Minolta DiMAGE Scan Dual III 35mm Scanner

InterceptPoint wrote on 9/25/2003, 8:44 AM

I'm looking at the Minolta DiMAGE Scan Dual III as a possible low cost 35mm film and slide scanner. It will do 2,688 x 4,032 pixels for a 35mm slide and that looks good enough for me to convert to DV and do some zooming. I'm betting that this class of scanner is going to be superior to any of the flatbed scanners for 35mm.

The Dual III is in the $250-$300 range. The next step up looks like the Minolta 5400 or Nikon SuperCoolScan 4000 in the $800+ range.

Any opinions, advice, experience with the Dual III or any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 9/25/2003, 10:05 AM

The resolution will be way more than you need for DV work, but that is OK, because you will probably have other uses for the photos (like printing them).

I have a Nikon 4000ED. It is actually a $1,600 scanner. The next step up in the Nikon line from the scanner that you are considering is their Coolscan IV ED. This is the one in the $800 price range.

I have scanned tens of thousands (>30,000) negatives and slides using various scanners. I have always liked the Nikon scanners because they do a good job of getting into the shadows.

Prowl around the forums at the following site for more information:

Photo-net

InterceptPoint wrote on 9/25/2003, 5:32 PM

Johnmeyer: Thanks for the lead.

BillyBoy wrote on 9/25/2003, 6:46 PM

If you're on a budget you can accomplish nearly the same quality with a lower price scanner and then apply guess what... color corrector. Yea, its my favorite filter along with color curves.

See my web site for a link to a great how-to on scanning. On the left about a third of the way down the page called scanning tips.

http://www.wideopenwest.com/%7Ewvg/tutorial-menu.htm