Minolta Dimage Scan Dual II

[bippi]

Hi,

Still thinking about scanners, is anyone here using this scanner? And if so with what software? Would you still reccomend it even though it is getting old.

[OldNick]

I bought a Scan Dual II off the auction site last year and it works fine for me. I use VueScan software with it. I see no problem with this system for online images. If one is intent on very large enlargements, a more modern scanner with higher resolution might be in order. I chose the SCII because it has a USB interface that works fine with my Pentium IV PC.

Jim N.

[BigSteveG]

w/ Lightroom. It works very well for what it is. I find Lightroom simple to use and it offers the functions I need for my scanning puporses.

[Roger Hicks]

Still the best affordable scanner available. I use it with its own software.

Cheers,

R.

[Ronald_H]

Hi there,

Bought one years back when they were new. Always have been quite pleased with the results but for the love of God, use it with Vuescan! The original software compares to Vuescan as a rusty VW Beetle to a Porsche 911. With Vuescan you get 16 bits output and multiple pass capability for example.

BUT... mine has been replaced by a Nikon Coolscan V. I literally worked the Minolta to the death. The neg carrier got broken (I don't think you can get new ones) and had to be closed with the help of sticky tape. Furthermore the transport mechanism was dying, lots of grinding and the carrier often wouldn't feed. This also caused unsharpness when doing multiple passes.

So yes, it is a good and inexpensive scanner. But if it has seen heavy use... I wouldn't buy it.

[rich815]

The MDS II was my first film scanner I bought new years ago. It was adequate however after getting a Nikon LS-4000 later the better dmax, sharpness and shadow detail made me wonder how I was ever happy with the MDS II. I mean, some B&W negs and Velvia chromes which I thought we not very good and as a result sort of tossed aside (tonality and shadows either blah or non-existent, color and saturation not very nice or just not smooth enough) were "resurected" and wonderful with the LS-4000...

For B&W and my desire for long and smooth tonality the MDS II just did not cut it.

[bippi]

Hi,

Thanks for the input guys. Well I decided to bid on one on ebay, and jihaa(Hopefully) I won. Well I guess the plan is make do with the DSII for a year or so, or until my budget allows me to buy a Nikon V ed.

So does the plan still sound okei?

Thanks again for a great conversation.

[OldNick]

Sounds like a sensible plan to me. For my needs, I will probably use mine until it dies.

Jim N.

[rich815]

Good luck on the bidding. I will give the caveat on my comments by saying that Vuescan did not support Minolta scanners at the time. So perhaps you'll see some good improvement I was not able to see using Vuescan. I do like Vuescan much more than NikonScan for my LS-4000.

[David Goldfarb]

I use Vuescan with my Minolta Scan Dual (I), and it works better than it ever did. The original Minolta software doesn't run in Windows XP, but Vuescan has its own drivers that will rescue a number of older SCSI scanners with obsolete drivers.

[Bob Michaels]

I used a Scan Dual II with Vuescan for years. I found it to be superb. Eventually I bought a MultiPro to scan MF and it became redundant. Otherwise I would still be using it.

I rescanned some 35mm negs on the MultiPro and compared the files to the SD II scans. I could see a slight difference when pixel peeping the files but no visible difference in prints. So I gave up the though to rescanning.

[Ronald_H]

As stated (emphatically) before, the Minolta Scan Dual II will work perfectly with Vuescan.

[Nokton48]

Hi All,

-FINALLY- found a Minolta Scan Dual (I've been looking at the II, III and IV) for a decent price, I bought this one based on what I've read in this thread. Presently I'm using a dinosaur Acer 1240UT flatbed, and I've just purchased Vuescan to use with it.

Hopefully this one provides me with the resolution I need:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220219375296


What do you guys think??

-Dan :)

[bippi]

Nice price at least, I paid 162.5$ for mine. I´m still waiting for it should be in my hands on monday. Good luck with yours Dan. And if anyone can´t give us specific Dual Scan II hints please do.

[OldNick]

Dan, that is about what I paid and I think it was a great buy. I tried the Minolta software, but found VueScan to work much better for me. Congratulations on a good purchase.

Jim N.

[aizan]

wow, i thought i was the last person on earth using the original scan dual.

[Nokton48]

OK Thanks!
-Dan

[dshugar]

I bought one about two weeks ago for $90, made about a hundred scans and quickly realized that I would prefer something with higher resolution and ICE, if preferable. I sold it a week ago for $125 and will be putting that money towards a new Plustek 7300 (no ICE) or a used Coolscan (V, 4000 etc)...