flatbed scanner suggestions?

[SKJ]

I'm looking for suggestions for a flatbed scanner to scan sections of Super8 film.
I've been trying with an Epson Perfection 3170 Photo scanner, but it's not easy. Even in "professional" mode it has trouble recognizing the strip of film.

If I place the film (uncut, from the beginning of a reel) in one of the transparency holders the scanner still has problems. , and I get weird rainbows.

I'd love to try a Nikon Super Coolscan, but it won't scan uncut lengths of Super8. I was considering using an Epson Perfection V700 Photo Scanner but I note in the manual that is says "When scanning using the film area guide, striped (newton) rings may appear in your scanned images."

I sort of think that these scanners are too smart for their own good, and are not letting me just scan what I want. I really only want sample images from Super8. I'm not trying to capture more than 10 or 20 frames. But I don't want to cut the film.

Does anyone have suggestions?
I'm using a Mac OS 10.4.11

Thanks!

SKJ

[granfer]

http://www.truetex.com/telecine.htm

otherwise Google "flatbed scanner super 8" (or similar)

(clever thing, Google)

Granfer

[BK]

You could use a digital SLR with a macro lens to take some pictures of the frames against a diffused light source. The higher the resolution the camera the better of course.

Bill

[SKJ]

Granfer--

The page you refer me to seems to be both out of date (referring to products frmo 2001 & 2002) and focused on scanning for telecine-like results, which is not my goal.

I've certainly googled before posting the forum, but since this is a specialized request in a specialized forum, I figured that the people here might have actual experiences to share. (Clever thing, human experience.)

BK suggests an entirely other method, but I'm not going to be getting a digital SLR any time soon. I'm really looking for a flatbed scannner solution.

Is there a specific scanner that anyone can recommend? Which ones will yield good results simply by placing a length of Super8 film on the plate or in a specific or improvised holder? Are there problems and pitfalls I should be aware of? Usually I find the members of this forum to be so knowledgable and helpful--I hope that proves true in this instance.

Thanks!

SKJ

[granfer]

Apologies, I didn't realise that you were after a total solution to your detailed specialised application handed to you on a plate. My fault for assuming that any pointers to other people's experience in any aspect of the subject would help you with your experiments and research to achieve what you require. Research is never "out of date".
After all, this is not just a SPECIALIST'S Forum, it's also an EXPERIMENTER'S Forum, as a few minutes browsing will make abundantly clear.
Granfer

[BK]

Take your reel to a professional photo lab and tell them that you want the frames scanned on their latest and greatest scanner, I am sure they'll be able to help, it'll be far more cheaper than buying a domestic scanner just for a few frames.

With me I wanted a some frames captured for the internet and i don't have a scanner but a digital SLR so...there are always workarounds to any problem.

Bill

[Geoff Rogers]

I have used an Epson 3170 to scan short pieces of 8mm film to see what was on them. I used the Professional Mode and placed the film on the scanner glass and used one of the supplied templates to pin the film flat. Don't try and hold it in the film guides as I found this wouldn't keep the film dead flat. The rainbow effect is possibly the film not being held flat to the scanner glass. Preview the film and then use the zoom to select the frames of the film. I wouldn't use this method for any great length of film though.

Geoff

[threeinv]

As Geoff says, the Newton rings are resulting from the film not being held flat on the scanner glass. Sometimes simply flipping the film over solves the problem--I discovered this while scanning 35mm negatives in the plastic holder of my Epson 4870 scanner.

-- Derrick

[aj]

Newton rings are caused by pressing the shiny side of film to the glass which induces interference where the film touches the glass. As with untreated glass in slideframes or enlarger negative holders. Use anti Newton glass or press the emulsion film side (not shiny) to the glass

Best to find a scanner which has a backlight for scanning strrips of film. To trick the auto-exposure best to fill-out the 8mm to 35mm or the max of the scanner.

Nikon coolscan aren't too suitable. Only the 5000 and 9000 can hold large negatives. The models range 4 or 5 can hold a clip of 24 or 36mm sideways using the FH3 holder. I.e. some 4-7 frames. Oh, don't let the clip drop into the scanner.

BTW And these coolscans cost a dime or two. Hardly the choice for a one time job.

[Chris-B]

Hi,
I borrowed a friends Epson which had a backlight to scan some super 8.
I can remember which model it was now, an old photo perfection model I think.
It was about 3 or 4 years ago now.
I made a simple Super 8 film holder out of cut up CD cases and super glue, it was fairly straight forward to make and gave excellent results even with under exposed Kodachrome S8.

The scanner did medium format too, I haven't found any cheap scanners that do MF recently.
I love to get one that did MF and 35mm, I'd use it for S8 and 16mm too!
I would be very interested in one around £100 mark that would do MF too, but I guess they don't exist in this price range.

Chris.

[Nicholas_C]

Has anyone seen this 8mm flatbed scanner?....in Lego!

http://www.freecine.org

Very cool, Includes pictures and instructions which are being added to (not sure if all the info is available yet) and on the blog it says the software is being released for others to improve upon....If only Lego would release it as a box set!

I think the designer should send it to a manufacturer as surely enough people would buy a production model to make it a worthwhile investment....