If Not the Plustek 120 then what?

[print44]

Now that the real world has intervened on my desire to own the new Plustek 120 scanner - I can't afford one - rather than putting away my MF cameras I need to buy a suitable and affordable scanner.

I've a Rolleiflex and a 'cord and a Moscow 5. My pictures don't have to be blown up bigger than A2 and are 99% B/W.

The V700 is the obvious choice, but are there other options? Let's set the £350 of a new V700 as the price ceiling...

Cheers,

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

If you already have a decent dSLR, you could do what I do and use a light table plus a macro lens. I use the Jessop light table, which cost me £15 new a few years back. If I didn't already have the lens, I'd just buy a good enlarging lens (you can get high end lenses for a few pounds these days) some cheap extension tubes and a couple of adaptors. Even if you have to buy it all, £75 should see you well clear. For convenience, buy a solid enlarger with a detachable head and use it as a copy stand. When I say "buy" you'll find that people are giving them away these days.

With that lot, you're limited only by how big you'd print from your dSLR.

[ColSebastianMoran]

You want to print A2 which is 16.5" x 23.5" (approx).

I use a V500 for scans of MF film. I think I get good sharp prints up to 6x the linear dimension of the film, and I like a print that still looks sharp held up close. That's 12x18" from 6x9cm film, or 12x12" from 6x6cm film. So, you want to print somewhat bigger.

That takes you to the V700/750.

As for the light table route, you probably know whether you're happy with an A2 print from a DSLR.

[whitecat]

I use the V700 with great results.

[Pete B]

I'm please with my V700 too.
I might get the 7600 for 35mm.
Pete

[Jamie123]

A V700 is probably the best you can get in that price class. Another option would be to use a scan service. ScanUnit (http://scanunit.com/) in the UK has very competitive prices for high end scans. An X5 scan is only £5/frame. Hard to beat.

[thegman]

I'd say V700 or like Jamie says, send off for scans. You can get a lot of those £5 X5 scans for the cost of a scanner, then of course there is what your time is worth to you.

You may be able to pick up a Microtek in budget, reviews are a bit mixed though.

[print44]

Thanks for the responses. Sejanus - any light box MF shots you can post to offer comparison between the scanner derived images? It's an interesting idea.
The V700 seems to be ahead in the running. Presumably the Microtek you mention thegman is the artixscan f1?. I also wondered about the possibilities of the Minolta Scan Pro or possibly an Epson 4990.

[Aristophanes]

I use a V500 for 120 and a Plustek 7500 for 135.

Both more than good enough.