Editorial Review

A high-performance dedicated film scanner from Nikon, the CoolScan V ED offers high-quality scanning of 35mm slides, 35mm film strips, APS film (with optional IX240 film adapter), and prepared slides (with optional medical slide holder). The Scanner-Nikkor ED glass lens offers a 4,000 dpi optical resolution, while the 3,964-pixel linear CCD image sensor and 14-bit A/D input (8-/16-bit output) provide true-to-life, brilliant results. Read more

Features

• 4,000 dpi optical resolution, 4.2 density
• 14-bit A/D conversion, 8 or 16-bit output
• Scan speeds as fast as 38 seconds
• Digital ICE4 Advanced suite of image correction technologies
• USB interface, PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (26)

Excellent Slide Scanner
This is an excellent slide scanner and does exactly what it is supposed to do very well.Yes, it is somewhat slow, but only in comparison to regular flatbed scanners.I have the slides scan at maximum resolution, but have the final image resized to about 20%.This keeps the file size manageable (about 5 MB per scan) and still provides an image that fills the screen.With the digital corrections on (which does make a huge difference on old family slides), and some minor post-processing, it has been taking about a minute per slide.
Bob King
Slow but professional quality.Not simple.Huge learning curve.Scanning is an art and craft.You don't learn it overnight or even after many weeks.For the money, this is an outstanding choice.Remember, this is only good for slides and negative............not prints

If the software is bad, it doesnt matter how good the hardware is
I am not a techie but I have installed enough hardware of all kinds to know what it involves. I am also pretty handy with Photoshop and photography.
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Features

• 4,800 x 9,600 dpi resolution, 4.0 Dmax, 48-bit color, 16-bit grayscale
• Adapters for slides, film strips, medium format, and 4-by-5 film
• Epson Easy Photo Fix and Digital Ice technology
• Adobe Photoshop Elements, LaserSoft Imaging SilverFast SE 6
• USB 2.0 and FireWire interfaces, PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (32)

Epson 4990 PhotoScanner
I needed a machine to scan my collection of transparencies and color negatives.This model seemed to have what was needed.After loading the software, I began with Monaco EZ color and ran the calibrations and created the profiles for transparencies and reflective prints; this was fast and fun. I was surprised with the closely matching results.
One of the best!
This is a well engineered and versatile scanner. Film holders are numerous and well designed; film scanning rivals some
Watch out for film deposits under the glass!
My six months old 4990 has a noticeable film deposits under the glass. The glass was clear when I bought it. Apparently other owners of the 4990 have had identicle problems (discussions at howtofixcomputers.com). Epson will clean it for free if the 4990 is still under warranty, but this is not a one time problem, but a continuous one (you have to pay Epson to clean the glass after warranty expires). The film is visible when the 4990 is powered up and the interior light is on. With the lid out of the way, look at the glass at 10 to 30 degrees angle. I hope your glass is clear. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A high-performance dedicated film scanner designed for imaging professionals, the Super Coolscan 5000 ED offers high-quality scanning of 35mm slides, 35mm film strips, APS film (with optional IX240 film adapter), and prepared slides (with optional medical slide holder). The Scanner-Nikkor ED glass lens offers a 4,000 dpi optical resolution, while the 3,964-pixel, two-line linear CCD image sensor and 16-bit per color A/D input (8-/16-bit output) provide true-to-life, brilliant results. Read more

Features

• 4,000 dpi optical resolution, 4.8 density
• 16-bit A/D conversion, 8 or 16-bit output
• Preview scans in 11 seconds, full scans as fast as 20 seconds
• Digital ICE4 Advanced suite of image correction technologies
• USB interface, PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (14)

Beware for computers freezing up
I have used the 5000 ED for the past week and my computer (running XP home edition) keeps freezing up after scanning 2 - 25 slides, forcing me to perform a cold reboot. I have sent a request to Nikon, but haven't heard a word. If only I could return this unreliable piece of hardware.
Poor scanner crippled by even worse software
This scanner is extremely slow, taking up to several minutes per negative.
Expansive scanner with extermely poor and buggy software
One would expect that a company developing professional scanners would have the pride to develop software matching in quality. But you would be greatly disappointed to discover that this grand heavy hardware comes with poor software and therefore only amounts to a mediocre product not worth the money. The software (Nikon Scan) is buggy, leaky and crashes after about the second or third scan of a negative strip. I am running the latest version of Windows XP, with all the patches, and basically have to stop every thing else from running on my 320Ghz, 2GB new PC. This buys me just another single strip before it either freezes, forcing me to kill the application, or it silently crashes. I don't even want to go into the usability and documentation. Enough said. Extremely disappointing and not worth the money. ... Read more

Features

• 35 mm film scanner
• 1,800 dpi maximum optical resolution
• 36-bit color depth
• Linear array color CCD image sensor
• USB interface, PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (16)

Top Notch Scanner
For little money the PrimeFilm PF1800U Scanner is a powerful tool.
WORST computer peripheral I ever bought!
Before buying this scanner, I'd had some of my 35mm transparencies professionally scanned, which produced great results but was an expensive approach. I bought this scanner in the hope that it would allow me to produce reasonable-quality scans at a lower price. Unfortunately, although the software worked fine for me, the quality of the scans is so hideously bad that I gave up in disgust after a few scans. Here are some of the problems: 1) strong pink tint to every scan. Although this can be corrected to some extent in software, there is a significant loss of color spectrum that cannot be restored. 2) Poor dynamic range: rendering of shadow detail is nonexistent. The most astonishing thing is that I bought my unit several years ago, and they're still selling this piece of junk now!

PF 1800U USB Film Scanner
This economical 35mm film scanner is exactly what I wanted and needed. I have a large collection of 35mm slides taken in Korea and Vietnam; this scanner allows me to convert them to digital images on my computer and either print, send or share with others.
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Subjects:  1. Electronics    2. Camera Accessories    3. Office Electronics   

Editorial Review

A high-performance dedicated film scanner designed for imaging professionals, the Super Coolscan 9000 ED offers high-quality scanning of 35mm slides, 35mm film strips, medium-format film, medium-format slides (with optional 120/220 mounted film holder FH-869M), glass slides for microscopes (with optional Medical Slide Holder FH-8G1), and 16mm film (with optional 16mm film holder FH-816). The Scanner-Nikkor ED glass lens offers a 4,000 dpi optical resolution, while the 10,000-pixel, three-line monochrome linear CCD image sensor and 16-bit per color A/D input (8-/16-bit output) provide true-to-life, brilliant results.Read more

Features

• 4,000 dpi optical resolution
• 16-bit A/D conversion, 8 or 16-bit output
• Scan speeds as fast as 40 seconds
• Digital ICE4 advanced suite of image correction technologies
• IEEE 1394 FireWire interface, PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (9)

Amazing scans of seriously degraded film
I bought one of these units primarily to digitally archive hundreds of old photos shot and mounted as 6x6 and 35mm slides, as well as lots of B&W 35mm negatives.The 6x6 color slides are as much as 50 years old, with some mounted in glass -- which was a bad idea, as those slides have had exceptionally severe color shifts and many have been partially eaten by fungus trapped behind the glass. The scanner's digital ICE and ROC were downright magical (GEM less so, and DEE was sometimes great but touchy to adjust for some slides). With just a few exceptions, even gross over and under exposed slides still yielded usable images. Infected slides that I could barely see through came out perfect except for little pink splotches where the fungus was particularly nasty. The only other defect observed was that interference rings were highly visible on 3 out of about 50 glass-mounted slides...which I suspect was due to the slides having been overheated years ago when they were viewed by projection.Some non-glass mounted slides had significant heat warp damage, but I didn't see serious problems in their scans.BTW, scanning 6x6 slides requires an optional adapter...it's a pitty that the adapter doesn't hold at least three 6x6 slides at once and it does take a little time to put a new slide in, but that time was hidden by the processing time using my 1.6GHz Turion laptop.
Fantastic
The quality of this scanner is amazing. The detail that it picks up from slides and negatives is incredible. The only drawbacks are that you have to scan bw negatives without Digital Ice (so you'll have a lot of manual cleanup to do) and the fact that there are no trays to scan 110 and 126 negative film (you could conceivably rig the existing trays to accomplish this). Still, it definitely gives you professional results. Sometimes the tray does go off track, but it's sporadic and so far nothing that can't be fixed with a reboot. A true value for your money - paying to have your negs and slides scanned would cost much more than buying this unit.

Distorted Ratings
The low ratings for this scanner are due to availability problems.The scanner itself is excellent! ... Read more

Editorial Review

For dedicated 35mm slide scanning, the Microtek ArtixScan 4000tf Scanner provides high dynamic range combined with fine software control to handle a wide range of originals, even with shadow detail.Read more

Features

• Professional grade single-pass slide and film scanning
• True 36-bit color, 4,000 dpi optical resolution, 3.4 Dmax
• 5,300-element tri-linear array CCD image sensor
• Batch holders for mounted slides and filmstrips
• USB and FireWire, PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (5)

Initially great, horrible later
Most of the reviews of this scanner are based on short-term, initial impressions after limited usage. I have used my 4000tf for nearly 4 years and thousands of negatives. Unfortunately, much of the scanning was done in the first two years, because subsequently, the scanner became balky and stopped working. The weak point seems to be the mechanism by which you introduce film holders to the scanner - namely, you push the film holder into the scanner until it grabs and accepts it. Eventually this system wears out and the scanner can no longer tell when the film holder has been fully ejected or when it is being inserted. As a result, the scanner motor cycles continuously as it tries to eject a film holder that is no longer inside, and once it stops cycling, any film holder introduced into the scanner will be immediately ejected. This prevents any scanning from occuring. This is not a software glitch or a interface glitch. This is a mechanical weakness. I have since found quite a few references to similar behavior in other owners' machines. If Microtek would fix this problem, that would be great. But Microtek has one of the worst customer service labyrinths I have seen. I have yet to find out where (if anywhere) Microtek has a repair center. As a result, I cannot recommend purchasing this scanner at any price. The Nikon V is the better alternative by far, especially when you add in the presence of digital ICE dust removal technology. The dust removal software in Silverfast is clumsy and ineffective in comparison. Don't buy this scanner.

Calibration Software Wonderful
I was looking for a dedicated slide scanner to replace a mid range model scanner that I was using before and was glad to find this one affordably priced.It has calibration software that lets me calibrate my monitor, scanner and printer using the same color scheme which is very helpful when you need the color to be as close to perfect as possible.Some of my clients are very picky and since I have started using the 4000tf I have not had any complaints with regards to the work.I would highly recommend this scanner to anyone out there looking for dedicated slide use.

Looks Great on Paper
This unit looked great on paper and I was excited at the prospect of scanning my old slides and negatives but the soft ware provided with this unit has serious flaws and tech support is less than helpful (the understatement of the year).I have other scanners and a state of the art PC, but in spite of waiting on hold forever (TOLL CALL) nothing works.The e-mail support is worthless. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Specially designed as an optional accessory for the Nikon Coolscan IV ED, this unit will be particularly beneficial to labs that aim to process all types of professional-quality film. Connecting easily to your scanner, this solidly crafted attachment is built to handle Advanced Photo System (APS) film, without interfering with 35mm cut film and slides that can be scanned without accessories. ... Read more

Features

• Accessory for both Super Coolscan V ED and Super Coolscan 5000 ED Scanners
• Compatible with the Nikon CoolScan IV ED
• Scan APS film without hindering your other scanning jobs
• Easy-to-install attachment
• A quality Nikon product

Reviews (3)

It broke down after a few rolls
It started reporting error messages that the film cannot be loaded after a few rolls. The Cool Scan V scanner is of course very nice and still continue to work with the slide and 35mm adapters. The successful APX scans were very nice. I was disappointed to see it break down only after a few (about 20) rolls going through it. The latest is that one of my APX roll is stuck in it and it won't even eject it. I am planning to send it to Nikon with the roll in it and see what happens. Since it has only been a month, it is still under warranty.

Poor Quality WILL NOT LAST!!!
This item was such a HUGE disappointment. Initially, it worked well. BUT the more it was used (we are only talking 50 rolls or so) the more it started to deteriorate. First came the noises. Then the grinding. Then the failures to load film. Forget trying to load the rolls of 40 pictures, it would bring this thing to a grinding halt in many cases. This thing was only built to scan maybe 25-50 rolls tops. Read the reviews on other websites. Others have had the same thing happen. Inevitable failure. AND this is my SECOND one, both with the same result. For Nikon to release such a poorly constructed product is surprising. Especially since the scanner (I have the Coolscan V) it goes in is actually a well built and excellent product.
APS adapter works great with Coolscan V
After researching the best way to scan APS film, I purchased a Coolscan V scanner from Amazon and this IA-20(S) adapter from Adorama thru the Amazon site. I never really found any reviews concerning scanning APS film, so I stuck with the scanner that had the best reviews and bought the APS adapter to go with it.
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Features

• 2,400 dpi optical resolution
• 48-bit color, 16-bit grayscale
• Integrated 35mm film loader
• Epson Easy Photo Fix for 1-touch color restoration
• USB 2.0 interface, PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (11)

I'm underwhelmed with the Epson 2580
I run a graphics studio, and use a scanner several times a day for photos, printed material, even small items such as jewelry that require some depth of field from the scanner.Because we have so much dedicated software that runs native in OS9, we're holding out on the Big Upgrade to OSX as long as we can. Last year I researched a new scanner to buy while we still had a choice of OS9 driver scanners, finally selecting an HP Scanjet 4400c. This was a joy to use, with friendly software, all the options we required, and good scans. Then it started producing banded images, and to make a long story short, this is a defect of some HP scanners, there is no fix, and HP goes out of its way not to help. So here we were in Dec 2005, frantically looking for a new scanner with Mac OS9 drivers.
What a Great Scanner
I was scanning in 35mm with my HP 5530 which HP so notabable disctontinued 2 weeks after my purchase.Worked great until I ran across a project with my Aunt who handed me well over 2000+ negatives.It wasn't something I really wanted to do, but 30+ years of negatives was exciting.Some big memories have emerged.
Great scanner for the price
I have had this scanner for eight months and have had no problems.The soft ware was easy to install and is very user friendly.This is my fourth scanner in nine years and I find I like it the best of them all. The first two broke down immediately after the warranties were up and would cost more to fix than replace.That is saying something because one was over $300.The third was good, but not like this one. I really like being able to do more with the pictures than crop or remove redeye.It is so easy to resize them and have them remain clear. If you are scanning for personal use, this is a good choice and I highly recommend it.
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Features

• 3,600 x 3,600 dpi optical resolution, 48-bit color output
• Automatically loads and batch-scans 35mm roll films and filmstrips
• Digital ICE, Digital ROC, and Digital GEM tools
• Also includes Adobe Photoshop Elements
• IEEE 1394 FireWire and USB 2.0 interfaces, PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (2)

Best Bang For The Buck - Scan Quality Is Great
I bought this scanner primarily because it was less than half the cost of comparable Nikon or Konica-Minolta models, and because it featured Digital Ice3, Digital ROC and Digital GEM.
Reasonable price, GREAT scans!
This is the big brother/newer model of the PrimeFilm 3600; please see my review of PrimeFilm 3600 for starters -- same included software, same physical housing.
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Features

• Up to 4,800 x 9,600 dpi resolution, 48-bit color, 16-bit grayscale
• Epson scan and productivity software, Adobe PhotoShop Elements 2.0
• Scans multiple 35mm slides, negatives, and medium-format transparencies
• Copy, scan, save, and scan-to-email directly from the front panel
• USB interface, cable included; PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (17)

no help

Poorly made
I have no complaints about the quality of the scans.But after about a year and a half, the pulley mechanism came loose from the floor of the unit.I opened it up and I can see that the pulley, which has considerable tension, is held down by two tiny, thin plastic tabs.It is easy for them to break, and once one does, there is no way to secure the pulley bracket in place.I can just see them saying that these flimsy tabs are going to last as long as the warranty period and then the consumer has to buy another unit.Unbelievably poor workmanship.I think this model is no longer in production, but if it's any indication of what current Epson products are like, beware.

Best line of scanners on the market! been using Epson for 5+ years. love it!
I have been using the Epson line of scanners for over 5 years now and once I switched to them I can't go back!
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Editorial Review

The 10000XL photo edition is a large-format flatbed scanner designed for graphic artists and other high-end users. With its high 2,400 dpi scanning resolution, 48-bit internal color depth, and 3.8 optical density, images are crisp and accurate, while the six-line alternated color CCD and auto focus optics system help to ensure that you get the best scans possible. Read more

Features

• 2,400 x 4,800 optical resolution; SilverFast SE 6 software
• 48-bit color depth, 16-bit grayscale
• A3 sized scanning surface for originals up to 12.2 by 17.2 inches
• Transparency adapter for slides and negatives
• USB 2.0, Firewire, optional networking; PC and Mac compatible

Editorial Review

Minolta's DiMAGE Scan Dual IV provides a high-quality 35mm film, slide, and APS film scanning solution. Scanning is achieved using the accompanying film and slide holders (APS film holder must be purchased separately), delivering up to 3,200 dpi resolution. Ideal for serious photo enthusiasts and professionals alike, the DiMAGE Scan Dual IV offers Pixel Polish, Auto Dust Brush, and Grain Dissolver to correct and enhance your photo images.Read more

Features

• Delivers sharp 3,200 dpi color scans with 16-bit A/D conversion
• Multi-sample scanning; batch scanning using film and slide holders
• 35mm and slide mount holders; supports optional APS adapter
• Pixel Polish, Auto Dust Brush, and Grain Dissolver for optimized image results
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0; USB 2.0 interface, PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (94)

Works just like it should!!
I was a little worried after reading some of the previous reviews.By my refurbished Scan Dual IV installed and worked fine right out of the box.
Quirky, inferior, and not very durable... but priced okay
First the good news...
Satisfied
I have had this product for four months and have scanned over 5,000 slides and negatives.I am happy with the results and versatility of the unit.
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Features

• Crisp 2,400 x 4,800 dpi resolution, 48-bit color
• Built-in transparency adapter for 35mm slides and negatives
• 1-touch color restoration, Epson Easy Photo Fix technology
• ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ABBYY FineReader Sprint OCR software
• USB 1.1/2.0 interface, PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (13)

Really Good Scanner for about 18 months
For a while, this 2480 was a really good scanner and buy for light usage. Now after 18 months of ownership, there are cloudy markings on the underside of the glass from 2 to 4 inches in that makes that part of the glass unusable.
Casts shadows
My 6 year old trusty Umax scanner was starting to show its age, so i looked for a new scanner that had good reviews.The Epson Perfection 2480 seemed to be one of the best rated.
Epson2480 Photo Scanner
This is my 3 or 4th scanner and based on the review that I purchased it, it is the best of all that I have used. It outclassed Visioneer (from Office Max). No problems with the software, no nagging for registration on each re-installation, but I have not had to re-install.
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Editorial Review

Rather than scanning photos one by one, this add-on accessory automatically scans a whole stack of 3-by-5 or 4-by-6-inch photos--up to 24 at a time. It connects easily to your HP ScanJet 4570 to provide simple scanning of multiple photos, at the press of a button. ... Read more

Features

• Accessory photo attachment for HP ScanJet 4570 Series
• Hands free scanning of up to 24 photographs
• Accepts 3-by-5 and 4-by-6-inch photos with ease
• Ideal for create a digital photo album
• Designed to protect old photos during the scanning process

Reviews (1)

You Get What You Pay For
I bought this product with the intent of digitizing my family's photo collection, both pictures and negatives. It hasn't worked out. Read more

Features

• 1,600 x 3,200 dpi optical resolution, 12,800 dpi interpolated
• True 48-bit scans for remarkable color accuracy
• Built-in 35mm filmstrip adapter
• Fast USB 2.0 connectivity
• Easy 4-button automated scanning

Reviews (46)

THIS SCANNER IS NOW WORTHLESS
Worked fine when first installed. Lost hard drive and now ubable to re-install. Have done extensive and very time consuming research on the problem to no avail. Have un-installed and re-installed several times, following the instructions carefully.
Don't buy this scanner.
I had the scanner for maybe a year. I didn't use it much. Without any reason it stopped working properly. All the images I scan are blurry with blue and red all over. Terrible!!!
Remorseful buyer here!
Bought the so-called Mac compatible scanner last year and it worked with OS 9. I went to do this years batch of scans using OS X and no go. Image Capture doesn't see it connected via USB. An Apple Support document indicates that the 1660 Photo driver is NOT a built-in driver in Mac OS X. I downloaded most the recent software (epson11208.sea) from Epson website, installed it...the scanner app won't even startup! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Specially designed to handle fragile glass medical slides, this Microscope Slide Holder for the Nikon Coolscan IV allows you to safely and easily view slides with impressive clarity and vividness. Crafted from sturdy plastic, it fits snugly into the scanner, keeping slides protected during scanning. This holder is not required for viewing standard film slides. ... Read more

Features

• Accessory for both Super Coolscan V ED and Super Coolscan 5000 ED Scanners
• Used with Slide Mount Adapter MA-20(S)
• Allows scanning of mounted medical microscope slides
• Sturdy plastic protects slides during scanning
• Impressive clarity and vividness

Editorial Review

The Epson Perfection 2450 brings professional-quality scanning options right to your home desktop. Possibilities include batch scanning of film negatives, as well as a number of settings that let your determine specific priorities for each project. The 2450 is an excellent choice for the devoted photographer who demands both high-speed processing and exquisite attention to detail.Read more

Features

• 2400 x 4800 dpi hardware resolution with Micro Step Drive technology
• 48-bit color depth
• Built-in transparency unit for transparencies, slides, and negatives
• Software bundle includes Adobe Photoshop Elements and LaserSoft SilverFast SE
• USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 Firewire connectivity; PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (26)

Big Time Failure
Don't buy this scanner. I'm a light user, and this scanner failed after 18 months. The software was okay, the hardware quit working after the warranty expired, and the scanner unit needs to be replaced by a repair center. It's so costly, the repair is not worth it. Do yourself a favor and go with another brand.

Still a great scanner
Why am I writing a review for a scanner that has been out of production for 2 years? Because it's so darn good! I've had mine since January 2002 and it has performed without a hitch. I have upgraded to Mac OSX since I bought this and was really disappointed Epson did not make a driver for it. Luckliy I discovered Ed Hamrick's superb "VUESCAN" software. Get it at hamrick.com. On OSX or Windows it simply blows away any Twain driver or Epson driver. It rivals silverfast AI. The best thing about this scanner is the firewire interface. It's rocket fast for print scans. Why have scanner makers not migrated to this far superior interface?
Professional Photographer
Buyer Beware. I bought two of these scanners and both were defective. The first one had a large piece of plastic shaving under the scanning glass. The second one did not operate as the scanning light did not illuminate and I had to return that one too. I really liked the features that this scanner offered but I am not convinced of the reliablility of this product and would not recommend. If you decide to buy it-check your unit out closely when you get it home. ... Read more