As my winter project this year, I'm going to scan my slides. I currently have a Coolscan V for 35mm. It gives me good enough quality to make the magazine art directors I submit to happy. It won't do 645 though. So, what scanner can I pick up used to scan medium format? I'm mostly interested in a dedicated scanner, not a flat bed. While I don't really need a top line expensive one, I do want something that gives at least as good a quality as the Coolscan V. I've been looking at Nikon 9000ED, used. I have a new computer that seems to have more than enough power for photo software now, and a LaCie 324 graphics monitor.
When I shot 6x7 I used the Nikon 8000ED scanner with great results. I had the glass negative carrier (expensive but worth it ). Biggest challenge is to keep the big negatives flat as they do tend to bend in the middle.
The least expensive decent scanner would be the Nikon 8000/9000. There are glass film holders that will hold your film flat but work best with the same scanning fluid we use for our drum scanners. Does completely eliminate Newton's Rings though. The other negative (no pun intended) side of the Nikons is that it's difficult if not impossible to scan 100 percent of the frame without a small amount of cropping. If that's really important to you, then you'll have to look elsewhere. And Nikon's software may not be supported in your current or future operating system. That being said, I've made Nikon 8000 scans of 6X7 Velvias that are damned close to what my Howtek 8000 can deliver - minus a bit if d-min and d-max and that rebate edge thing. Once you dig into Nikonscan's preferences and turn off highlight and shadow clipping, the scans improve dramatically.
Since I own the Coolscan V, I'm aware that a sliver of the scan isn't captured. It's not a deal breaker. I have 4x5 trannies too and am aware of wet scans, and am OK with that. My current operating system is Windows 7, 64 bit, and Nikon software doesn't seem to be supported by it. I do use LaserSoft with my CS-V and plan on using that with a medium format scanner too. Thanks for all the good suggestions.
