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Thread: Recommend me an entry level scanner please.

  1. #1

    Join Date
    May 2019
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    Recommend me an entry level scanner please.

    Hello, first post on the forums. I've decided to "dabble" in LF and am looking to buy a Crown Graphic. I'd like to process my own B&W film and scan, but I won't be printing....I'll just be displaying on a website. I'd like to get an image only about 5000 pixels long, and I don't want to spend a lot of money on a scanner. Can you recommend to me a couple of scanners that will meet my needs? Thanks...

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jul 2016
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    4,566

    Re: Recommend me an entry level scanner please.

    If you don't want to invest much money for the moment, say $40, you can get a HP G4050, it will deliver an effective resolving power of 1000 to 1300 dpi, you know, one think is the dpi you scan and another thing how many dpi are effectively worth.

    It just delivers the 5000 true pix from a 4x5" sheet, sporting DMax 2.87, this is well enough for BW film, but it will miss deep Velvia shadows.

    When you can, then you may get a better choice, an EPSON V700, 750, 800 or 850, which mostly it's the single LF option for new gear.

    Also you may scan with a DSLR.

    ________

    https://www.filmscanner.info/en/HPScanjetG4050.html

    It looks it has modern drivers: https://support.hp.com/es-es/drivers...canner/3236371

    Search: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...Desc=0&_sop=15


    This is a Flickr search of: G4050 4x5 https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=g4050%204x5 you may realize what it can be obtained with it.
    Last edited by Pere Casals; 16-May-2019 at 11:31. Reason: spelling

  3. #3
    Peter De Smidt's Avatar
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    Jan 2001
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    Fond du Lac, WI, USA
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    Re: Recommend me an entry level scanner please.

    Do you have a digital camera?
    “You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
    ― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know

  4. #4

    Join Date
    May 2019
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    25

    Re: Recommend me an entry level scanner please.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pere Casals View Post
    If you don't want to invest much money for the moment, say $40, you can get a HP G4050, it will deliver an effective resolving power of 1000 to 1300 dpi, you know, one think is the dpi you scan and another thing how many dpi are effectively worth.

    It just delivers the 5000 true pix from a 4x5" sheet, sporting DMax 2.87, this is well enough for BW film, but it will miss deep Velvia shadows.

    When you can, then you may get a better choice, an EPSON V700, 750, 800 or 850, which mostly it's the single LF option for new gear.

    Also you may scan with a DSLR.

    ________

    https://www.filmscanner.info/en/HPScanjetG4050.html

    It looks it has modern drivers: https://support.hp.com/es-es/drivers...canner/3236371

    Search: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...Desc=0&_sop=15


    This is a Flickr search of: G4050 4x5 https://www.flickr.com/search/?
    text=g4050%204x5
    you may realize what it can be obtained with it.
    Wow, that could be just the one I'd need. Thanks! I don't want to spend much money until I'm sure I want to stick with this LF stuff. For 40 bucks, you can't go wrong.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    May 2019
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    25

    Re: Recommend me an entry level scanner please.

    Quote Originally Posted by Peter De Smidt View Post
    Do you have a digital camera?
    Unfortunately no, not at this time.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    The "Live Free or Die" state
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    Re: Recommend me an entry level scanner please.

    Find a used Epson 4870 in good condition. They seem to be around $60-100 on ebay and easily resolve more than your stated requirements. Ideally get it locally to test. Make sure the carriage is locked for shipment (there's a mechanical switch).

  7. #7
    Tin Can's Avatar
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    Dec 2011
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    22,469

    Re: Recommend me an entry level scanner please.

    Copy with cell phone for website, all anybody does is look at tiny pics on cell phones.

    Buy a LED light table and put the negs on that to copy with the trusty cell phone.

    If you never print that's all you need.
    Tin Can

  8. #8

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    Jul 2016
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    Re: Recommend me an entry level scanner please.

    Quote Originally Posted by Larry Gebhardt View Post
    Epson 4870 in good condition.
    Also Epson 4990, some at $90.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    May 2019
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    25

    Re: Recommend me an entry level scanner please.

    What about this one? Epson Perfection V550. You can buy it new for $160. Any good for 4x5? I don't see 4x5 in the specs.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Jan 2019
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    195

    Re: Recommend me an entry level scanner please.

    I found an HP 4050 at a church rummage sale so I said what the heck. The scanner was pilloried when it was released. With the HP software I can understand why. The scans I did were horrid! I mean really really bad. Then I gave it a whirl through Vuescan, and boom. Nice and clean. If you have Vuescan then it is a good scanner, especially for color. I think I read somewhere that it has two different lights in it for a larger gamut. I can believe it from the color scans I have done. Not worth it though if you don't spring for Vuescan.

    Another scanner to look at that can do 4x5 and shouldn't cost that much is a Canon 9950F. The Epson 4990 would work well also.

    Keep in mind that if you buy an older scanner you will have to clean it.

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