Need Flatbed Scanner Recommendation

InterceptPoint wrote on 10/18/2003, 9:49 PM

I just bought a Minolta DiMAGE Scan Dual III for 35mm negative and slide scanning. Works great and I am very satisfied. The quality is probably overkill for my Vegas projects but I am likely to print some of them so I like the high resolution that I get from the Minolta.

I am now looking for a flatbed scanner that can scan multiple 35mm negative strips (4 shots per strip in my case) to generate the equivalent of a contact sheet. The Dual III will scan one strip pretty quickly but it would be nice to have a scanner that would give me modest quality for a 4-7 strip scan.

Are there any affordable scanners on the market that will do this job?

Also - does anyone know if pure Isopropyl alcohol is the best cleaning solution for slides and negatives.

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Comments

lucman2 wrote on 9/28/2004, 7:58 PM

Thanks everyone...I just did a test. I shut down the Epson scanner program and left the scanner powered on. The lamp did eventually turn off in about 10-12 minutes. I'll be holding on to it after all.

Question #2: Can anyone think of a reason when I use Vuescan...I have it setup to start up photoshop for editing...which it does, but the image is blank (white background). If I use the Epson scanner software, there's no problem.

Thanks again!

JL wrote on 9/28/2004, 8:07 PM

Could it be that your scanning software is still open and talking to the scanner? I know that when I reopen PS and select import > Epson 3170, the scanner lamp turns back on, even before I hit preview or scan.

I also have to go along with the other 3170 owners here as far as product satisfaction goes. I've scanned several hundred images and it does a great job; surprisingly good with film/slides for a flatbed.

JL

fixler wrote on 12/12/2004, 2:00 PM

They no longer produce the 3170. They now make the;

PERFECTION 2480 PHOTO
PERFECTION 2580 PHOTO
Hi-Resolution:
PERFECTION 4180 PHOTO
PERFECTION 4870 PHOTO

Any good experiences? Which one is most similar to the 3170(which replaced it?).

Thanks

wombat wrote on 12/12/2004, 4:36 PM

The Perfection 4870 is an excellent all-round scanner. I have two dedicated slide/film scannners, but have been using the 4870 for most film/slide based work for the last few months.

Using tools like 'Digital Ice' slow it right down, but by setting it up well in 'Professional mode' you can get through some excellent quality batch scanning in quite a respectable time.

Of course it also does a great job on photos, documents etc.

fixler wrote on 12/12/2004, 9:40 PM

I only need it for photos. Not slides, docs....

I do alot of batch scanning so if it was fast it would be good.

Any recommendations out of these?

FuTz wrote on 12/14/2004, 3:09 AM

Didn't read all the posts up here but all I have to say is: stay away from UMAX.
They ripped off their clients by ***selling***, and only selling their drivers updates on a CD rom a few time back. Pain in ... well you know.

fixler wrote on 12/22/2004, 2:34 AM

anyone...

TomE wrote on 12/22/2004, 12:50 PM

Fixler,

I just bought a Microtek i900
I am currently scanning over 1000 slides and I love teh quality I am getting.

It is a dual bed. The slides and transparencies go inside a tray and they are scanned in the open. There is no glass in the way. On the top the flatbed for reflective material like photos and such is Legal size and you can fill it with photos and then do an overview scan and select each one and make your adjustments then hit "batch" and it will scan them all for you to several file formats. (Tif, jpeg, psd etc..) It has Digital Ice technology for the reflective area only. (not the transparencies --slides/negs) But it comes with Silverfast software that has more features on it than I will ever use.

It was a little expensive I bought it at BH (www.bhphotovideo.com)

but so far I am thrilled with the scans I am getting. It can scan 12 slides at a time.

-Tom