Slide scanner?

[Slickone]

Need to make prints of some very old slides. What should i get? Is there something easier/better than just using a flatbed scanner, without being too expensive? Or is there an attachment for flatbed scanners?

 

[ProviaFan]

Flatbed slide scanner attachments generally suck. Even the Epson Perfection 4870, which costs around US$450, is no match for a dedicated film scanner.

With film scanners, you will need to decide if you want "Digital ICE" (or FARE, as Canon calls it), which is a technology that uses an IR light source to accurately remove most dust and scratches (it doesn't work on true B&W film, and can be unreliable on some Kodachrome).

If your slides aren't terribly dusty, and you don't mind despotting in Photoshop, then the 3200DPI Minolta Scan Dual IV for US$300 would suit your needs well. If you need something a little better, a 4000DPI Nikon Coolscan V with ICE for US$600 would be a good choice.

Beyond that, there is a 5400DPI Minolta scanner (which probably outresolves most film anyway, and I've seen numerous reports of low build quality), and a Nikon Coolscan 5000 (also a 4000DPI scanner, but significantly faster than the V and takes more accessories that most of the rest of us will probably never need).

Edit: And since places like Newegg generally have a very limited selection of scanners, you'll probably want to buy from B&H or Adorama (both are reputable dealers - I've ordered several times from the former, and have been satisfied).

Edit 2: Stay far, far away from Pacific Image scanners; not only is the build quality rather crappy, but I have heard reports of film being scratched by the poorly-designed scanners.

Here is a list of scanners to get you started.

 

[Slickone]

So a decent one that doesn't remove dust spots is gonna be $300? Else $600? Wow.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: Slickone
So a decent one that doesn't remove dust spots is gonna be $300? Else $600? Wow.

Yeah, they are kind of expensive... That's why I don't have one yet, either.

Hmm, well, it looks like Adorama still has the Canon FS4000US in stock for $499. It features a kind of ICE (Canon calls it FARE), and is a decent scanner from what I can tell from the various reviews, but it will be slow over the USB 1 connection unless you get a SCSI card (not expensive, but can be a hassle to set up) to connect it with.

While I said that flatbed scanners tend to produce rather distasteful renditions of transparency and negative film, if you're only going to be making 4x6 prints and don't care about having the highest res possible for archival storage, then something like the Epson Perfection 2400 for about $139 might work well for your needs.

 

[DurocShark]

Look for a used Acer ScanWit 2740s. It has digital ICE and everything. Running around $250 used... I used the 2720s for years and finally sold it on the FS forum because I'm almost purely digital now.

 

[alkemyst]

You can get an old HP4c with slide scanner on ebay cheap...it's my workhorse here but I don't use slides....it's a scsi scanner, but I am sure there are equivalent usb.

Usually a slide adapter is available for most top end flatbeds.

I have know people that have used them and the results were good. However I am not sure what equipment they used other than it probably wasn't ultra highend....these were mostly old AOL friends from jobs I have had.

Å

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Slickone
So a decent one that doesn't remove dust spots is gonna be $300? Else $600? Wow.

I agree with the above suggestion of the Canon FSU4000, but before spending all that money, you probably can get those slides scanned for a lot less at a local pro photofinisher. Most of them will already have a decent 4000dpi scanner or something similar. You can probably save a ton of money if you have a relatively small set of slides to actually scan.

 

[Slickone]

The Epson Perfection 2400 specs don't mention slides. (?)
Would the Canon LiDE 80 be similar?

A used Acer mentioned above seems like a decent deal.
Will check the price for a local photofinisher to compare. Would they remove blemishes/scratches?

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: Slickone
The Epson Perfection 2400 specs don't mention slides. (?)
Would the Canon LiDE 80 be similar?

A used Acer mentioned above seems like a decent deal.
Will check the price for a local photofinisher to compare. Would they remove blemishes/scratches?

The only flatbed that I know of that removes scratches would be the Epson Perfection 4870, and your slide scans still would not be as good as those from a dedicated film scanner.

According to B&H, the Epson does have slide scanning capability. Since this is worded very ambiguously, lets check with Epson. As stated on this page (not sure if the link will work or not - if not, go to epson.com and drill down through USA > Scanners > 2400), the Perfection 2400 Photo does include a slide holder in addition to a negative holder.