| Photography Forum: Photography Help Forum: |
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Q. An Affordable Film Scanner?
Asked by Brian Griffiths
(K=255) on 6/11/2009
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Hey guys,
I've recently made a turn back towards shooting some of my images with film, a little 35mm and 120, but I feel a little balked - at my local store for professional photographers, just 3 rolls of 120, developed as negatives and scanned cost me $60. And the scans, when set at 300 ppi put the image dimensions only at about 6.5" x 6.5"; that was supposed to be their "high resolution" scanning too!
So I am looking for an alternative, a film scanner or a flatbed with film/slide capabilities that isn't going to cost me an arm and a leg. Any suggestions?
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Rashed Abdulla
(K=163889) - Comment Date 6/12/2009
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I had the Epson pefection 4870 which worked with me for years, I scan all sort of film with it up to 4X5 inches.
Just last week I bought the Epson Perfection 750 after seeing number of my friends here using it and it is really very powerful scanner, you can scan all sort of films up to 10X8 inches sheet films.
If you are interested only on 35MM films, Nikon making very good and fast Coolscan series, the ED 400 is a great one, I am using so far, it have all sort of the digital ICE, color, exposure , contrast and so one, the ICE is a digital scrash remover and it work just fine, mind the Epson perfection series also have this ICE.
I beleive fuji is making some film scanners, cheap ones and possibly some other manufacturers also, but these the ones I been using so far and I am satified with them.
Wishing you all of the best my friend.
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Brian Griffiths
(K=255) - Comment Date 6/12/2009
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Hi Rashed, thanks for the info. The Coolscan series seem a bit out of my price range, but in checking out the Epson Perfection on Amazon, that might be a bit more doable. This is what I found: http://www.amazon.com/Epson-Perfection-V500-Photo-Scanner/dp/B000VG4AY0/ref=dp_ob_title_ce
Now if I scanned at the highest resolution - 6400 dpi - will that give me a big scan? Right now, when I shoot digitally I am shooting with a 10.1 MP camera which gives me, when the file is changed to 300 dpi an image that is around 8x12. So I'd like if I scan my negatives not to have something smaller than that since I want to use the new photos I am shooting as art that can be hung on someone's wall at different sizes.
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Rashed Abdulla
(K=163889) - Comment Date 6/13/2009
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Within that scanner , you will get an option, to select the size of image you want, I usually select 11X14 inches, but you can more than that of course.
You have to be pationt with large scans, this takes time but this is just normal, you can also use the digital corrections facilities and the ICE, this will give very clean scans, even the small skrashes with all be removed, again this counted on the time of the scan, so there will also be delay.
Epsons are very nice and price good scanners my friend.
In case you buy it I am ready to assist you with it, if you wish.
All of the best my friend and a good luck.
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Brian Griffiths
(K=255) - Comment Date 6/13/2009
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Rashed,
I really appreciate that. I might just get that Epson after all. Just got to figure out how to pay for it, but I am definitely interested.
Thanks,
Brian
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Billy Bloggs
(K=51043) - Comment Date 6/17/2009
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I use a Plustek 7200 scanner and I'm really happy with it. Almost all the film based images I've put on Usefilm have been thru this scanner. The 7300 is the current model.
Pros - Relatively cheap, has the highest dpi (7200dpi) of any scanners on the market, comes bundled with the highly regarded Silverfast software, can be used as a plug-in for Photoshop (though I don't), good (and fast) tech support.
Cons - It doesn't batch scan, it's a bit slow at higher dpi's
Here's a couple of reviews, the second one is very interesting
http://www.photographyblog.com/news/plustek_opticfilm_7300_scanner/
http://www.hawkee.com/shop/review/294078/
I'd recommend it
Regards, Gary
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Paul Schofield
(K=5970) - Comment Date 6/17/2009
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I scan using an Epson Perfection 4490 for my film scans on this site. Epson have upgraded, but I'm happy with this scanner so not ready to upgrade just yet. It's cheap and scans 35mm and 120's. I like the quality and am happy with the performance. The downside is the bundled software. I do not like this at all, and invested in a program called Viewscan instead. This I do like.
Paul
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Brian Griffiths
(K=255) - Comment Date 6/25/2009
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Thanks, guys. That gives me a good starting place!
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Kurt Driver
(K=65) - Comment Date 7/1/2009
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Thanks to everyone for their posts, I'm researching this question also. Pardon the silly question, these scan negatives? Kurt
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Billy Bloggs
(K=51043) - Comment Date 7/2/2009
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Yes, all the scanners mentioned will scan 35mm negs and slides.
Regards, Gary
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