If betterscanning.com is dead, what are the alternatives?

[anotherguy]

I'm also actively looking for alternatives. Can someone recommend either a great scanner at an affordable price or any services similar to betterscanning.com?

[Joshua Dunn]

Modern flatbed scanning is quickly being repalced with digital cameras being used to scan your ngatives. I have the Epson V850 and it does not scan as well as a good digital capture and the from a good mirrorless platform and there are more options for editing. I would look at Negative Supply for 4x5 scanning. Even if you don't have a really good digital camera, you more that likely know someone who does. Invest in a platform and lightsource with negative carrier that will meet your needs.

The problems with flatbed scanning and associated carriers is not going to get better. It was already a small market and given that Epson is getting out of the scanning buisness I feel eveyone will be migrating to digital capture.

-Joshua

[Franswa]

I am holding ground with my flatbed! I think the problem with flatbed scanning is the available holders and getting the negatives as flat as you can, while also ensuring you have the correct height set up for your particular scanner. Once you have those two sorted out the results can be really fantastic and good enough for most users' intended use. The one thing that I hardly see proponents of dslr scanning mention is the lack of ICE for dust and scratch removal. This feature on flatbeds alone can save a person a substantial amount of time and added work that would have to be manually done with dslr scans.

[anotherguy]

Interesting comment. Would you say this is the fastest option as well?

[darr]

I am holding ground with my flatbed! I think the problem with flatbed scanning is the available holders and getting the negatives as flat as you can, while also ensuring you have the correct height set up for your particular scanner. Once you have those two sorted out the results can be really fantastic and good enough for most users' intended use. The one thing that I hardly see proponents of dslr scanning mention is the lack of ICE for dust and scratch removal. This feature on flatbeds alone can save a person a substantial amount of time and added work that would have to be manually done with dslr scans.

That’s a great point about ICE, it’s one of the flatbed scanner’s strongest features for color and C-41 users. I’ve been camera scanning for at least five years now, and while I understand why people question the lack of ICE, I honestly don’t miss it. I use a combination of anti-static brushes and careful handling to clean my film before photographing it. With a clean workflow and proper lighting, dust is minimal, and any remaining spots are easy to clone out. It becomes second nature after a while, and the speed and control of camera scanning more than make up for it in my case.

I recently upgraded to a Sony 61 MP camera to push my resolution even further, and I couldn’t be happier. The files are incredibly detailed, and the sharpness and consistency are outstanding, paired with the Sony 90mm f/2.8 G macro lens on a Bogen CS copy stand. Film scans from this setup easily surpass what I got from my old Epson V700 flatbed.

[sanking]

I recently upgraded to a Sony 61 MP camera to push my resolution even further, and I couldn’t be happier. The files are incredibly detailed, and the sharpness and consistency are outstanding, paired with the Sony 90mm f/2.8 G macro lens on a Bogen CS copy stand. Film scans from this setup easily surpass what I got from my old Epson V700 flatbed.

I agree with Darr, capture with a high resolution digital camera will easily surpass results from the Epson 700 flatbed. And if you need even more resolution the use of pixel shifting with digital camera that supports it can even surpass results of a good drum scanner with 4X5 and 5X7 film. I own a Howtek drum scanner that will scan at 5000 ppi but my film scans with a Fuji GFX 100 easily equal or surpass the results with the scanner

Where dedicated scanners have an edge over film capture is with color negative film with color balance. However, this problem is easily solved with a good conversion program such a Negative Lab Pro (https://www.negativelabpro.com/).

Sandy

[anotherguy]

Thanks for suggesting this conversion program

[paulbarden]

I agree with Darr, capture with a high resolution digital camera will easily surpass results from the Epson 700 flatbed. I own a Howtek drum scanner that will scan at 5000 ppi but my film scans with a Fuji GFX 100 easily equal or surpass the results with the scanner

Sandy

I find this a bit depressing to ingest.

I am still using an Epson V750 Pro, and I dread the day when it gives up the ghost, because it looks like replacing it may be challenging. (It's successor, the V850 is unavailable at any retail shop that offers it)
I dread having to deal with finding a replacement, because it makes no sense to me to spend $5000 on a high res DSLR that I wouldn't use for anything but scanning negatives - I would far rather have a $1500 flatbed scanner to do that job. At this point in my life, I have absolutely no use for a DSLR and I plan on avoiding ever owning one again.

[Franswa]

I find this a bit depressing to ingest.

I am still using an Epson V750 Pro, and I dread the day when it gives up the ghost, because it looks like replacing it may be challenging. (It's successor, the V850 is unavailable at any retail shop that offers it)
I dread having to deal with finding a replacement, because it makes no sense to me to spend $5000 on a high res DSLR that I wouldn't use for anything but scanning negatives - I would far rather have a $1500 flatbed scanner to do that job. At this point in my life, I have absolutely no use for a DSLR and I plan on avoiding ever owning one again.

I'm right there with you, Paul! I have no intentions of shooting digital again and I am praying my v800 stays alive. These scanners can still be found on the second hand market, but prices will continue to increase as availability dwindles. I am considering going for a spare unit - one of the Japanese versions of the v850(GT-X980) which are still reasonable priced and seem more available than the US model.

[darr]

Technology keeps advancing. I no longer use a DSLR—instead, I rely on a lighter, mirrorless setup. For example, the Sony A7R V is Sony’s latest high-res model, but you can now find the previous A7R IVa with its impressive 61 MP sensor and pixel-shift capability (up to 240 MP) for around $1,500 used, and prices are still dropping. I paired mine with Sony’s excellent 90mm f/2.8 G macro lens, which I picked up in mint condition for under $700. It’s a solid setup I plan to use for the next decade. It replaced a smaller Fujifilm rig I used for nine years in photography and five years for film scanning.

It’s all about making the most of evolving technology. A Luddite, I am not.