Anyone have a Plustek film scanner?

[deckeda]

http://www.plustek.com/product/series.asp?s_id=4

Seems they have a couple models around $200-$300 with nicer specs than the Minoltas/Nikons of yore.

[deckeda]

On the other hand I see there are now Epson flatbeds with Digital ICE for less than $200, albeit with less resolution and DMAX.

Edit: One is the ancient 4490 (circa 2005) is still around at about $150 ($109 refurbed) The other is the newer V500 for $150 refurbed or new for $180 AR.

[deckeda]

deckeda wrote:
http://www.plustek.com/product/series.asp?s_id=4

Seems they have a couple models around $200-$300 with nicer specs than the Minoltas/Nikons of yore.

Scratch that. Now learned the "7200dpi" doesn't correspond to high effective resolution.

[Don Kiyoti]

What are you scanning?

Nikon has discontinued their film scanner line. I found out the hard way when I went to order a Coolscan V ED which seems to be the most bang for the buck. Prices on Ebay skyrocketed but a local store had a few in stock, which meant I had to pay full retail + tax. If you find one for a reasonable price, get it.

[deckeda]

I couldn't afford any of the recent Nikons or older Minoltas anyway. I'd be scanning in 35mm film only. Looks like a V500 might be my sweet spot for reasonable performance and cost.

There's a Canon FS4000 up on eBay right now but it's hard to say what it'll go for, and I'd have to setup an older Mac with SCSI to make the most of it unless I want to put up with USB 1.1.

[Don Kiyoti]

deckeda wrote:
I couldn't afford any of the recent Nikons or older Minoltas anyway. I'd be scanning in 35mm film only. Looks like a V500 might be my sweet spot for reasonable performance and cost.

There's a Canon FS4000 up on eBay right now but it's hard to say what it'll go for, and I'd have to setup an older Mac with SCSI to make the most of it unless I want to put up with USB 1.1.

I got my Coolscan primarily for doing Kodachrome, which is notoriously difficult for scanners. I think if you're doing color or BW negs the V500 would probably do fine.

[vision63]

deckeda wrote:
On the other hand I see there are now Epson flatbeds with Digital ICE for less than $200, albeit with less resolution and DMAX.

Edit: One is the ancient 4490 (circa 2005) is still around at about $150 ($109 refurbed) The other is the newer V500 for $150 refurbed or new for $180 AR.

I bought one off of Craigslist last summer for just $60 bucks. Best scanner I've ever owned. I wouldn't call it ancient. It's just a few years old. Here's a transparency I scanned from back in 1994:

That's my arm holding the trumpet.