Slide scanner

[Lalakai]

okay, we need to hear from the folks that have used and abused scanners. We're looking for a good quality color scanner that will also do a GOOD job on scanning color slides. The slides are often used for powerpoint presentations or blown up and used for displays so we need to have good quality. (yes we also have a digital camera but also an extensive archive of 35mm slides that we want to convert.)

the scanner will be used in an office setting and the majority of time will be hooked to an NT machine (do we have to watch for the USB conflict??)

any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Lalakai]

come on folks don't shy, step up and give me some of your experiences

ttt

 

[slacker2]

IMHO, the best film/slide scanner for the price is HP PhotoSmart S20. Excellent quality and easy to operate. It uses USB, though.

 

[bluezebra1098]

HP 5370C comes with the slide adapter which saves you about $50 on the cost when buying it separately.
Approx. $299

 

[Lalakai]

We've looked at the 5370C, but didn't know how good the trasparency adapter is. Another scanner we're considering is the Epson 1200; same thing though,.............how good is the adapter.

thanks for the input people, keep 'em coming.

 

[wezal]

We use the HP PhotoSmart S20 in our office, it does slides, negatives and small photos. Though it is the only slide scanner I have ever used, I think the quality is very impressive.

 

[Eug]

Usually transparency adapters with flatbed scanners are terrible in comparison to dedicated 35mm slide/film scanners. If U R at all serious about quality, get a dedicated slide scanner.

Will you just be doing just single slides? If so, something like a Nikon Coolscan LS-30 might fit the bill. I've used the Nikon as well as a Canon 2710. The Nikon has a good reputation, and the quality is very good. The Canon seems more consumer oriented, but one benefit is that software is completely idiot proof. However, you might want something higher end if you have lots of slides to scan, since you can add auto slide feeders with some upper-end models - scan 50 slides in a row, etc.

The HP PhotoSmart S20 USB scanner will not work, because NT doesn't support USB. It's bizarre though, since their website claims the scanner works with NT 4. There are hacks around it for USB, but trust me, NT 4 does not natively support USB so you're asking for trouble if you try to run this scanner. I would stick with SCSI for a scanner for an office. I am considering something like the S20 for myself at home though.

 

[corkyg]

I havce an aged color scanner that works better than most of the new cheaper ones. (HP ScanJet IICX). FOr slides I use a separate box . . . SCSI external, Olympus ES-10S. Got it new at BuyComp for less that some dude wanted at auction on E-Bay. (Bidders over there don't seem to have a clue as to what things are worth!)