scanners (photo, film, and/or slides)

[Andrew Bichard]

I want to scan all my old slides and film negatives into digital format.

Up to now, I have been using a four year old flatbed scanner with a film holder in the lid. It's a pain to use (fiddly to thread the film into the holder) and the end results are not that great.

I could buy a more up-to date flatbed scanner with better resolution and software, I could buy a low-cost 'no name' dedicated film scanner or I could buy a mid range dedicated film scanner like the Nikon Coolscan V ED LS50.

I want high quality scans - minimum 5 megapixel, preferably more.

I want ease of use - I have 40+ years worth of photos and need to be able to load the slides & film into the scanner. I don't want to spend hours retouching dust flecks and adjusting colour casts, brightness & contrast in software.

I want quality, but I don't want to overspend, as I want to upgrade my 4 megapixel digital camera within six months, in time for my next Disney visit!

Can anyone offer advice, or point me in the direction of a discussion group that might be able to help?


Andrew

 

[safetymom]

I would look at the Epson 4990 or 4880. They will batch scan and it also does a great job. It has digital ice if any images need some correction.

There are two versions and I would get the cheaper one if you are trying to save money. The more expensive version comes with more software but the scanner is exactly the same.

I love mine for slides and negs. It's very easy to use also.

 

[Geoff_M]

I have a Nikon Coolscan IV and it works great for me. It too has Digital ICE. Whatever scanner you get make sure it has ICE. Non-ICE scanners bring out the worst in negative... every little scratch tends to show up.

 

[Marimar]

I would go w/the best dedicated negative scanner you could afford.

 

[safetymom]

Many pros think the Epson 4990 is as good as a dedicated film scanner. Then you can use the flatbed to scan other items also.

 

[pyrxtc]

I scan slides also and I have been looking at a lens attatchment that lets you put a slide at the end and you take a picture of that. So your picture is as many megapixels as your camera is and no scanning problems.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Many pros think the Epson 4990 is as good as a dedicated film scanner.

Since my original post, I have been researching further. Most reviewers say that film capable flatbed scanners are every bit as good as dedicated scanners, unless you want to spend thousands to buy a top end professional scanner. The Epson comes out top in the reviews with a Canon close behind and one of these will be the direction I take.

It seems it is time to retiremy old Agfa Snapscan!

Thank you everyone for your help. Now how about a Canon Prixma IP8500 to go with it?

 

[Olaf]

I have an Epson 4870 and it can do all that, but let me caution you. When you scan at that high res, it takes forever. Even longer with Digital Ice.

 

[manning]

Canon 9950F and Epson 4990 are neck and neck. Choose the one that most fits you needs.

 

[SamRoc]

Am using an Epson perfection 2480 photo scanner with mulit photo feeder to scan all my families photos. It used to scan 25 photos at one time, but now it gets jammed alot. I think I have used it too much (2500 photos so far) and am looking for a newer faster one. Can anyone recommend one? Thanks.

 

[safetymom]

You are brave. I wouldn't stick my photos in an automatic feeder.

 

[safetymom]

The higher end Epson printers allow you to batch scan by placing several images on the bed of the scanner. It will see each image and save it to its own file.

 

[SamRoc]

I was really afraid at first of putting all my photos in an automatic feeder, thinking it would rip them up! Then I looked at the overwhelming task I had in front of me. For some reason, I have been somehow selected to be the keeper of the families photos! Anything that is old like my grandparents or parents photos, I do one at a time on my flatbed scanner, but I must have had over 5000 photos I took of my 2 kids in the past 20 years! So I started using the multi feed scanner last year and so far in my spare time (haha)and have done about 2500 pictures! It is time consuming, but I was worried about giving out my photos to a stranger to have them do them. The epson perfection 2480 I have been using has been getting tired from my abuse, would love to invest in a better machine but havent found another one that could take 25 pictures at a time and scan them.

 

[adrien32]

I scan slides also and I have been looking at a lens attatchment that lets you put a slide at the end and you take a picture of that. So your picture is as many megapixels as your camera is and no scanning problems.

Has anyone used one of these? Does it work well? It seems like it would be a good option for someone with a zillion slides to scan, like me.

 

[fiffy]

I've used the Nikon negative/slide scanners before. I honeslty don't remember which model it was in the Coolscan line. There are only two negatives to it that I have encountered. On negatives it does a very good job of scanning....a little too good. It tends to scan all the grain as well as the image and the end results looks even more grainie then a print would. The other negative was with slides. Not always but often wherever there were bright highlights you would get this very unnatural glow effect. I supose neither is a HUGE negative to the unit, but for me it is. Maybe I'm just too picky. I know that with the minilab I run I can scan both negatives and slides at as large as a 12x18 @ 300dpi with no ill efects so I use that one. But not everyone works in a camera store so thats not always an option. LOL
We also use epson flat bed scanners and although they are good they don't give the quality I know I can get. Again, no bad quality, just not as good. For home use I honestly don't see either as being a bad option. Just make sure the scanner (whichever you go with) will give you a high enough resolution. Oh and Digitol Ice just owns.

 

[Phil Cirrone]

I'm in the market for a new scanner. I think I have narrowed it down to two
the Canon Canoscan 9950 F or the Epson Perfection 4490 Photo. Does and one have any info on either of them or maybe perhaps an other one.

Lisa

 

[safetymom]

I have the Epson 4990 and love it. It does a great job. I especially like the color restoration feature. It takes badly faded images and restores them.

Do you have any specific questions that I could answer?

 

[ndelaware]

Sorry Lisa I don't own a scanner. Wish I could help.

 

[Kycha]

I have the Epson 4990 and love it. It does a great job. I especially like the color restoration feature. It takes badly faded images and restores them.

Do you have any specific questions that I could answer?

Could I ask a question about the Epson 4490? I have a ton of slides and I have read a few reviews that the 4490 does a pretty good job with slides. Tell me what your experience is.
Thanks

 

[manning]

Here are reviews on both scanners done by Vincent Oliver in England.

His web site is
http://www.photo-i.co.uk/index.html

The two addresses below will take you directly to each review.

http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson 4990/Page 1.htm

http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Scanners/Canon_9950F/page_1.htm