View Full Version : Nikon scanners no more??
astroman
03-30-2009, 15:09
I was in my local camera store today and one of the salesman told me that the Nikon rep was in last week
and said that whatever they had in stock was it and there would be no more shipped.
He said it wasnt official yet but.
Is this true?:eek:
I was told this by my rep as well. He said Nikon scanners are as good as gone.
BillBingham2
03-30-2009, 15:34
10 YEARS!!! Sounds like the sky is falling!
Everybody to get from street, E M E R G E N C Y, everybody to get from street!
B2 (;->
No stress, guys. In a couple of years, you can scan your negative prints using a full-frame M9 with BOOWU or Visoflex and MacroElmar.
:)
BillBingham2
03-30-2009, 15:40
Do the same thing now with a D3X too!
B2 (;->
That wouldn't be the same :) :)
photogdave
03-30-2009, 15:46
I have to keep an old G4 tower running just to operate my Minolta Scan Multi with its SCSI interface.
It's worth it.
This means of course that the ones that are in use now will have to finally be used with the OS and computer they are now operating on, since software will finally evaporate in 10 years or so. Even vuescan will cease to support them.
Why would Vuescan stop supporting them? It supports Minolta scanners and they've been out of the scanner business for quite a few years. As long as the Nikons remain the best home scanners out there, people will figure out a way to use them.
No stress, guys. In a couple of years, you can scan your negative prints using a full-frame M9 with BOOWU or Visoflex and MacroElmar.
:)
But can I feed a whole roll no muss, no fuss?
If Nikon really leaves the scanner market, one can only hope Epson continues to get better. The Epson 750 is said to be pretty close to the Nikons.
jonmanjiro
03-30-2009, 17:07
The Coolscan V is listed on Nikon's discontinued digital products page here (http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/products/discontinue/digital/index.htm).
But the Coolscan 5000 and 9000 are still listed on their own page on Nikon's website here (http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/products/scanner/index.htm).
bambamphoto
03-30-2009, 17:11
I own an Epson V750. It sucks.
This is bad news. I better buy a Nikon. Hell I better buy two!
Jay
I own an Epson v700. In comparison to the coolscan 5000 for 35mm it isn't very good.
jonmanjiro
03-30-2009, 17:26
A thread from a few months back...
Nikon Coolscan V ED is Officially Discontinued (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61340)
Everybody to get from street, E M E R G E N C Y, everybody to get from street!
ROFLMAO
haven't heard that in 30? years, still cracks me up, Russian accent and all from "the Russians are Coming" comedy movie. not good at all, but a totally classic line delivered with a hilariously unbelieveable accent.
E-MERE-JEN-CEE
robert
Just for this decision... I hope Nikon go bankrupt. Morons.
I own an Epson V750. It sucks.
This is bad news. I better buy a Nikon. Hell I better buy two!
Jay
Jay,
what do you dislike about it? Anything you like to show?
Ta
J.
shadowfox
03-31-2009, 08:59
Y'know, Nikon is not the only company who knows how to make film scanners.
I think considering the future, Fuji would be one candidate who may still have the motivation and resources to produce a good film scanner.
They make excellent lenses, and they can partner with one of the electronic giants for the sensor, motors and electronics. Panasonic may be a good choice.
I just got an Epson V700 and like it a lot, actually. The quality was better or at least as good as my Minolta Scan Elite II, and the batch function works great. I'm prepared to believe the Nikons are better yet, but to say the Epson "sucks" seems a little harsh. And though "film is dead" Bill Maddox would say I was just deluding myself, I can see Epson filling the void or some other company producing scanners in the future, when they realize there are still millions of "niche" users of film out there wanting one. Besides, I can't afford the Nikons, so it's no loss to me!
The epson doesn't suck, especially for medium format. However, for 35mm I don't think it is very good compared with a nikon for a whole variety of reasons. a) workflow. I have to handle the negatives much more meaning more prints, dust and scratches b) I can scan a whole roll of negs with the nikon, not so with the epson. c) scan quality. The scan quality with the nikon is much sharper.
Perhaps I am not discriminating enough but I am more than happy with my new Epson V700! At least Epson continues to make scanners and update their software.
http://homepage.mac.com/rayhill2/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/Redo-1Girl.jpg
The epson doesn't suck, especially for medium format. However, for 35mm I don't think it is very good compared with a nikon for a whole variety of reasons. a) workflow. I have to handle the negatives much more meaning more prints, dust and scratches b) I can scan a whole roll of negs with the nikon, not so with the epson. c) scan quality. The scan quality with the nikon is much sharper.
You got some samples to share? Just curious. I got a Nikon IV and EPSON 4990. The EPSON doesn't hold a candle against the Nikon, but then the v700/750 are supposed to be better than the old 4990, but from the comments no magic bullet.
Concerning the workflow I like the Epson better. I can load four stips a 6 frames each and go away. The Nikon only takes one strip at the time.
rogue_designer
03-31-2009, 09:52
Maybe Epson or Fuji will buy Nikon's designs and production? :)
Maybe Imacon will release a lower price point model to fill the gap?
Maybe pigs will fly...
I don't see what the worry is. As photographers switch away from film the demand for scanners should drop. I mean this isn't a growing market segment. After a while when the hoarding mentality abates, there should be plenty of supply in the secondary market.
Frankly I think it's stupid for an individual photographer to buy a super scanner like a Nikon for big bucks and have it spend most of its life sitting around not being used.
I'm a filmmaker and in my business you either rent gear or own it cooperatively. The better way to do this is for a bunch of you guys to go in on a decent unit and share expenses. That way the scanner gets more use.
That's how I can afford a good HD camera.
You got some samples to share? Just curious. I got a Nikon IV and EPSON 4990. The EPSON doesn't hold a candle against the Nikon, but then the v700/750 are supposed to be better than the old 4990, but from the comments no magic bullet.
Concerning the workflow I like the Epson better. I can load four stips a 6 frames each and go away. The Nikon only takes one strip at the time.
Sure, but that strip can contain 40 exposures ;)
Whether or not the quality is acceptable depends on what you want to do with the negatives.
I've posted these samples a million times on this forum.
Fuju Reala 100.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnewhook/3251404399/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/3251404399_236500a811.jpg
Full res 5000 scan. Check the link for the v700 scan.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnewhook/3252217996/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/3252217996_412f9a18cc.jpg
Provia comparison
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnewhook/3251346899/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/3251346899_3f6084ed10.jpg
buzzardkid
03-31-2009, 10:52
I don't care about production, like others pointed out there's a lot of them to be picked up from the secondhand market.
But, I'd like to know: what about service? When will Nikon seize repair services? Any substitute for Nikon repair?
Suggesting Fuji or others might be interested in starting scanner production is plain ignorant, there are no newcomers to be expected to the scanner market, expected turnover will never cover initial development and production costs. No company will just toss that kind of money down the well!
Sure, but that strip can contain 40 exposures ;)
Whether or not the quality is acceptable depends on what you want to do with the negatives.
I've posted these samples a million times on this forum.
Fuju Reala 100.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnewhook/3251404399/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/3251404399_236500a811.jpg
Full res 5000 scan. Check the link for the v700 scan.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnewhook/3252217996/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/3252217996_412f9a18cc.jpg
Provia comparison
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnewhook/3251346899/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/3251346899_3f6084ed10.jpg
Thanks that is interesting. To be honnest I find it more surprising how good the EPSON is. If you work on the scans (e.g. raise the contrast to the level of the Nikon and perhaps some unsharpmasking) a lot of detail (and grain) will still come out of that scan and the gap will narrow. I think that holds even more for the Provia scan you show.
In the end, the Epson is half the price of the NIKON, that still has to count for something. I don't think my EPSON 4990 is anywhere near this. The only comfort is, I got that cheap at closeout price.
Thanks agiain
Joachim
CLE, digitally archive all your decent film shots. By the time you do that you should be able to pick up another scanner for short money on EBAY.
I think the problem is going to go away and solve itself over time.
Digital cameras are getting incredibly better and cheaper.
After a while worrying about scanning will be a lot like bemoaning the fact no one shoots with glass plates anymore. Maybe that's not true. I am sure someone on APUG does it.
rogue_designer
03-31-2009, 11:06
well fuji is hardly a newcomer to the scanner market. Their big flatbeds were a staple in the image labs at the Tribune and several other places I've worked with high end scanners.
But they certainly have not been in it for a little while - aside from the scanners embedded in their mini-lab equipment. (SP-500 and SP-3000 scanners)
Isn't the Tribune in Chapter 11?
Did you guys do wet prints and then scan them on a flatbed?
I remember when there was a big hubbub about OCR software and digitizing text documents. No one complains about that anymore. Anyone still make dictation machines?
rogue_designer
03-31-2009, 11:28
Sun Times is as of yesterday...Tribune has its own issues - they might be in Ch. 11 too... I haven't been there in years, and don't keep up on the news.
We had two Imacon 848's the big fuji and a few other assorted scanners (some little Kodaks for bulk/basic 35mm scanning). The Fuji was used for print scans when we needed to. But it was also used for larger transparencies and troublesome images - my recollection is we could eke out a bit more dmax than we could with the imacons.
My workstation was one of the 848's and I didn't end up over at the Fuji much. But some tech's preferred it.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/3251404399_236500a811.jpg
This basically mirrors my experience with a V500 vs. Minolta Scan Duall III vs. DSLR+Macro lens.
The flatbeds do a pretty good job, but I feel like they are not focusing clearly enough or something. I don't think the flatbeds can resolve the grain even with USM. The V500 scans 12 frames at 3200dpi (6400 is useless) in about 11 minutes. The DSLR + Macro lens method, while somewhat tricky, is far faster and clearly resolves the grain like your Nikon scan above.
shadowfox
04-01-2009, 09:54
Suggesting Fuji or others might be interested in starting scanner production is plain ignorant, there are no newcomers to be expected to the scanner market, expected turnover will never cover initial development and production costs. No company will just toss that kind of money down the well!
Maybe, but never say never. :)
Get a darkroom for free for crying out loud.
rogue_designer
04-02-2009, 08:30
Get a darkroom for free for crying out loud.
City condo = No room for a viable one - especially not for 120 and 4x5. Processing the film is about all I can manage in our 1 bathroom.
Plus my clients usually need digital files at some point. But that's where the lab comes in.
JeremyLangford
04-02-2009, 09:04
Right when I was thinking about getting a Coolscan V, they were discontinued. And now that I've been thinking about going for a Coolscan 9000, there is rumor about them being discontinued.
navilluspm
04-02-2009, 09:21
My local photo shop set me straight. Nikon's 5000 and 9000 series are not discontinued, but they are only making them in batches of 100, when they get enough orders.
I used to think that negatives and prints were the only two formats or media that would be format-change neutral... as things moved from floppies to HDs to CDs to DVDs to SSDs to whatever, you could always scan an old negative or print... (I've been doing the "shoot film and get back negatives and a CD" thing) ....looks like that may not be the case.
Maybe it's a ploy to get us film holdouts to finally knuckle under and buy a D300? :p
Everyone from my generation got their family albums and photos scanned? Better get crackin' ... :D
astroman
04-02-2009, 15:23
My local photo shop set me straight. Nikon's 5000 and 9000 series are not discontinued, but they are only making them in batches of 100, when they get enough orders.
In other words if you want one your going to have to wait
possibly months till they decide to make a run of 100.
marbrink
04-03-2009, 00:32
For high quality film scanning I think that duplicating your slides and negs is the future. There's a lot of amazing macro lenses and high resolving DSLR's available. I saw this comparison between a slide duplicate using the K10D and a 50mm macro lens vs a Plustek 7500. In terms of sharpness I think the camera beats the scanner and that's funny because the K10D is far from the best or newest DSLR... Have a look for yourself.. http://www.photoinfos.com/Fotolabor/Repro/Repros04.htm
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