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| Nikon's Coolscan V |
BETTER CAN BE SLOWER
Taking the high road when it comes to specifications can improve how fast you'll be able to scan, but in general, you still need a ton of patience. You can't expect to transfer your life's work to a DVD in a single day. Sometimes better is slower. More expensive scanners offer two features which are very beneficial -- but also slow the scanning procedure down to a crawl.
The first is multi-sampling. As the name implies, this process analyzes data collected from several (anywhere from two to 16) scanning passes before creating the digital image file. The process cancels random noise and enhances shadow detail but, of course, it takes longer to do something 16 times than it does to do it once.
The other feature is Digital ICE. This software/firmware combo suppresses the appearance of scratches and helps minimize the impact of dust. How slow is it? According to Nikon's own specs{*} the Super CoolScan V ED scans a slide to full resolution in 38 seconds with Digital ICE turned off but requires one minute, 13 seconds when Digital ICE is active. But it's invaluable if you're trying to recover damaged negatives or slides.
* Source: Page 69 of the Nikon Super CoolScan V ED User's Manual.
CLEAN START
Sharp images start as clean negatives. Make sure that your negatives and slides are free of dust and fingerprints. Does a tiny dust speck matter? If it can be seen with the naked eye, yes. You know how even a teeny speck feels in the naked eye, right? Negatives that are in good condition can be cleaned in the normal way -- with a blower brush or gentle puff of compressed air. Film that has been improperly stored (such as rolls that have been kept wound tight for years) or shows signs of mildew can be soaked in a diluted bath of Kodak Photo Flo 200 Solution ($7 for 16 ounces, street price).
FOCUS
A mounted 35mm slide is never flat edge-to-edge. It's a physical impossibility. And cardboard mounted slides -- as well as some negatives -- get worse with age. Most film scanners are autofocus. However, having manual focus in addition to autofocus allows you to make adjustments that ensure sharpness in critical areas. Some scanners, like the $569 Konica Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 II and the Nikon units mentioned, permit you to select the autofocus point by moving a cursor around the pre-scan version of the image.
SEE THE LIGHT
The last specification you need to know: light source. The majority of film scanners (and all Nikon scanners) use an LED array. Some older scanners used fluorescent tubes. Tubes eventually need to be replaced -- and that can be an expensive proposition. However, LED systems accentuate the dust and scratches on a negative or slide more than scanners with fluorescent tubes. So the choice is yours.
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