film scanner

[Tom May]

I'm got my system set up pretty well now for a digital darkroom, lacking only a film scanner. I'm inclined to invest a bit more and get a medium format model such as a Nikon Coolscan 8000, or one of the Minolta models as I have an old yashica twin lens reflex camera that I would like to use for b&w work.

If anyone has any input on this subject, I would be more happy to hear from you.

Tom

 

[robert dunford]

I'm got my system set up pretty well now for a digital darkroom,
lacking only a film scanner. I'm inclined to invest a bit more and
get a medium format model such as a Nikon Coolscan 8000, or one of
the Minolta models as I have an old yashica twin lens reflex camera
that I would like to use for b&w work.

If anyone has any input on this subject, I would be more happy to
hear from you.

Tom

Tom, try this site for good reviews and also a good forum on scanners, from what I have seen there is not much difference in scan quality between highend Nikon and Minolta scanners.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/
Rob

 

[aaanorton]

I'm looking at the Minolta Multi Pro. I think I prefer it over the Nikon. Also, you may want to ckeck out the Imacons:
http://www.imacon.dk/usr/imacon/wppImacon.nsf/htmlpages/Scanners.html

 

[howard]

Tom,

I have been using the Nikon 8000 since shortly after they began shipping last summer. I have been very pleased with the quality of the scans. The amout of detail you can get with medium format film is astounding. Digital ICE is a great feature and works very well. I have to admit that since getting a D1x in Sept. of 2001 that I rarely pick up my F5. I did shoot about 10 roles of film in December and have been doing some 35 mm scanning recently. I think that film still has a place in 35 mm photography (at least it does for me.)

Howard

I'm got my system set up pretty well now for a digital darkroom,
lacking only a film scanner. I'm inclined to invest a bit more and
get a medium format model such as a Nikon Coolscan 8000, or one of
the Minolta models as I have an old yashica twin lens reflex camera
that I would like to use for b&w work.

If anyone has any input on this subject, I would be more happy to
hear from you.

Tom

--Howard

 

[Tom May]

Thanks to all of you,

I was at the MacWorld show Thursday, so I had a chance to check out a number of interesting items, (most of which weren't oriented to digital photography). It appeared that both Digital Video and Digital Photography were very mainstream, with many consumer and professional software products.

Nikon had their full line of scanners, film scanners, video and DV cameras on display. Of note, the size difference between the 8000 and the 4000 is striking. The 4000 is a petite little unit, not much larger than some of the external scsi drives from a few years back. The 8000, on the other hand is quite a lot larger. More the size of a drawer under an office desk.

The software, while I only had a bit of time to examine it, looks well laid out, and of note, should be carbonized for OSX by about April. I'll probably purchase one shortly, after I make some space for it.

Visited the Apple Store in Palo Alto, and had a chance to see the new iMac in a more natural setting. My opinion is that this design will be well accepted, and Luxo Jr not withstanding, the screen articulation mechanism is a thing of beauty. Smooth as silk.

Now if only I could get a $1500. Cinema display on that mechanism connected to a Dual G5... but I digress.

Thanks again for your input,

Tom

 

[The Man]

Tom

you may wish to look at the Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro at one of your local Minolta dealers. Compared to the Nikon 8000, it is MUCH smaller in size (about the size of a shoebox), has higher resolution of 4800dpi, higher bit depth of 16 bit, and higher dynamic range of 4.8. Also, the included driver software is very complete and very easy to use.
i've used other Minolta scanners in the past and found them to be superb units

Thanks to all of you,

I was at the MacWorld show Thursday, so I had a chance to check out
a number of interesting items, (most of which weren't oriented to
digital photography). It appeared that both Digital Video and
Digital Photography were very mainstream, with many consumer and
professional software products.

Nikon had their full line of scanners, film scanners, video and DV
cameras on display. Of note, the size difference between the 8000
and the 4000 is striking. The 4000 is a petite little unit, not
much larger than some of the external scsi drives from a few years
back. The 8000, on the other hand is quite a lot larger. More the
size of a drawer under an office desk.

The software, while I only had a bit of time to examine it, looks
well laid out, and of note, should be carbonized for OSX by about
April. I'll probably purchase one shortly, after I make some space
for it.

Visited the Apple Store in Palo Alto, and had a chance to see the
new iMac in a more natural setting. My opinion is that this design
will be well accepted, and Luxo Jr not withstanding, the screen
articulation mechanism is a thing of beauty. Smooth as silk.

Now if only I could get a $1500. Cinema display on that mechanism
connected to a Dual G5... but I digress.

Thanks again for your input,

Tom