BetterPhoto Q&A
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BetterPhoto Member		Choosing a film scanner I'm looking to scan old photos for preservation. I've tried a flatbed scanner, but am dissatisfied with many of the images. It seems scanning from the negative is the best option, especially with old photos (20+ years old). I want to put them on CD for viewing on a monitor but also want them available for future generations as family history. What type of scanner should I look at? Can you compare the Nikon Coolscan with the Minolta Scan Dual IV and Smartdisk Smartscan 3600? I want to do it right since I will be investing a lot of time. I'm looking for quality and scan speed. To love this question, log in above January 23, 2004

doug Nelson		Hang out on photo.net at the Digital Darkroom threads and see what you can pick up. I have the HP S20 and Nikon LS-2000 film scanners. Here are my general obsrvations on film scanners: Nearly all have really bad software. The HP scanning software is actually one of the better ones, a moot point since the hardware has been unreliable for me. Many people use an alternative scanning software. VueScan from edhamric.com has no razzle-dazzle graphics and is not all that intuitive, but costs only $40. Silverfast is about $200 and must be bought individually for each scanner you have. Some people swear by it; others swear at it. Software aside, several scanners have developed a reputation for flimsy hardware. Nikons can develop autofocus problems and mine is very prone to dirt and humidity contamination. If I ever own another Nikon, it will be kept in a plastic bag with silica gel. Minolta owners sometimes notice that frames are cockeyed in a poorly designed negative holder, causing reframing and cropping in Photoshop, another step. Canon had a winner in the 4000US. That model has been superceded. Let's hope they stayed with their good mechanical design. Nikon's $600 V model offers scans at 4000 ppi, and has all levels of Digital Ice. It lacks only the multiple scanning feature that helps reach into the shadow area of slides. That multiple scanning feature can be added by use of hamrick's software. Maybe Minolta has solved their hardware problems. Their scanners are reasonably priced and owners seem happy with their scans. The Microtec/Polaroid twins come with Silverfast, are excellent scanners, but can develop mechanical problems. I can offer you no advice on Smartdisc products. I must replace my scanners and am considering the Nikon Coolscan V and the Canon and Minolta equivalents. If speed is a consideration, use USB2 or Firewire as a connection. SCSI is disappearing from the market. Cram as much RAM into your computer as possible. To love this comment, log in above January 24, 2004

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