Film scanner recommendations?

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CrashAndBurn

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#283953 22-Mar-2021 11:15

I have a box full of 35mm films that am wanting to scan. I was wondering if anyone have any recommendations that would not break the bank or better yet someone who is kind enough to let me borrow or rent their one? I am based in Newmarket. Also not sure if there is anything that works with APS?

rayonline

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#2679556 24-Mar-2021 00:10

APS? No not at all. The Nikon Coolscan $$ decommissioned ones can scan APS properly with an $$$ holder attachment. Or else it is really using a lab or use a flatbed scanner and buy a $50 plastic 3D printed holder and scan it that way. You also have to break apart the APS canister.

CrashAndBurn

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#2679559 24-Mar-2021 00:13

rayonline:

APS? No not at all. The Nikon Coolscan $$ decommissioned ones can scan APS properly with an $$$ holder attachment. Or else it is really using a lab or use a flatbed scanner and buy a $50 plastic 3D printed holder and scan it that way. You also have to break apart the APS canister.

That is what I thought. Any recommendation for normal 35mm film?

rayonline

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#2679560 24-Mar-2021 00:15

CrashAndBurn:

rayonline:

APS? No not at all. The Nikon Coolscan $$ decommissioned ones can scan APS properly with an $$$ holder attachment. Or else it is really using a lab or use a flatbed scanner and buy a $50 plastic 3D printed holder and scan it that way. You also have to break apart the APS canister.

That is what I thought. Any recommendation for normal 35mm film?

If it is not really fine art serious photography. You can just use a flatbed scanner like a second hand off TM an Epson or Canon which can scan film, it would have the film holders. No dedicated scanners anymore apart from obscure brands. I think on TM there is a PrimeFilm thou. Generally the Minolta and Nikon Coolscans are the discontinued dedicated ones which are suggested if you do intend to print larger than A4.

Oh you can use something like a Nikon ES-1 or ES-2 and attach it onto a digital camera if you have one with a macro focussing lens. Take the shot or else you can use a lightbox and put the film on there covered by some black cardboard or use a film holder like off a flatbed scanner or similar. Might need a copy table to work quicker thou.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aThAi4jan8

CrashAndBurn

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#2679562 24-Mar-2021 00:31

Anyone have any experience with the film scanner apps? Something like this https://photomyne.com/

rayonline

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#2679852 24-Mar-2021 14:54

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxZow38d6Ek

outdoorsnz

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#2679872 24-Mar-2021 16:07

At some point I will look at building a project based on the concept of this post:

https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/automate-analogue-film-scanning-with-raspberry-pi-and-lego/

Needs a decent camera, slide / film holder and led backlight.

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shk292

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#2679873 24-Mar-2021 16:07

When I had this requirement (about 15 years ago) I bought a scanner off ebay, which could accept the APS cartridges direct - it may have been the ones mentioned above. I got quite good results from it, then resold it on ebay on completion, so the exercise didn't cost me much in the long run.

As APS gets more of a distant memory they will get harder to get hold of though

bfginger

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#2700315 30-Apr-2021 23:08

There hasn't been much development of scanners for the last 15 years.

I suggest the Plustek 8100 or 8200. It ships to NZ via Amazon or B&H Photo. Negative Solutions sells APS film holders for Plustek via Amazon and eBay.

Even the best flatbed scanners have relatively poor resolution at scanning 35mm.

outdoorsnz

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#2700510 1-May-2021 16:31

bfginger:

There hasn't been much development of scanners for the last 15 years.

I suggest the Plustek 8100 or 8200. It ships to NZ via Amazon or B&H Photo. Negative Solutions sells APS film holders for Plustek via Amazon and eBay.

Even the best flatbed scanners have relatively poor resolution at scanning 35mm.

I think I will just use a local company that does slide scanning etc. I have around 100 slides give or take, and given the age of them, not worth spending that much. But thanks for the input.

rayonline

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#2700512 1-May-2021 16:44

The use might also play a factor. If one isn't making any prints or prints larger than A4 then a better scanner might not be needed. I've scanned my prior film before I took up the hobby out of my own curiosity ie as a general household we took like 4 rolls of film per year if that on some years so it wasn't that much.