zagdad Loc: Huntington beach, CA

Joined many years ago and finally gonna try to do the big project. Looking for any experienced assistance on how to begin, how to keep slide feeder doing its job, etc. Or point me to a good source of help.

Old topic probably but maybe a wise reader out there...Thanks.

Zagdad/Gary

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Maybe state the brand/model you have so someone who has one can suggest something?

zagdad Loc: Huntington beach, CA

Thx, haven't posted in years but thought the title would say it for me....

"Reply in: Converting 20K slides using Nikon CoolScan 5000Ed with feeder and likely using Vuescan"

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Duhhhhhh... I must be tired.
(Most people don't put enough in the title, you did, and I missed it.)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Scanning Negatives and Slides
and
The Vuescan Bible

Both by Sasha Steinhoff

The first is on scanning in general and the second specific to Vuescan. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scanning-negatives-and-slides-sascha-steinhoff/1007978402?ean=9781457100680

And further at the Vuescan site: https://www.hamrick.com/

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

Personally, I would use Silverfast from Lasersoft to manage the scanning. I have both Vuescan and Silverfast and think you have more control with the Silverfast. It is a bit more expensive but worth it. I also have the 5000ED w/auto feeder and if you buy Silverfast it is for that particular model. The auto feeder can be a bit of work to keep it going but it does work.

ezslides

I've used the Super Coolscan 4000 with VueScan for probably the same number of slides as you have and had minimal problems. The feeder does sometimes not load the slide if the mount is a bit warped, but a credit-card size piece of plastic which narrows the vertical gap on the SF-200 feeder can be a great help. I do like to be next to the computer while it is scanning so that I can quickly catch any hangups, though. I just work on other projects or simply read a book and listen for any unusual loading sound. It also helps to be there as one can put 20-30 slides in at time, and replenish the supply as they get scanned, thus minimizing the time for the whole process. You may find the loader consistently loads the slides at a slight angle, so a bit of experimentation and adjusting VueScan to change the angle will be a great help, as will scanning some of the mount and cropping it later (I use Photoshop). I have set VueScan to automatically save the preview image to speed things along, too. Also note that different brands of slide mounts have ever so slightly different apertures, and this method will help with that problem if you want the absolute maximum image. BTW, I am connecting to a newer iMac with a couple of adapter cables with no problems.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

zagdad
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

If you shoot Nikon look to the ES-1
https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/slide-copy-adapters/es-1-slide-copying-adapter-for-52mm-thread.html

For Dx use the Dx 40mm macro Nikkor
For FX use the 60mm macro Nikkor (and the BR-5 Ring)

Search the Internet for instructions on how to deploy... lots and lots of YouTube videos also...
Also search for a myriad of testimonials on why those "ancient" slide scanners are a fools path...

Don't shoot Nikon? Oh well...
Happy Holidays Gary!

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

I have converted 30k 35mm and 120 negatives and slides with a Coolscan 9000. You are going to be busy for while.

I still use the original Nikon Scan software under Windows 7 but I needed to adapt the Windows Vista driver to Windows 7 to make it work. I find it easier to use than VueScan or other general purpose scanning software.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

I may be confused. If you're saying you have 20,000 slides I would never consider
doing the job myself. It will take over your entire life. Look into service companies by
inquiring here or Googling. It may be less expensive than you think.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

If you want something done right, do it yourself.

It took me 2000+ hours to do 30k images. It’s a big effort but you have full control.

If you get it done cheap you will not end up with the best resolution.

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

Agree and if you have an auto feeder it's that much faster. Get organized first before you start as redo's are time consuming.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

If anyone wants to make this happen, here are a couple of links:

https://www.sevenforums.com/drivers/44994-getting-your-nikon-coolscan-work-w7-x64.html
http://www.shtengel.com/gleb/getting_nikon_coolscan_scanners_work_under_Win7.htm

I don't know if this will work under Windows 10.

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

Never a problem with Windows 10 and Vuescan or Silverfast. I personally gave up on the Nikon code a long time ago.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

I got a copy of SilverFast with my Epson V750. It's more convenient than the Epson Scan but not better. A copy for the Coolscan 9000 would cost $337.

VueScan is only $90 and you can use it for multiple scanners. I got it for my Epson but I still prefer Epson Scan or SilverFast.

But neither of them has all of the features of Nikon Scan 4.0 that came free with the Coolscan 9000.