Negative, slide scanner

I am looking for a scanner that will scan and enlarge negatives, slides and prin ts, especially negatives and slides. I have heard that Nikon has such a scanner. I would like to have price, source and availablity. Thanks,

The Epson 800 does an excellent job with prints and slides. There is a bit of a learning curve with negatives. Cost ~$1000.

I am currently using a Microtek ScanMaker 5. It is designed like a flatbed scanner for prints, but also has a seperate drawer for direct emulsion scans of negatives and transparencies (up to 8x10). Works like a charm.......the only drawback is the price, which I believe is around $5,000.

The price of the Scanmaker 5 (which is the identical scanner to the Agfa Duo Sca n but with different software) has recently dropped to around $2,000. I believe ClubMac has one at about that pric e

The Scanmaker 4 also has a separate drawer for transparent materials. It costs a lot less then the 5. The scanmaker 4 has borderline resolution for 35 mm film but might be a good choice for low cost with the ability to scan larger formats.

Two key questions: 1) what format negs/slides do you want to scan? The lower price scanners designed for negs/slides are for 35 mm only. The profesional quality film scanners for larger formats are expensive.

2) What quality are you looking for? Exhibition prints? Web graphics?

I don't know if it is distributed in the states, but there is an interesting sca nner with a 125% or 150% hardware lighting capability for dense or underexposed transparencies and a 48 bits colour , 4,2D and 1200 x 2400 dpi made by japanese PFU and sold by Quato (Germany). It claims to be the best of its size and price. Info under www.x-finity.com or www.Quato.ded

Tiping error above: should read www.quato.de and not ded

the linocolor saphir ultra 2 is excellent and cheap.