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Shoot film & go digital, too!
A scanner is a computer peripheral. You plug it into your computer, insert a slide, negative or print, push a button, and it converts the image on the film into digital form for use in your computer. There's actually a bit more to it than that, but that's the general concept.
There are two basic types of scanners: film and flatbed. Film scanners scan slides and negatives. Flatbeds scan prints, and some (including those mentioned here) also will scan slides and negatives.
The main things to consider when buying a scanner are scan quality (which is a function of the scanner's optical resolution, dynamic range, bit depth, lens quality and image sensor, among other things), scanning speed, software (capabilities, and ease of use), extra features, and computer connectivity. All of the scanners presented here are capable of producing good scans, or they wouldn't be included. But here are some things to think about:
A scan is a second-generation image. At best, it can very nearly as good as your original slide or negative; but it can't be better. If your original is unsharp or lacks shadow or highlight detail, no scanner will produce a good scan from it.
While you can make all sorts of corrections to the scanned image using your image-editing software, it's wise to get the image adjusted the best you can before scanning, using the scanner's software. Some scanners come with more-capable software than others. LaserSoft's SilverFast (a third-party item provided with some scanners and available for others as a somewhat pricey separate purchase) is probably the most highly regarded, but scanner-makers' own software is getting better. Check the scanner information on the manufacturer's website (or better still, get an in-store demonstration) to see what a particular scanner/software combination can do.
Optical resolution tells you how big you can print out your scanned images. Disregard interpolated resolution figures—with interpolation, the scanner just adds extra pixels by making an educated guess as to what they ought to look like. It's not real resolution, and for photographic purposes is of little value. Some scanners come with LizardTech Genuine Fractals, which is a very good image-size-increasing program, but you can't beat real optical resolution.
Dynamic range figures give you an indication of how well the scanner reproduces the tones in your original slides, negatives and prints. In theory, the higher the dynamic range, the more detail you'll get in shadow and highlight areas. However, different scanner makers have different methods of determining dynamic range. Also, a Dmax figure will be higher than a true dynamic range figure. A film scanner's dynamic range should be at least 3.2 for photographic purposes, and higher is better. Multiple sampling, in which the scanner combines several scans of the image, can also increase shadow and highlight detail, but slows the scanning process considerably. Also, remember that no scanner can give you more detail than your original slide or negative contains.
Bit depth tells you how much information the scanner records for each pixel. A 24-bit scanner can differentiate some 16.7 million shades of color. A 36-bit scanner can differentiate more than 68 billion shades of color. There are even 48-bit scanners among those listed here. Obviously, more bits is "better," but 24 bits is sufficient for most photographic purposes (and some image-editing programs won't provide all features with images that have a bit depth higher than 24).
Scanning speeds given by the manufacturers are generally for basic "straight" scans with no "bells & whistles"—no autofocusing or autoexposure, no multi-sampling, no dust-and-scratch removal, etc. Real-world scan times likely will be considerably longer than the maker's specs indicate.
Some scanners come with dust and scratch reduction/removal features (Applied Science Fiction's Digital ICE is the best known). This is a very useful asset that can save you hours of retouching after the fact, and we highly recommend it. But be aware that using it slows down the scanning process considerably, and can soften the image slightly. And it doesn't work with conventional silver-image black-and-white films or Kodachrome slides (but it works wonderfully with color negatives, E-6 slide films and chromogenic B&W films).
Be sure the scanner you get is compatible with your computer. Most scanners are both Mac and Windows compatible these days, but some use FireWire, some USB, some SCSI, and some more than one of these. Make sure your computer will accept the scanner connection, and that you have sufficient processor speed and memory before buying a scanner. (A 14-bit-per-channel 4000-dpi scan results in a file size of around 100 MB! But you can also make lower-res scans with a high-resolution scanner, when super-high resolution isn't required.)
Digital cameras are wonderful, but if you have a large collection of slides and negatives, or want to keep shooting with your film camera, a scanner will let you "go digital" with your film camera and images.
 Canon CanoScan FS4000US
Canon's FS4000US is a 4000-dpi marvel offering both USB and SCSI connectivity for Windows and Mac. Featuring a cold cathode mercury fluorescent lamp and dynamic range of 3.4 (4.2 in 42-bit mode), the FS4000US incorporates Canon's proprietary FARE (Film Automatic Retouching and Enhancement) dust-and-scratch-removal technology. It will do a basic 4000-dpi scan in as little as 48 seconds, and comes with a 35mm slide holder, a 35mm film-strip holder, and an IX240 APS cartridge holder. Maximum resolution is 3780x5669 pixels for 35mm, 2457x4315 pixels for APS. Batch scanning is made easier with automatic film-type detection—the scanner automatically recognizes negative and positive films. Street price is around $600. More info is available online at http://consumer.usa.canon.com/scanners/index.html.
 Canon CanoScan 8000F
This great-looking flatbed scans prints up to letter size plus 35mm slides and negatives at an optical resolution up to 2400x4800 dpi, with an impressive 48-bit color depth, yet carries a street price under $300. Features include Canon's FARE dust-and-scratch-removal technology, one-button simplicity (to make PDFs, e-mail photos, copy or scan images), lots of versatile software, USB 2.0 (and 1.1) compatibility for Windows and Mac, and great-looking scans from prints and film. More info is available online at http://consumer.usa.canon.com/scanners/index.html.
 Microtek ArtixScan 4000tf
Microtek's 4000-dpi ArtixScan 4000tf is a $900 (street price) 35mm film scanner featuring a maximum optical density of 4.3, multiple sampling, FireWire and USB connectivity, highly respected LaserSoft SilverFast Ai 5.5 scanning software plus LizardTech Genuine Fractals PrintPro for huge enlargements, and quick scan times. An APS adapter is available as an option. Full information is available online at www.microtekusa.com/as4000tf.html.
 Microtek ScanMaker 6800
This $360 (street price) flatbed scans prints up to letter size (8.5x11.7 inches), as well as negatives and transparencies up to 4x5 inches. Optical resolution is 4800x2400 dpi, with true 48-bit color. ASF Digital ICE eliminates most dust and scratches from scans of transparencies, negatives and prints (the 6800 is the first flatbed to incorporate Digital ICE). Both FireWire and USB 2.0 (also compatible with USB 1.1) connections are provided, for both Windows and Mac. The 6800 will scan direct to PDF, and offers one-button scanning, copying, e-mailing, OCR (text scanning) and scan-to-web. More info is available online at www.microtekusa.com.
 Minolta DiMAGE Scan Dual III
This amazing device delivers terrific scans up to 2820 dpi from 35mm (and, via optional adapter, APS) negatives and slides, yet carries a street price of under $300. A dynamic range of 4.8 and a color depth of 48 bits, plus multi-sampling (up to 8X) provide very impressive scans, and the 2820-dpi maximum resolution is enough to run a scan from a 35mm image full page in a magazine like this one at 300 dpi. Minolta's Pixel Polish automatically corrects images, and Auto Dust reduces the effects of dust. The USB 2.0 (and 1.1) scanner works with both Windows PCs and Power Macs and is a terrific bargain. Full information is available online at www.minoltausa.com.
 Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400
If you need maximum resolution at an affordable price, this $900 (street price) 35mm film scanner is the one, delivering up to 5400 dpi—in about a minute and a half. Features include ASF's acclaimed Digital ICE dust-and-scratch-minimizer plus Minolta's own Pixel Polish automated image-correction technology and Grain Dissolver, many ways to control the image, simple operation, a published dynamic range of 4.8, 16-bit (per color) depth, up to 16X multi-sampling, and lots of pro capabilities—it's a pro-quality scanner that gives full control over the process, or can be as simple to use as clicking a button. One caveat: a single 40-megapixel 5400-dpi scan results in a file size of more than 100MB—make sure your computer can handle that (of course, you can make 2700-dpi scans, too, if you don't need 5400 dpi for a specific project). For more info, goto www.minoltausa.com.
 Nikon Coolscan IV ED
With its street price recently dropped to just over $600, Nikon's entry-level film scanner, the Coolscan IV ED (the ED refers to the extra-low dispersion glass in its special Scanner-Nikkor lens) provides 2900-dpi resolution (2736x4104 pixels from full-frame 35mm originals), a 3.6 dynamic range, 48-bit scanning, Digital ICE3, Genuine Fractals, USB connectivity to both Macs and Windows and more. Digital ICE3 comprises three great features that eliminate most dust and scratches, restore colors in faded originals, and minimize grain in scans from color films (except Kodachrome) and chromogenic black-and-white films such as Ilford XP2 400 Super and Kodak T400CN (it doesn't work with conventional silver-based black-and-white films such as Tri-X). An APS adapter is available as an option. Full information is available online at www.nikonusa.com.
 Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED
Its street price recently dropped to around $1150, Nikon's Super Coolscan 4000 ED features a terrific Nikkor scanner lens, 4000-dpi resolution, a 4.2 dynamic range, Digital ICE3, Genuine Fractals 2.0, up to 16X multi sampling, 14-bit output mode, FireWire connectivity and more. The scanner comes with a six-frame film-strip holder and a mounted-slide holder, while a roll-film adapter (up to 40 frames), a slide feeder (holds up to 50 mounted slides) and an APS adapter are available at extra cost. Full information is available online at www.nikonusa.com.
 Pacific Image PrimeFilm 3600 Pro
This $500 (street price) 35mm film scanner offers a lot. Think 36: 3600-dpi resolution, 36-bit color, and a 3.6 dynamic range. It provides USB and FireWire connectivity for Mac and Windows, up to 40-frame batch scanning, and the ability to produce a 102 MB 3600-dpi 36-bit raw scan in under a minute (using a FireWire connection). The website is www.scanace.com/en/product/3600pro.php.
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