Nikon vs KonikaMinolta film scanners

[lbortles]

I am about to purchase a high end film scanner, budgeting up to $2,000 for it. Within that price range are most of the Nikon Coolscans and the Konica Minolta Dimage Scan Multi PRO. I've read the extensive reviews posted on this site for the Coolscans, and virtually everybody complains about the difficulties in handling the film to be scanned. On the other hand, there appears to be nothing but praise for the KonikaMinolta's film handling and quality.

Am I missing anything here? Is the KonikaMinolta's software and image quality equal to or better than Nikon's? I've probably over 5,000 mounted slides and a huge stack of 6-image strips of B&W negs and 4-image color negs to scan. In case it makes any difference, my primary computers are Macs on the latest OS X.

Thanks! Larry

[another view]

Been looking into a new 35mm scanner myself and these brands seem to be the best out there right now. If you're only using 35mm, then you can get a great scanner for much less than that (at least in USD$).

The problems I've heard of with the Nikon Coolscan 8000 and film handling have to do with medium format film, and most people say that the problem is corrected if you buy the glass film carrier. That scanner is about $2000 (again, USD) but I'm not sure what the glass film carrier adds to that. If you don't need medium format, then that problem disappears and you could use the Coolscan 5000 for about $1050. The K/M 5400 is about $650 and supposed to be very good although doesn't come with all the software that the Nikon does.

These prices were at B&H in NYC - not sure what shipping and import taxes would add to that for you.

[lbortles]

Thanks, I'm currently in Seattle, so the shipping is not an issue. I do want all the software that reduces the drudgery of the scanning, including the Digital ICE by Kodak, which, I understand, is used by both Nikon and KM. Might you know if the KM 5400 uses ICE?

Larry

Been looking into a new 35mm scanner myself and these brands seem to be the best out there right now. If you're only using 35mm, then you can get a great scanner for much less than that (at least in USD$).

The problems I've heard of with the Nikon Coolscan 8000 and film handling have to do with medium format film, and most people say that the problem is corrected if you buy the glass film carrier. That scanner is about $2000 (again, USD) but I'm not sure what the glass film carrier adds to that. If you don't need medium format, then that problem disappears and you could use the Coolscan 5000 for about $1050. The K/M 5400 is about $650 and supposed to be very good although doesn't come with all the software that the Nikon does.

These prices were at B&H in NYC - not sure what shipping and import taxes would add to that for you.

[another view]

Not sure - it probably does but I wouldn't buy a scanner without it. I have an old Acer 2720S which isn't too bad - but far from the level of these scanners. I'm mainly concerned about b&w negs and Nikon has Digital GEM too which is supposed to be a help there because Digital ICE doesn't work with silver-based b&w (like Tri-X, etc).

I haven't done a ton of reasearch yet, but it seems like there are big supporters of both. Let us know what you end up with and how it works for you!