 9000 until I found the hint to use the thumbnail view on the yahoo 8000/9000 group, which as a lot of info. It is amazing that it works differently and that Nikon doesn't know about it.

[william_carter1]

Update: Matt's method (clicking the button in the thumbnail drawer so that you

get actual thumbnails rather than numbered framed) worked. Almost. It gave

me a much more accurate scan of the first frame, but the subsequent frames

were still a bit off (though not by as much). I also had to use the "film strip

offset" slider under Scanner Extras. I randomly slid it up to 15 and re-

previewed. Doing both of these things finally got me accurate scans.

 

Addendum: to be clearer, just clicking the thumbnail drawer button worked

with most of the film I was using to test this. The negs that were giving us this

problem originally were shot with a TLR. We noticed upon closer inspection

that the space between frames on this film was inconsistent -- there was

slightly more or less space between each subsequent frame than between

the preceding frame. With film shot with my medium format SLRs, the frame

spacing was more consistent and just clicking the thumbnail drawer button,

without messing with the Film Strip Offset slider, got me accurate scans.

 

Thanks for all your help.

[mark_dee]

Hi everyone I know this is an old thread but are these scanners giving optimum quality pics from 35mm/120 negs on your computer?, similar to what a top line digital like canon g9 would do?.

Thanks