Digital BW, The Print

Perhaps this is a bit off topic of the group, but you are an 
experienced lot and I cant resist asking for some advice. Neither 
could I find anything on this topic by searching group posts so I am 
asking here. 

I am looking for scanners both for 35mm and 6x6 B&W negatives. Nikon 
Coolscan 8000/9000 and the similar Minolta Multi Pro is just too 
expensive for me. I am planning to print up to A3+ from 35mm and 
20"x20" or even larger from 6x6.
 
I suspect the Epson 4990 flatbed or Canon Canoscan 9950F will do for 
6x6, but not for 35mm.  Perhaps the solution is a second hand 35mm 
film scanner and one of those flatbeds for 6x6? 

But which filmscanner? Nikon Coolscan V or LS-50, Minolta scan dual 
IV or 5400/5400II - or what?

I read something about different light source in filmscanners,- that 
LED light in the Nikonscanners (and 5400II) makes the filmgrain more 
pronounced. 

I would be very happy if the members of this group could share some 
experiences with me.

I use a Nikon 5000ed, along with vuescan. The results are excellent for both
colour (Profiled for various films) and B&W. Vuescan is an excellent piece
of software, giving a consistent view no matter which scanner you use.

I have tried the Epson 3170 for 6x6cm negs, bit soft, not too bad for small
prints.

Hope this helps

Jim Farrell

I'd recommend the Minolta SDIV. B&W negs can't take advantage of 
DigitalICE, and the others on the market all use LED sources (The 
Minolta 5400 uses a cold light but is no longer sold, as does the SDIV, 
but the 5400 II and Nikons uses LED's)

-Ada,

finnkrogvig wrote:

> Perhaps this is a bit off topic of the group, but you are an
> experienced lot and I cant resist asking for some advice. Neither
> could I find anything on this topic by searching group posts so I am
> asking here.
> 
> I am looking for scanners both for 35mm and 6x6 B&W negatives. Nikon
> Coolscan 8000/9000 and the similar Minolta Multi Pro is just too
> expensive for me. I am planning to print up to A3+ from 35mm and
> 20"x20" or even larger from 6x6.
> 
> I suspect the Epson 4990 flatbed or Canon Canoscan 9950F will do for
> 6x6, but not for 35mm.  Perhaps the solution is a second hand 35mm
> film scanner and one of those flatbeds for 6x6?
> 
> But which filmscanner? Nikon Coolscan V or LS-50, Minolta scan dual
> IV or 5400/5400II - or what?
> 
> I read something about different light source in filmscanners,- that
> LED light in the Nikonscanners (and 5400II) makes the filmgrain more
> pronounced.
> 
> I would be very happy if the members of this group could share some
> experiences with me.
> 
> 
> 
> 
>

I might be able to get a second hand 5400(I), but how much does the 
lightsource matter for how the grain shows? Anyone?

There is also the question about speed. Minolta SDIV seems rather 
fast, wheras some review complained about the speed of the 5400(I).

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Adam Maas 
<mykroft@...> wrote:
>
> I'd recommend the Minolta SDIV. B&W negs can't take advantage of 
> DigitalICE, and the others on the market all use LED sources (The 
> Minolta 5400 uses a cold light but is no longer sold, as does the 
SDIV, 
> but the 5400 II and Nikons uses LED's)
> 
> -Ada,
> 
> finnkrogvig wrote:
> > Perhaps this is a bit off topic of the group, but you are an
> > experienced lot and I cant resist asking for some advice. Neither
> > could I find anything on this topic by searching group posts so I 
am
> > asking here.
> > 
> > I am looking for scanners both for 35mm and 6x6 B&W negatives. 
Nikon
> > Coolscan 8000/9000 and the similar Minolta Multi Pro is just too
> > expensive for me. I am planning to print up to A3+ from 35mm and
> > 20"x20" or even larger from 6x6.
> > 
> > I suspect the Epson 4990 flatbed or Canon Canoscan 9950F will do 
for
> > 6x6, but not for 35mm.  Perhaps the solution is a second hand 35mm
> > film scanner and one of those flatbeds for 6x6?
> > 
> > But which filmscanner? Nikon Coolscan V or LS-50, Minolta scan 
dual
> > IV or 5400/5400II - or what?
> > 
> > I read something about different light source in filmscanners,- 
that
> > LED light in the Nikonscanners (and 5400II) makes the filmgrain 
more
> > pronounced.
> > 
> > I would be very happy if the members of this group could share 
some

> > experiences with me.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >
>

>
>
> But which filmscanner? Nikon Coolscan V or LS-50, Minolta scan dual
> IV or 5400/5400II - or what?
>

Since I was also mostly interesting in doing 35mm B&W I went for the  
Dual IV.  You can get one very very cheap now (less then $200 for a  
factory re-certified unit from B&H) and the scanning is very good  
(16bit/channel, high DMAX, 16x over sampling).  The more expensive  
scanners provide slightly more DPI in the scans and lots of expensive  
features you can't even use with B&W (most of the Digital ICE options).

Count me as a happy Dual IV user.  Just got a refurbed R200 ($25 on  
eBay) and my UT2 MIS ink set going on the weekend.  Having a ton of  
fun.  Gotta upgrade to USB 2.0 in my Mac though, the scan transfer  
times are painful with USB 1.1.

	chris

----
Chris McKillop <cdm@...>
    "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good"