Nikon scanners discontinued?

[PeterAM]

I just read something in the December issue of SHUTTERBUG that states: "Nikon scanners are no longer in production and to my knowledge will be unsupported after the current stock are sold out". The comment is in the "Digital Help" section, written by David Brooks. He's responding to a question about scanning 35mm;the Nikon mentioned by the person asking the question is the 5000 ED, so I can't tell if his response is specifically about that scanner or the MF scanner also.

Anyone know if Nikon is going out of the scanner business?

[pellicle]

well it wouldn't surprise me ... big companies seem to focus on big production and big margins

[mesh]

Here in Australia, many dealers are advertising their "last 5000 ED's" so I suspect it may be true. Wonder if anyone else will step up to the plate... surely there must be some demand?

[PeterAM]

I have a 35mm Nikon scanner (V ED) that I bought new a few years back and used with my slides/negs as I entered the world of post processing and printing. It's used pretty infrequently now that I shoot mostly digital, but I am concerned about the availability of drivers as the computer operating systems change.

[JBrunner]

well it wouldn't surprise me ... big companies seem to focus on big production and big margins

Compared to Canon or Sony, Nikon is a tiny company. If anyone with the kind of capability that they have could exploit a niche market, it would be them. I think the top end scanners were being purchased by pros, both those still shooting film and those needing to digitize past work. I think most of the past work has now been digitized, and fewer pros shooting film. Hopefully it is model specific.

[Loris Medici]

I don't own one yet (will purchase soon, to match with negatives from a Bessa III also going to be purchased soon) but from what I read in the reviews (respectable sources) it seems that the upper-class Epson flatbeds are better than the dedicated film scanners of few years ago. Not better than Imacons perhaps but better than (or in par with) most amateur / advanced amateur dedicated film scanners. Is that true indeed? If yes, I think people are going for them. (Just like me!) Those scanners are very nice with many many format options up to 5x7" large format (even larger)... Also, the majority of current film users (who intend to scan later, not average Joe's who are satisfied with 4x6" lab prints) are shooting MF not 35mm, therefore a product like 5000ED doesn't have a use for them. Right?

[pellicle]

Hi

...I think most of the past work has now been digitized, and fewer pros shooting film. Hopefully it is model specific.

well with the V dropped how many models would that leave? The 9000 only IIRC

sad but true, I think 35mm high quality expectations are limited to dinosaurs like me and some of the other readers here ... and as for me, I'm more into digital than 35mm and really only bother to use 120 and 4x5 film now

[pellicle]

Loris

I don't own one yet (will purchase soon, to match with negatives from a Bessa III also going to be purchased soon)

that would have to be the 9000 then

but from what I read in the reviews (respectable sources) it seems that the upper-class Epson flatbeds are better than the dedicated film scanners of few years ago. Not better than Imacons perhaps but better than (or in par with) most amateur / advanced amateur dedicated film scanners. Is that true indeed?

not that I've read ...

If yes, I think people are going for them. (Just like me!) Those scanners are very nice with many many format options up to 5x7" large format (even larger)... Also, the majority of current film users (who intend to scan later, not average Joe's who are satisfied with 4x6" lab prints) are shooting MF not 35mm, therefore a product like 5000ED doesn't have a use for them. Right?

well for 120 and 4x5 I'm quite comfortable with my 4990 ... I haven't seen anything from the V700 (a friend owns one) to suggest it is a significant or even noticeable improvement over my 4990

my LS4000 does nicely for 35mm and scans over 2200dpi of 6x9 or 6x12 120 film are quite large. I'm happy to send them to people like Bruce Watson for scanning.

I expect that LS-5000's will remain available on the used market for some time

[pschwart]

I can get a decent scan of a 35mm original using an Epson V7xx using a glass holder, but my prints have not been larger than 8x10. I am much more comfortable using the Epson for medium format, but I still use a glass holder.
It's not a replacement for a dedicated scanner -- maybe it *could* be if Epson would get serious and provide real film holders and autofocus. Until then, the Epson is worth having just because it can scan a full sheet of negs for proof sheets. The Nikon 9000 is an ornery bugger and Nikon Scan has a truly funky interface, but I am glad I made the investment, especially for scanning 35mm.

Loris



that would have to be the 9000 then



not that I've read ...



well for 120 and 4x5 I'm quite comfortable with my 4990 ... I haven't seen anything from the V700 (a friend owns one) to suggest it is a significant or even noticeable improvement over my 4990

my LS4000 does nicely for 35mm and scans over 2200dpi of 6x9 or 6x12 120 film are quite large. I'm happy to send them to people like Bruce Watson for scanning.

I expect that LS-5000's will remain available on the used market for some time

[pellicle]

I can get a decent scan of a 35mm original using an Epson

and I can get a decent scan too with my Epson 4870 and 4990

Stuff like this:



and this:



have printed quite acceptably to 8x12 ... its just that I know my LS-4000 does a much better job of 35mm :-)