Dumb scanner question

[John Cahill]

Hello All,
I have a run of the mill scanner/copy machine/fax machine. Can I use it to scan 4x5 negs? Do I just put the neg on the glass? Sorry to be such a complete neophyte; but I am just doing my first 4x5 sheet film and my darkroom setup is incomplete.
Any help greatly appreciated.

john

[Walter Calahan]

Well you can if you put a light source above the negative pointed through, but the results won't be much.

Best to get a scanner dedicated to LF negatives and transparencies. There are many on the market. Microtek and Epson are two brands usually mentioned here. Search the forum because it is rich with information.

http://www.microtekusa.com/

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/ProductCategory.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=-8172

[Jim Jones]

My Epson Perfection 2450 Photo works quite well for scanning 4x5 negatives, and provides fine snapshot quality from 35mm negatives and slides. If you shop for one on the used market, be sure it comes with the film and transparancy adaptors. The newer Epsons with transparancy adaptors are said to be even better.

[Ron Marshall]

Epson sells refurb 4990s on their website which will give a good enough scan for about a three times enlargement.

[Jon Shiu]

You can scan some low quality type of image if you scan your film with a piece of white paper on top of it (if the cover is not white) and then do some adjustments in photoshop, ie invert, levels, etc.

Jon

[Frank R]

The basic answer is no. The scanner needs a second light in the lid that shines through the negative to the scanner lens. The other posts refer to this kind of scanner.