Best film scanner in its class: the Nikon Coolscan V ED.

Introduction

I teach digital photography and I own a compact digital camera. I enjoy both of them thoroughly. The convenience of digital photography is unquestionable, but the image quality has been more than questionable for many years. As with most new technologies (and new media), it is constantly adjusting and updating, and recent years have seen significant improvements in digital image quality. Still, when it came time to invest in either a $3000 - $5000 digital SLR or an $800 film SLR, there was no contest, especially considering the focal length conversion problem of the majority of digital SLRs. Additionally, film still has better color rendition and greater archival qualities (that’s right, much longer than CDs or magnetic drives), and professional film SLR cameras are more reliable and refined than digital SLR cameras, based on my experience. That’s all great, but you’ll need a film scanner to get your photographs online or for digital presentation (of course, you can always chemically enlarge slides or negatives for presentation). In my experience, most film scanners, which are really just digital cameras themselves, are insulting to my slides; they render average representations at best. The Nikon Super Coolscan IV was an exception. It produced amazing scans of even my most difficult slides. And it cost well over $1000, which made it inaccessible to a lot of photographers who were investing their money in lenses and bodies and developing. The Nikon Coolscan V ED changes all of that. Optically, it outperforms the Super Coolscan IV, but costs about half as much. It has significantly delayed my need to purchase a digital SLR and has reaffirmed my commitment to film.

Features

· 4000 dpi true optical resolution
· 14-bit A/D converter
· New Scanner Nikkor ED glass lens
· Proprietary LED illumination technology
· Fast 38-second scanning
· High-quality CCD sensor
· Direct film loading
· New advanced image processing algorithm for color negative film
· Quick AF and Quick Preview
· All New Scan Image Enhancer
· High-speed USB 2.0 interface
· Digital ICE-4 Advanced (Digital ICE Quad Advanced)

Included in the box

· Power Cord
· USB Cable
· MA-21 Slide Mount Adapter
· SA-21 Strip Film Adapter
· Software CD-ROM (Nikon View 6, Nikon Scan 4)
· User's Guide
· 1-Year Nikon U.S.A. Limited Warranty

Specifications

· Media: Negative and positives, in color and monochrome
· 35mm slides: Slides with mounts 1.0-3.2mm thick, 49-50.8mm wide
· 35mm film strips: 2-6 frames; strips of 1-6 frames can be scanned with the OPTIONAL Strip Film Holder FH-3
· APS (IX240) film: Cartridges of 15, 25, and 40 frames can be scanned with the optional IX240 Film Adapter IA-20(s)
· Slide Glass for microscopes: Prepared slides (26x76mm, 0.8-1.5mm thick) can be scanned with optional Medical Slide Holder FH-G1
· Aperture/Scan range (pixels): MA-21: 25.1 x 36.8mm/3,946 x 5,782 pixels/Same as slide mount; SA-21: 25.1 x 38.0mm/3,946 x 5,959 pixels/23.4 x 36.0mm; IA-20(s): 18.6 x 28.4mm/2,915 x 4,453 pixels/16.1 x 27.4mm
· Scanning system: Fixed film, movable plane single-pass optical scanning system
· Light Source: R, G, B, and Infrared (IR) LEDs
· Image sensor: 3,964-pixel linear CCD image sensor
· Color separation: Performed by RGB LEDs
· Optical resolution: Up to 4,000 pixels per inch
· A/D conversion: 14 bits per color
· Density range: 4.2
· Output: Full color or greyscale at 8 or 16 bits per channel
· Focus: Auto and manual; autofocusing point selectable
· Interface: USB 2.0
· Power requirements: AC 100-240V, 50/60Hz
· Operating environment: Temperature 50-95°F (10-35°C); Relative humidity 20-60%
· Dimensions: 3.8 x 6.8 x 12.4 in. (96 x 172 x 315mm) (W x H x D)
· Weight: 6.6 lbs (3kg)
· Orientation: Horizontal or vertical
· Scanning time: (time to complete preview or scan when no options selected): Preview: 14 seconds Scan*: 38 seconds (time to complete preview or scan when no options are selected)* includes time required to display the scanned image

System Requirements

Windows:
· CPU: Pentium 300 MHz or faster
· OS: Windows 98SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional pre-installed model
· RAM*: 128MB or more (512MB or more recommended)
· Hard disk**: 40MB required for installation (200MB recommended), with an additional 200MB of free disk space available while Nikon Scan is running)
· Display: 800x600 with 16-bit colors (full color recommended)
· Interface: USB***: Built-in USB 1.1 ports, USB 2.0
· Others: CD-ROM drive required for installation

Macintosh:
· CPU: Power PC G3 or later (G4 or later recommended)
· OS: Mac OS 9 (9.1 or later), Mac OS X (10.1.5 or later)
· RAM*: Mac OS 9: 64MB or more (256MB or more recommended) Mac OS X: 128MB or more (512MB or more recommended)
· Hard disk**: 70MB required for installation (200MB recommended), with an additional 200MB (Mac OS 9) or 550MB (Mac OS X) of free disk space while Nikon Scan is running
· Display: 800x600 with 16-bit colors (full color recommended)
· Interface: USB***: Built-in USB 1.1 ports, USB 2.0
· Others: CD-ROM drive required for installation

*Note: More memory may be required depending on film type, scan size, resolution, bit depth, the number of scans performed in each session, the film holder or adapter used, and whether Digital ROC(TM) or Digital GEM(TM) are used. A system with more than the minimum amount of memory is recommended.

**Note: More free disk space may be required depending on the film type and number of frames. Nikon recommends having as much free disk space as possible when running Nikon Scan.

***Note: Depending on the type of interface installed, USB will operate at high speed (USB 2.0 only; maximum transfer rate 480Mbps) or full speed (USB 1.1/USB 2.0; maximum transfer rate 12Mbps). Computers running Windows XP and Windows 2000 Professional with a USB 2.0 interface support high-speed USB. For more information, consult the manufacturer. Users of Windows XP, Windows 2000 Professional or Mac OS X whose computer is not equipped with USB 2.0 can install a RATOC PCU3U USB 2.0 interface board.

Installation

Unlike Konica Minolta’s Dimage Scan IV film scanner, setup for the Nikon Coolscan V is a breeze. Simply install the Nikon Scan 4 software (included), connect the scanner to your USB port, plug it in, and turn it on. That’s it. Other than needing to install Nikon Scan 4 first, which takes just a couple minutes, this would be considered a plug-n-play device. I installed the Nikon View 6 software as well. After installation, everything worked instantly for me with no problems, even on my Microsoft Windows ME operating system. For reference, this system has a 1 GHZ Pentium Processor, 512 MB RAM, 10 GB of free hard drive space, and a 64 MB video card.

The user’s manual is approximately 70 pages long (in one of several languages). So far, I have yet to have a question that the user’s manual couldn’t answer. For me, I find it well organized and easy to read.

Mechanical Performance

The included power cable and USB cable are well-shielded and seem to be of substantial build. The two included film adapters, one for 35mm slides and the other for 35mm negative strips, also inspire confidence through their ease of use and substantial feel. These adapters are easily exchanged by simply gripping the installed adapter on each side and pulling it away from the unit. Very easy and I haven’t had any problems so far. Similarly, I have yet to have any problems with slides or negatives becoming stuck after scanning hundreds of frames. The large ejection button on the slide adapter has worked every time and also has a substantial feel to it. Speaking of large buttons, the chrome power button in the lower left corner is very large compared to most scanners I’ve seen and protrudes a significant distance past the front of the scanner. Don’t worry about accidental shut-down, it requires a hard press to turn on and off. A green LED light in the upper left corner indicates power on, initializing sequence, etc.

An additional feature, which I initially dismissed as trivial, is actually very accommodating. The entire scanner can be positioned vertically or horizontally on a desktop. Just for kicks, I tried it in both positions with a couple slides and it worked perfectly. In either position, the vents on the back and side of the unit need to be properly exposed to help keep the unit cool. Speaking of keeping cool, that’s not much of a problem for this scanner, thanks to the LED light source. All other manufacturers (as far as I know) use fluorescent lamps for their light sources, which generate much more heat than LEDs. In my opinion, minimizing heat is always a good idea when dealing with film of any kind.

Other seemingly trivial parts that are a nice touch are the two wide rubber bands that surround the front and rear of the scanner. They may look like plastic or metal in the photos you've seen, but they're actually non-slip rubber. This keeps the scanner from marring your desktop and also helps to keep the scanner in place when your ejecting adapters, etc. Combined with its substantial weight, this thing isn't going anywhere.

Scan times are very fast for a scanner with this level of resolution. Without Digital-ICE or any other image enhancement, my test slides previewed in about 15 seconds and scanned in about 45 seconds at 4000 spi with a bit depth of 14 bits. Slightly slower than advertised by Nikon, but my computer has a slower processor and less RAM than their test computer. With Digital-ICE on, preview times were approximately the same but scan times increased to just over a minute and a half. This is over a minute faster than the Konica Minolta Dimage Scan IV and at least two minutes faster than the Epson Perfection 3170 Photo, both set to 3200 spi. Wow. So I decided to go nuts and turn on all of the image enhancement features available (ICE, GEM, ROC, etc.), while keeping the resolutions (spatial and color) at maximum. Scan times were still less than four minutes.

Optical Performance

Optical depth is one of the best indicators of the image quality of a scanner. Nikon claims this scanner has a maximum depth of 4.2. Although I have no way to confirm this, I believe it. Compared to other scanners that claim higher optical depths (such as the Dimage Scan IV), the Coolscan V has better tonal properties and yields more detailed images, time after time. What else helps the Coolscan V excel at imaging? Probably better glass, LED illumination, and a quality 14 bit A/D converter.

My favorite test slide is a landscape photograph taken at sunset in the desert. It is a brutal slide to scan because there is a lot of shadow detail and a lot of color gradation. It quickly separates the good from the bad of film scanners. I’ve scanned it on a Nikon Super Coolscan IV and the results were very impressive. Great sharpness, details in the shadows were very well resolved, and the color was as accurate as I had seen. When I got the Nikon Coolscan V, I plugged it in, turned it on, stuck this slide it, and pressed scan. No Digital-ICE, no color correction, no other image enhancement. The resulting image was amazing. It was ever-so-slightly sharper than the Super Coolscan IV, shadow detail was equally impressive (possibly slightly better), and the color accuracy was notably improved. Indeed, this is the best color reproduction I’ve seen from any scanner, period. What accounts for this slight improvement in image quality since these scanners have essentially the same specifications? It could be Nikon’s new ED scanner glass, which they reportedly designed especially for film scanner applications. Whatever the cause, it makes me happy.

Other 35mm slide image quality comparisons

- Microtek ScanMaker 4900. Absolutely no contest – the Coolscan V is much sharper, resolves way more shadow detail, and has far superior color accuracy. Do not purchase the ScanMaker 4900 for slide scanning purposes.

- Epson Perfection 3170 Photo. Although the 3170 is one of the best flatbed film scanners currently available, it lacks the sharpness, optical depth, and color accuracy of the Coolscan V, based on the same test slide scanned at exactly the same spatial resolution and same color bit depth. This Epson struggles a bit with the darker slides, while the Coolscan V takes them in stride. (my review of the Epson Perfection 3170)

- Konica Minolta Dimage Scan IV. For half the price of the Coolscan V, the Dimage Scan IV does an impressive job of slide scanning. However, the Coolscan V is noticeably sharper (at the same 3200 spi resolution), renders slightly more shadow detail, and reproduces colors more accurately. The Coolscan V does not have multi-sample scanning capabilities like the Dimage Scan IV, but it doesn't seem to need it - so far, my images have been almost entirely noise free. (my review of the Konica Minolta Dimage Scan IV)

Kodachrome scan quality

Kodachrome is always a bit of a challenge for most film scanners. I've only scanned three Kodachrome slides with the Coolscan V, but they've all come out with excellent color rendition. Digital-ICE does not appear to work as well with Kodachrome as it does with Ektachrome slides. In the Coolscan V manual, Nikon warns that "depending on the film used, blurring or localized loss of detail may occasionally result when Kodachrome film is scanned with the 500 ED or Coolscan V ED." I assume they're referring to Kodachrome 64 vs. 64 Professional, and perhaps 64 vs. 200, but I don't know for sure. In any case, I haven't had any such problems with consumer Kodachrome 64.

35mm negative film scan quality

With now-discontinued Kodak Porta 400BW 35mm negatives, the Coolscan V once again put in a great performance. It brought out more of the tonal range of this film than the Epson 3170 did, although the 3170 still does a respectable job. With some basic curves adjustments in Nikon Scan or Adobe Photoshop, I can render positive images on my monitor that are not too far off of my prints from a pro color lab.

Software

I really like Nikon Scan 4 and Nikon View 6. I know some folks have some minor gripes about these programs, but I’ve found them to generally be intuitive, functional, and free of major glitches. Nikon Scan 4 integrates very well with Adobe Photoshop 6 and Macromedia Fireworks MX, which are the two graphic design programs I have installed. So well in fact, that I have yet to experience any problems. Adjusting resolution, curves, and other parameters in Nikon Scan 4 requires only a short learning curve and once you’ve figured it out, it’s easy to remember. From here, you can also control Digital-ICE 4 (dust and scratch repair, etc.). Nikon View 6 does a nice job of image organization, display, and simple adjustments (rotation, etc.). Overall, I think Nikon View 6 is a slightly easier to use and more powerful program than Canon’s ZoomBrowser EX, which is the only similar program I have available for comparison at the moment. I can also say that it is significantly better than any proprietary software I’ve used from flatbed scanner manufacturers (Microtek, Epson, etc.). Together, Nikon View 6 and Nikon Scan 4 are probably my favorite hardware manufacturer’s proprietary software. Sure, they’re no Adobe Photoshop 6 or G.I.M.P. or Fireworks, but nor are they really intended to be. They still have good functionality and are very easy to use, in my opinion. Since they are more or less free, that also makes them considerably less expensive (700 X and 200 X less expensive for you comparison shoppers).

A quick note about the image enhancement capabilities of Nikon Scan 4. Like its predecesors, Digital-ICE 4 works. It really does a great job of removing most dust and "repairing" scratches. Based on my limited experience with earlier versions of Digital-ICE, I think version 4 works better. On an un-cleaned slide with dozens of visible dust particles of all shapes and sizes, Digital-ICE removed all of them, which really impressed me. I'm happy to see Nikon continuing to develop this technology. Along with ICE, Nikon Scan 4 includes ROC (to restore faded colors), GEM (to reduce the effects of film grain), and DEE (to increase detail in under- or over-exposed areas). So far, I've only used ROC and GEM, both with success. I haven't pushed them far enough to say how much they can really do, but I'm impressed so far.

Conclusions

Just a few months ago, film scanners with the imaging and mechanical quality of the Nikon Coolscan V ED were hard to come by and cost over $1000. Nikon has dramatically raised the bar with this scanner by increasing the optical quality over the previous Nikon Super Coolscan IV, while also lowering the price by several hundred dollars. So far, no one else is stepping up to the plate. This is simply the best film scanner in its price range considering its performance and reliability.