Canonscan 8800F

I hope this is the right place to talk/ask question about using the this scanner.
I start scanning about 2000 - 35mm negatives into my computer. That said, what is the best way to scan them in my computer? Canon instruction says the emulsion layer facing down. But when I do this the text on the scan pictures are showing up in a mirror situation. When I scan the negatives facing up, the text is alright. Quality wise I do-not see any differences.
Beside that is 600 dpi sufficient for a person who wants to print the scanned pictures smaller than 8/12x11.
Some, I am going to keep, I will scan at 1200dpi or do I need to go higher. The scanner options is going up to 2400 and 4800 dpi, but that takes a lot of time, I guess.

You can scan straight into PS and flip it. The higher the resolution the more time it takes obviously and up to a point you don't gain anything. Scan them small and if there's a particular one you like then re-scan at a higher resolution to get the detail you want. Google scanning negatives and there are some good techniques for doing color and/or black and white.

You might want to reconsider whether 600 dpi is really sufficient for 8x11 prints. Your 35 mm negative is just under 1"x1-1/2" image area, so you'll have about 600x900 dpi - that's going to be about 78 dpi on the final print. Pretty coarse.

Your scanner really can't do that resolution. It's more like 1800 dpi, which is what you should use for printing 8x10" prints.

Procedurally, are you using Canon's MP Navigator scanning software for input?

• If so, MP Navigator properly copies BOTH negatives or slides in the correct orientation when the emulsion side is AWAY from the glass.
  Notice the legend on the 8800F supplied film holders shows a backward yet rightside-up (not upside down) 'R' to indicate film orientation in the holder.
  The Canon 8800F guide says "face side down", without reference to 'emulsion side of film'! So you are not following their directions on film orientation.
  
  
• When you use MP Navigator, you can choose Document Type: Negative Film or Document Type: Positive Film , and...
  
• ...then the MP Navigator software defaults to Resolution: 1200 dpi. (If you change the Resolution setting, the MP Navigator remembers your selection the next time you choose the same Document Type.) MP Navigator menu choices only allows 300/400/600/1200/2400/​4800 dpi values, you cannot type in a value like '1800'
  

Wilt: Thank you for the clear explanation. Canon brochure confuse me, because English is my second language.
I am going to scan all the negatives with 1200 dpi and after that I am selecting some of the nice ones with 2400 dpi.
Also most of the pictures are going to be used for articles on my website and an international magazine.