Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "opiebreath"
<milt@h...> wrote:
> Hi,
> So, for ~$530-600 I can purchase either a Nikon Coolscan V ED or a 
> Konica Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400 II. Primary use would be for 
> 35mmBW film. Quality is my primary criteria. Anyone care to offer 
> opinions on which way I should go? My local photo store (Pro Photo 
> Supply, Portland OR) suggests the Dimage.
> Thank you,
> Milt


The Minolta 5400II is plastic mechanical junk (junque, to be polite),
but it's a fine scanner otherwise. If you buy a Minolta be sure you're
quick to return it for replacement one or two times, just in case. Do
not expect any sort of help whatsoever from Minolta directly.

Nikon V is rock solid, has much better negative handling (flatter,
less physical manipulating of the negative because no junk plastic
negative carrier). 

I owned both, dumped two Minoltas for the Nikon. I believe Minolta's
software is better for B&W than Nikon's, but that you won't want to
use either...you'll want to use Vuescan. Minolta's purported 5400ppi
doesn't seem to add up to extra sharpness past 4000...according to the
one comparison I've seen.