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oval TOFU Bitte, ein Bit!

2,946 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#523833
I'm looking for a above average DEDICATED flatbed scanner - I'd like to be able scan 35mm film, and if possible, 120mm medium format film. I'd like to spend around the $200 mark. Not too sure about the resolution that i need...

Throw your opinions and web links at me!

Cheers
Chris
...and Robert's ya father's brother...

butidontunderstand Insano Dub Head

783 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#523880
ive got the epson perfection 1660 photo
it works well, great for the 35mm negs
ive scanned medium format once or twice but havent perfected it yet
i have used the real neg scanners at uni, but they are so damn slow
just for kicks i tested out the 3200 dpi setting and it put out a 500mb image!! i dunno what you guys think of that but i was definately whooooowed out
the colour isnt as good as what you get from a shop when you ask to get your negs scanned and put onto cd, but once you get your photos into photoshop you can play around with stuff so its alright
my scanner is fairly old now though, there will have been a few released since mine came out
hope i have helped :bounce :bounce
🙂

EgeWorks Wolfsburg Wizard

602 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#523910
I use an Epson Perfection 3000, which is a little older (maybe 2 yrs) but it does 35mm well enough, also has an ADF option, slides and a bunch of other stuff.

oval TOFU Bitte, ein Bit!

2,946 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#523943
nice, thanks for the suggestions

I'll do some more homework on it... keep the suggestins coming though - and why you like/dislike what you use/suggest...
...and Robert's ya father's brother...

Starbug rustbag

2,408 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·

#524369
ive been using the canoscan 8400 for a while now... went out and bought it because i got myself into medium format!

its slightly more expensive than you are willing to spend, but it does medium format magnificently for a flatbed. ive talked to some people that think it scans too "softly", i find its a happy medium, other scanners scan much too sharply and the edges and contrast ends up all gharish!

the only thing i dont like about it are the negative holders... i like to get the frame numbers and film type into some of my scans but it wont let you do it with either 35mm or 120... 120 is pretty easy to do, you just lay it on the platen and make sure its straight and scan... 35mm is fiddly 🙁

whatever you do... do NOT have any sharpening or auto toning or anything except dust and scratch (FARE) enhancement done with the scanner... its a waste of time. save it for photoshop where you get lots more control over it.

velvia 50, which is notoriously difficult to scan, turns up pretty sweet with some minor adjustments to levels and curves with no need for sharpening.

and its sweeeeeeeet for black and white👍👍👍👍👍👍

getting a great scan with medium format is obviously alot easier than getting one from 35mm, but i think this scanner does both pretty well 🙂

let me know if you want the url for my flickr page so you can see how my scans from this scanner turn up (1/2 sized at 1200dpi are the fullsize scans i upload.) ive experimented with a heap of different films so you can see what they scan like too!
in the beginning, the universe was created.
this made alot of people very angry and is widely regarded as a bad move.

oval TOFU Bitte, ein Bit!

2,946 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#524949
I'm considering all my options because $300+ is a fair bit of money to spend, especially if I'm going to jump on the DSTL bandwagon this year when I can afford it/prices drop again. I'd love to see ya shots Starbug. I've got a flickR account too, but i haven't used it for a while! send me the link if ya can..

Cheers
Chris
...and Robert's ya father's brother...

oval TOFU Bitte, ein Bit!

2,946 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#526952
i'm leaning towards with the the Canon 8400 or the Epson 4490... Can anyone suggest a good place to buy?

I've seen the 4490 on EvilBay for $420 inc postage..
...and Robert's ya father's brother...

DallanMulley Seriously Crusin Dubber

145 posts · joined Apr 2004 ·

#527010
Have a cannon 3200f works OK but the new HP 4 in one printer has a neg scanner and not to pricey from Hardly Normal

Starbug rustbag

2,408 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·

#527052
if i may suggest for the canon... Big W or officeworks. if they dont have it, try wow-wicked sight and sound or another one of those franchise places that sells computers and office equip.
dont even bother with local computer stores or harvy norman... far too much markup.
if they do have it at a Big W near you, prepare to be pleasantly surprised at how much you save... i got the canoscan from officeworks for $249 last year in november, and a new canon printer (pixma ip4200) from big W in january for $215. They were both well over $300 every other place i checked. They are probably cheaper now!
id be a bit paranoid about buying on ebay... if it gets broken in the mail or shaken around then its just dodgy...

and if you want to see what the canoscan 8400 does with lots of different types of film, then go here:
http://flickr.com/photos/asterope/ 😀
in the beginning, the universe was created.
this made alot of people very angry and is widely regarded as a bad move.

oval TOFU Bitte, ein Bit!

2,946 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#527146
Hey DallanMulley
I agree with Starbug - anything at HardlyNormal has a profit margin of McDonalds... RIPOFF! I wouldn't touch stuff in there in case they charged me for browsing!

StarBug: loooove the Cookie Monster Jersey. It rocks! lol
Can't believe you can buy something like this scanner at BigDubs! I thought they would only sell rock bottom equipment.. I'll check it out. YOu've got a point with the EvilBay issue of being handled incorrectly...

I dig that self portrait you took with the Mamiya - even though you say it's stuffed from your scanner. Looks etheral..
...and Robert's ya father's brother...

crewcabconnection Being Sid James

1,922 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#527171
HP - scanners good - software CRAP, likes to hang up and is a major resource hog....Canon ones are far more reliable when it comes to not hanging up.
Loves a lolcat

oval TOFU Bitte, ein Bit!

2,946 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#527606
otay, I just bought a Canoscan 8400f. I got it for a really good price too! Orificewerks sells it for $349. FTS. Another computer shop that's pretty cheap had it for $325. "I could do better" I thought. And i did.

$273.

Nice
one
bruva.

Now i can post up the shots of Valla that I shot... esp from my medium format camera...

"I'm excited!"

Thanks to everyone for their input and advices too..
...and Robert's ya father's brother...