About scanning negatives (4x5)

[macandal]

My question is simple (I hope). Is this done on a regular scanner or does one need a "special" scanner (i.e. one desgined specifically to scan film negatives)? I have an HP ScanJet 5300C and was wondering if I could scan it there. Or is it the software that does the job? Do I need special software to accomplish this? Thank you.

[pandachromatic]

Usually, you need a dedicated film scanner. One, because film scanners have a resolution that matches the actual resolution of your film (maximum detail) and Two, because I'm pretty sure that to scan film you need to put light through it, and only film scanners have lighting units.

[bobwysiwyg]

The documentation for your scanner should indicate whether it can scan negatives or not. I have a fairly old Epson with templates to slide 35mm, med. format, or 4x5 negs into. You remove an upper cover to allow a light in the top cover to shine thru the negatives during scanning. Probably a long way from optimal, but it does a credible job.

[Ken Lee]

The official spec sheet (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bps03614&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=&product=57848) for the scanner shows nothing about scanning transparencies.

The term of art here is "transparencies": some (older) scanners allow you to add a "transparency adaptor", while others are designed to scan them, with no adaptor.

[bobwysiwyg]

The official
The term of art here is "transparencies"


Pardon my faux pas. :rolleyes:

[Ken Lee]

bobmysiwyg -

Oops -

I wasn't trying to correct anyone. I was just trying to give people a search term, who might be looking for a scanner to handle Large Format slides and negatives.

I should have chosen my words more carefully. Sorry !

[bobwysiwyg]

No problem. My original response was slanted to my own use, negatives. Transparency would be a more all-encompassing term.

[macandal]

Okay, then. Can you guys/gals suggest a good scanner to scan 35mm, MF, and LF (4x5) negatives? I am not going to print from the scan; I just want to scan to, say, post the images on the internet, etc. Even though I don't intend to print from the scans, I do want something that will give me a great image. Thanks.

[Ben Syverson]

Literally any flatbed with transparency scanning capability is fine for web resolution.

[rdenney]

Literally any flatbed with transparency scanning capability is fine for web resolution.

Yes, even ancient ones. I have just put into semi-retirement an old Acer 1240UT. That scanner was only $100 when it was new, and I bet you could find something similar for less than the price of shipping it. It had an optical resolution of 1200 spi, and maybe effectively reached 800, but that is sufficient to make a file of 800x1200 pixels of a 35mm slide.

I am also searching for one of those slide duplicator attachments that goes onto the front of a 1:1 macro lens. I have the lens, and I think I could run a big stack of old slides through that sort of a device, using my 5D as a "scanner", with good results and far less effort than using a film or flatbed scanner. It won't work for negatives, of course.

Rick "but avoid those reflective transparency gimmicks" Denney

[venchka]

Epson has made a lot of them. The first that I know of (because I have one) is the Perfection 1680 with Transparency unit. Epson sold these with or without the lid with the light & negative holders. Mine came with all the film goodies and works fine for printing.

Moving forward, we have the Epson 4990, V-700 & V-750. All three will handle all 3 formats. I have printed 16x20 from 6x7 negatives scanned on a 4990. Works for me.

[macandal]

I just came across the Epson V500 (http://www.amazon.com/Epson-Perfection-V500-Photo-Scanner/dp/B000VG4AY0/ref=dp_ob_title_ce?ie=UTF8&qid=1258062100&sr=8-3#productPromotions) and the Canon 8800F (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-CanoScan-Negative-Scanner-2168B002/dp/B000V2QCQI/ref=pd_cp_e_2). They get good reviews by the users on Amazon (minimum 4 stars) and the price looks nice (around $160). I also forgot to mention two things that are important to me in considering which scanner to get: 1) that it be compatible with Mac OS X, and 2) that it can also scan reversal (slide) film. Thanks.

(I looked at some of the other suggestions and the prices are very high. Perhaps that's way more than I need.)

[venchka]

I don't think that the V500 will handle 4x5 film.

All Epsons that will handle 4x5 film will handle positive & negative film, color or B&W.

Used 4990s sell for $200-$250.

Things you get when buy a professional scanner.

Here's a quote from the Canon 8800 specs:

"Batch-scan up to 4 slides or 12 35mm frames " No mention of MF or LF.

My Epson holds more like 12-15 35mm slides or 24 35mm negatives. 4 sheets of 4x5. Having to stop and reload holders often would be a pain in the neck.

[Marko]

Epson has made a lot of them. The first that I know of (because I have one) is the Perfection 1680 with Transparency unit. Epson sold these with or without the lid with the light & negative holders. Mine came with all the film goodies and works fine for printing.

Moving forward, we have the Epson 4990, V-700 & V-750. All three will handle all 3 formats. I have printed 16x20 from 6x7 negatives scanned on a 4990. Works for me.

Mine is Perfection 1650. I bought transparency adapter and holders separately and it works fine for what it is. I never really tested the resolution, but I believe its optical resolution is 1600 dpi. It works pretty well for what it is, definitely good enough for Web. It's still got some good life in it so, I'll find it a good home one of these days when I get my V700.

All the images I posted lately (mostly in the Water's Edge and Rocks and Stones threads) were scanned with this scanner.

Marko

[macandal]

Okay, I was trying to get one of the famed Epson 4990s but these are virtually non-existent. Recently, I haven't been able to find any on eBay, Craigslist, or here on this forum. What else can I get that I will be able to find more easily?

Again, my requirements are, I believe, quite simple. I want something that scans negatives and transparencies, 35mm, MF, and LF (4x5). I will not be printing from the scans. I want to scan negatives to post on the internet and, since printing the larger formats is so expensive, to have a portfolio of my work that I can look at so I can decide which neg/pos to print.

Thanks.

[dfoo]

35mm scans from flatbed scanners are not great. Ok for small web images, but larger is not so good when compared with a Coolscan 5000 or similar. Medium format is ok. 8800F is not nearly as good as v700.

[Jon Shiu]

Earlier Epson's like the 3200 and 4870, (or even older 1200U or 1640SU) would be fine. I've used the 3200 and 1640SU and they have been fine (have a 700 now).

Jon

[bobwysiwyg]

Okay, I was trying to get one of the famed Epson 4990s but these are virtually non-existent. Recently, I haven't been able to find any on eBay, Craigslist, or here on this forum. What else can I get that I will be able to find more easily?

Again, my requirements are, I believe, quite simple. I want something that scans negatives and transparencies, 35mm, MF, and LF (4x5). I will not be printing from the scans. I want to scan negatives to post on the internet and, since printing the larger formats is so expensive, to have a portfolio of my work that I can look at so I can decide which neg/pos to print.

Thanks.

Even an Epson 2450, if you can find one, will meet your needs, which are similar to my own. I have one and it will even produce a credible 8x10 (depending on your printer of course) if need be. I use it for both 35mm and 4x5.

[Lenny Eiger]

If all you are doing is uploading to the web, you can stick the film on a light box and take a picture of it with a point and shoot.

Lenny

[macandal]

If all you are doing is uploading to the web, you can stick the film on a light box and take a picture of it with a point and shoot.:confused: Thanks, Lenny, but no thanks.

[percepts]

I don't think they released it in the US but an epson F3200 (not the same as 3200) with all its film holders is ideal for your stated purpose. It has a very small foot print and is a film only scanner. But failing that then any cheap scanner with a transparency adapter built in is good enough assuming the transparency adapter covers 4x5.

[venchka]

... But failing that then any cheap scanner with a transparency adapter built in is good enough assuming the transparency adapter covers 4x5.

That last point is critical. There are many scanners out there that will only scan 3-4 35mm negatives. A few more add MF film. The smallest number add 4x5 film. The Epson Perfection 1680 with transparency adapter is an oldie but goody. It will scan 4 4x5 negatives/transparencies. Newer models will only handle 2 at a time. It's plenty good for printing too.

Opps. I'm repeating myself.