Best Scanning Software

[lahnet]

Which scanning software do you prefer and why?

I use Epsons , not because I think is the best, but because I haven´t tried other...jet.

[Poolhall]

I have an Epson v350 but I use Vuescan with it, its much smaller than all the epson software, seems to do the same if not more and is quicker to load and use. Not done a lot with it yet but it seems very easy to use and intuitive

[Nesster]

The epson software has a couple of things going for it: ease and clarity of use, mainly. Color balances are hit and miss, and softness creeps into the scan very easily.

Vuescan on the other hand can produce excellent color and sharp scans... but it's a bitch to use and learn. Especially with MF film. I'm never quite sure just what will show up at the far end, crop wise, etc. But once you achieve a good setup for what you're scanning, the results are preferable to the Epson software.

(I use a 4490)

[wintoid]

I've had Epson, Minolta, Nikon, Vuescan and Silverfast SE plus. I use Vuescan exclusively now. Epson was great, very easy to use. Minolta was a joke, at least for my scanner. The Nikon, no thanks! Silverfast I didn't get on with, either.

Vuescan or Epson get my vote. I'm using a Nikon 5000.

[Farside]

Vuescan for film and if I want a quick scan of pages I use the Epson software.

[Attila]

I use Epson software , simple I like it.

[lulalake]

IMO, a dedicated 35mm scanner works best for 35mm. A flatbed seems to work best for 120, 6 x xxx, etc.

An Imacon or drum scanner is the best all around and the most expensive.

[poilu]

I use poposhop, forever the best

[themoleman342]

Where does one get Vuescan?

~Marc

[shad309]

The best that I have used was an Agfa scanner that we had at the camera store. The best thing was Agfa included profiles for almost every film on the market.

If you can ever find one of these or the software they supplied, you will be very happy as the color always looked great!

[Katastrofo]

[shad309]

It's Shad- named after an old blacksmith from Silver Dollar City. He also had an every now and again spot on the Beverly Hillbillies...... enough about that LOL

The scanner was an Afgascan T8000. We used it with a WinXP system and photoshop cs2.
It was a dual scanner- flatbed on tap and slide out tray for negs & slides up to 8X10 large format. It really was great quality scans

[Katastrofo]

Shad, thanks for the name background, you really went offroad to find
this one...lol.

Yes, the Agfascan T8000 is a freestanding unit and looks like it would
run some bucks if you could find one. The Heidelberg Topaz shares much
of the same tech as the Agfascan, it too, is freestanding and looks expensive.
Geez 5 lenses, zoom capability, 4.2 DMax, 8000dpi, sounds
purty good to me!

Thanks for dangling this golden carrot, Shad.

[shad309]

Sad note..... The owner of the photo store I worked at threw that scanner into the dumpster recently HOW STUPID!!!!

It would be nice if a person could obtain those film profiles from the Agfa software and use it with other scanners. Does anyone know if this can be done?

[cooltouch]

Ack! He must have had a work crew to help him toss that thing into the dumpster. I just googled that Agfascan, found this site:

http://www.futuretech.blinkenlights.nl/extreme.html

The AgfaScan T8000 cost $37,500 new in 1997. One meter tall, 180kg. But it had an optical scan resolution of 8000dpi, a 12"x18" scan area, and more.

A true behemoth, but I'd have tried to find room for that sucker rather than throwing it away. 8000dpi is still mighty high resolution.