Nikon Coolscan Slide Digitzer Review
Today we are going to look at the Nikon Coolscan slide converters in this review. Unlike the lower end slide scanners, the Coolscan V LS-50 ED is a mid to upper range model that can automatically scans slides in batches of 50 with the SF-210 auto slide feeder attachment. The range of accepted slide sizes ranges from 35 mm film strips to mounted slides and up to 1.5 mm thick slides. If you have more than a couple hundred of slides to convert and scan then I would definitely recommend that you get the Coolscan 5000 and the slide feeder attachment to speed up the process.
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There are several different models in the Nikon CoolScan line of film converters ranging from the entry model, the Nikon CoolScan V, to the top of the line Nikon CoolScan 5000. If you are only going to scan about 1000-2000 slides then I definitely recommend getting the less expensive CoolScan V instead. All slide scanners in this line are equipped with ICE4 to minimize artifacts on scans. If you intend to convert Kodachrome slides then you will need to manually adjust the scanner settings. The defaults are unpredictable with Kodachrome and you can end up with artifacts and striping. However with some minor tweaks and photoshop touch ups the CoolScan is one of the quickest film scanners even for Kodachrome slides.
While scan times with the Coolscan are not the fastest on the market, I got averages of about 14 seconds for a scan, this slide scanner produces highly detailed scans with detailed shadows. Some of the cheaper amateur slide scanners tend to produce scans that are anemic and washed out resulting in the loss of depth and detail in the digital photos. I had no such problems with this film scanner and most of the details and variations in the shadows of my photos were successfully extracted.
However where the Coolscan line of film converters really shines is in the conversion of color negatives. As a matter of fact, my scans with the Coolscan V were richly colored and had incredible depth compared to the washed out scans I got from my local professional photo center. No other film converter I’ve tried is as successful in removing artifacts such as scratches and dust. Anybody who’s tried to digitize negatives knows how difficult it is to get a good scan without any dust or scratches. This is due to the superior ICE4 technology and Nikon’s included scanning software.
Again, the Coolscan line is the right choice for both professionals and hobbyists who need to convert their old slides and films. The main difference with the different models in the Coolscan line is speed and the ability to add an auto feed attachment for faster scanning. The Coolscan V is the entry level model and is the best cost based choice for at home use. There’s no batch scanning but it is fast enough to get through about 1000-2000 slides quickly. However if you are going to need a slide scanner in a professional capacity, then the Coolscan 5000 is the better investment. The 5000 supports a batch slide feeder that can hold up to 50 slides at once. This option dramatically cuts down your work load and scan time.
