I would like to get a 35mm/slide film scanner. I was originally going to hold out for a dedicated scanner to get the resolution but I now see flatbeds with 4,800 X 9,600 optical resolution for $200. The Epsons I looked at had built in backlights.
Does a dedicated film scanner do a much better job or are the flatbeds just as good? I already have a flatbed of lesser resolution so I don’t really need the utility of one.
Why don’t you email me? I’ve got an extra film/slide scanner in perfect condition i’d let go really cheap - since I went digital I’ve not touched it all.
email’s in my profile.
S
Yes, dedicated negative/slide scanners do a much better job than any flatbed. It’s worth the price to get a good one.
While we’re on this subject. Anyone have any idea about a film scanner that is big enough to take a 4" by 6" microfiche? Id doesn’t have to scan the entire 4" by 6" at once, but it needs to be able to hold the entire fiche. All slide scanners I’ve seen will not do that.
My experience with slide/film adapters for flatbeds has been nothing but terrible, terrible, terrible. Look at this example. This was scanned on HP’s scanjet 4670 w/film adapter… the actual image, printed on film at 8x10, is very crisp and sharp. This one is far, far too dark (and it was B&W film, hence the red color cast… color film is grainy, the colors are faded and sickly)…
Unless flatbed adapters have improved drastically in the past year, I’d say go with a dedicated film scanner. I’ve seen the results you can get with, say, a Nikon Coolscan IV (which I believe can be had for around $400), and it’s leagues ahead.
I agree with SPOOFE. The film scanner accessory that came with my dad’s microtek flatbed scanner is an awkward, useless piece of junk.
Thanks for the info. It sure helps to see an actual scan. It was the 4800 dpi resolution that got me interested again in the cheaper flatbeds.
