Digital BW, The Print

I might have to replace my Microtek Artixscan 4000ts, the thing looks 
like it died.  Was hoping folks can point me into the right direction 
on getting a new affordable scanner.  Most of the reviews on the web 
look dated and unreliable.  Looking for something that can take high 
usage and produce high quality scans from 35mm film, particulary Black 
and White.

Any help would be appreciated.

We need to know a little more.  How much do you want to spend, and how 
big do you want to print?  In addition, what is the main types of film 
that you want to scan?  Slow, fine-grained film, or fast, high speed 
film?  Do you need it to be to do batch scans? Do you want to wet-mount 
the film?

General suggestions:

1. Epson V700.
2. Nikon Coolscan V
3. Microtek M1
4. Nikon Coolscan 5000.
5. Nikon Coolscan 9000.
6. Used pre-press flat-bed, like a Screen Cezanne, Creo Eversmart...
7. Used low end drum scanner, such as a Howtek 4500.
8. New Creo IQ Smart 3.
9. New Aztek Premier drum scanner.

That list generally goes from cheapest/lowest quality to really 
expensive/highest quality, although it depends on the film, and some of 
the ordering is a little controversial. (For example, I expect that 2. 
give better results than 3., but 3. is more expensive.)  The Nikon film 
scanners do a great job with fine-grained film, but they don't do that 
well with larger grained film.  You can wetscan with an appropriate 
holder and the 9000, but probably not with the V or 5000.  Wet scanning 
does minimize scanner grain growth a bit, although the results are 
highly film dependent.With the V, and FH-3 strip holder gives better 
edge to edge sharpness than the standard motorized strip holder. With 
really grainy film, such as Kodak High Speed Infrared, I've found that 
the flatbeds  do a better job.  (In my case a Canon 9950F flatbed blows 
away my Nikon V film scanner, whereas with fine-grained film the results 
are reversed.)

The only reasons to go past step 4 if you need to do 120mm film, you 
really, really want to wet mount 35mm with a film scanner,  you need to 
make really big prints, or you have a lot of really dense film, such as 
under-exposed Velvia.  6-10 do give better results, but the costs, size, 
and general trouble increase almost exponentially.

Personally, I have a Canon 9950F flatbed, a Nikon V film scanner, and a 
Screen Cezanne pre-press flatbed.