Negative Scanner? Best one?

bohdank wrote in post #9292410
In my opinion you would be hard pressed to get a "good" 8 x 10 from a 3000dpi scan. I base that on 2400 scans which were crap and 4000 scans which are good. 3000 is a lot closer to 2400 than it is to 4000

What were you using to scan your negatives? A 3000dpi scan would easily generate a good 8x10 print. If 3000 dpi is not good enough, you can increase the dpi to 4000 for the negatives you might be thinking of printing larger.

ScanCafe uses the Nikon 5000 scanner for its 35mm films. This scanner is a top of the line scanner for 35mm. It produces outstanding results. It will blow away any flatbed scanner out there. I've used both, and still currently use the Epson 700 scanner for large format and prints. The quality difference between flatbeds and true 35mm scanners is night and day.

I was never comparing to flatbeds. I have only used dedicated 35mm scanners. Originally a HP, model escapes me, later a Canon FS4000

Hogloff wrote in post #9293261
Cheaper only if you do not value your time. To me, my time is very valuable and I don't really find it being productive sitting waiting for the scanner to do its thing. Been there...done that.

Also, the quality from Scancafe is great. Have you even tried them?

Absolutely. I think I eluded to that (time) in my earlier post(s).

Never used them. I have nothing left to scan.

Hogloff wrote in post #9293304
What were you using to scan your negatives? A 3000dpi scan would easily generate a good 8x10 print. If 3000 dpi is not good enough, you can increase the dpi to 4000 for the negatives you might be thinking of printing larger.

ScanCafe uses the Nikon 5000 scanner for its 35mm films. This scanner is a top of the line scanner for 35mm. It produces outstanding results. It will blow away any flatbed scanner out there. I've used both, and still currently use the Epson 700 scanner for large format and prints. The quality difference between flatbeds and true 35mm scanners is night and day.

I start with 4000 DPI but down-rez the edited version a bit before sharpening and saving. Seems to give a better result. And I have a 4000 DPI digital copy of my negative for archiving to boot.

Also, small scratches and dust spots on B&W are easy to fix on a 4000 DPI image.

You're correct though. 3000 DPI will be plenty for most, especially if they never intend to print large (11x14 or larger).

bohdank wrote in post #9292410
In my opinion you would be hard pressed to get a "good" 8 x 10 from a 3000dpi scan. I base that on 2400 scans which were crap and 4000 scans which are good. 3000 is a lot closer to 2400 than it is to 4000

A 4000 PPI 35mm image is 3946x5959, yielding a 13.2"x19.9" image at 300 PPI. 3000 PPI would yield a 9.9"x14.9", so I'd think that with the correct PP and downsizing to 2400x3000 a good negative scanner like the 5000ED set at 3000 PPI should give a pretty decent 8x10.

The post processing is pretty critical though. If you obliterate the grain too much the image will be overly soft ... too little and it looks like crud, so grain reduction needs to be applied pretty carefully. And B&W's need to be edited at 100% removing every spot and scratch if you're going for maximum enlargement.

Scancafe sounds nice, however, I have certain umm.... "glamor" negatives that might not go over well there.

Hogloff wrote in post #9286157
Take a look at the ScanCafe website. They will scan you negatives for you at $0.29 each. Might be worth looking into.

Bingo my Konica-Minolta DiMage scanner died. Sent to Sony for repair and they sent me back a check. I used the check to purchase a new MP-980 Pixma all-in-one for prints and scans.

I had two carousels of kodachrome slides that needed scanning in the interim. I sent the trays off to ScanCafe and they did a better job then I have ever done with dust and touchup.

They will be my main choice for all scanning needs on batch jobs from now on. The all-in-one does a great job, but it's best for one or two slides at most IMO.

I've used ScanCafe for some old 35mm slides and most recently a batch of APS cartridges. The quality is good and what makes them better than others (IMHO) is that you review the digitized images on-line and only select the ones you want. They of course send you back the original media (ie. slides, negative, etc) along with either a CD or DVD of the images you selected.

I've scanned slides before w/ my old Minolta Film Scanner and it was a time consuming and ultra boring task. I thought my time was put to better use by having someone else do it.

Catch ScanCafe when they offer discounts and you'll be that far ahead.

Ok, after thinking about this for the last couple days here is where I stand.

I am not going to print any of these pics. They are just for digital viewing only. If I ever do - which I probably won't - it will only be 4"x6" size.

Now when I say I have 2000 negatives, that is the overall guesstimate of all of them. Of course, some of these negatives are going to be crappy shots, bad shots, terrible shots, from a simply point and shoot and when I was first getting into photography. So I would say that roughly only about 900 MAX negatives need to be scanned.

Out of that 900 estimate, about 150 are images that I do not want scansafe or anyone else to view.

So... I am basically looking for a cheap scanner to do 150 images and then send the rest off to Scansafe.

Any options or opinions in light of this additional info?

Based on what others have said about Scancafe and you not printing anything larger than 4 x 6... I would send them all to SC