Question on film scanners

[donlfaulkner]

I take my film to Walgreens for develop, CD and index print only. They seem to do a fairly good job. This gets me a digital file to work with.

Up until now this has worked out OK. I'm finally getting some keepers that I would like to print and also
submit to stock. I checked the size and they are 1800x1215 = about 2mp. (are my figures correct?) My cheap P&S is 3.1mp! This doesn't give me much wiggle room for postprocessing, cropping, etc.

Evidently Walgreens limits the file size so they can put all that useless (to me) crap on the CD with the
picture file and they want you to come back to them for prints. I understand that kind of business thinking.

I'm cheap! plus I would rather do all I can myself.

I've looked at some scanners on the internet and am wondering if that would be worth the cost. Would it be
cost effective to acquire a scanner and how good are they. I'm on a tight budget so the cheaper the better.

Any recommendations?

[crackhead]

I'd recommend an Epson V700 (pricey) or Epson V500 (cheaper).

Get one with Digital ICE to save yourself time cloning out dust!

[donlfaulkner]

Thanks, John, for your input.

My budget calls for a really cheap price. I realize that quality costs but I can't see spending $200 for a scanner that I may not need in the next year or so.

I've seen prices from $35 to over $300. I need to keep the cost below $150 (the lower the better) if I can. How much quality is lost on the cheaper units?

[linque]

I have a v700, and it's awesome, but doing it yourself can be EXTREMELY time consuming. Digital ICE is iffy -- I usually disable it. You could always send it off to ScanCafe, but that can get pricey if you have a lot to scan.

Why are you shooting film? I'm not knocking it, just curious.

[donlfaulkner]

Shooting film because that is the camera I have. Want to switch to digital but don't have the money. Therefore, I don't want to spend any more than I have to. If it gets too pricey, I'll scrap the idea and limp along as I have been until I can make the switch to digital.

[KJ Smith]

Don,

I don't mind spending your money. Yes, get your own scanner. You will not regret it.

Get the Epson 4490 or the V500 here new.

Or here refurbed.

The new one with free shipping may be a better deal.

I have a V700. I am very happy with it. There are several people on this site that use the 4490. They are happy also.

I usually have the digital ice disabled.

[crackhead]

A new v500 can be had for $157.99 at B & H, no tax and free shipping.

[wclavey]

Or the Epson 4990... does all formats and they show up refurb from time to time. I really like mine. I use it for MF & 4x5, occasionally for 35mm but I don't shoot that much 35mm. Of course, not that i have been branded a digipho I may not need mine much longer... LOL!

[KJ Smith]

Originally Posted by wclavey

Of course, not that i have been branded a digipho I may not need mine much longer... LOL!

DigiPho or DigiHo?

Is it the 4990 that you have?

Don, I thought Wes had a 4490. My bad.

[venchka]

By all means, buy a 1620, 4990, 700 or 750. Those will scan 4x5 and 8x10. When the time comes.

Kevin is bad.

[Dobick]

another option for you to consider -- I bought the Canon canoscan 8600 -- I think it was right around the $180 mark. The 8800 is the current replacement for that model.

It will do medium format film as well as 35mm. I think it does a fine job, and comparing the results from some slides that I have scanned on a Nikon coolscan 9000 vs the canoscan, the scans are very similar.

If money wasn't an object, I would get the Nikon line, but being that Money is always an object, I got the canon (which was the cheapest that I could find that would scan 120 film.

[donlfaulkner]

At the moment I'll be sticking with 35mm film so I'm not really looking for anything bigger. I appreciate all the feedback I'm getting and am researching prices and reading reviews. Ebay has quite a collection, also.

I keep seeing ION scanners. Any good or stay away?

[venchka]

Dedicated 35mm film scanners may only accept 3-4 frames at a time. A Royal Pain! The scanners designed for larger formats will handle 15-24 frames at a time. Think about it.

[studiocygnet]

I'm selling a used but very well cared for scanner in the marketplace, for $100 or best offer. Comes with Digital Ice and all (which is only useful on color negatives, not B&W). It was a $400 Epson scanner when new, and I just moved up to the 750 for wet scanning of old black and white negs. And yes, you get much better quality doing it yourself than any scan from Walgreens, or even the Tiffs I get back from Precision Camera. The only way to get a high quality scan otherwise costs a lot more.
http://www.TexasPhotoForum.com/forum...-shipping.html
If you're interested, we just need to find someone going between Austin and Longview?

[donlfaulkner]

From my research and your answers, it appears I'm not going to be happy with the scanners that I can afford right now so this is going on the back burner for now. I'll keep throwing a few pennys in my digital jar now and then and use film as a training device for a while longer.

I really appreciate all the input.