Just got home from a nice 11 shift. My film scanner arrived yesterday (had to go buy a new SCSI interface card as my old one just would not work with XP). Installed the card and scanner when I got home (see, being a Systems Engineer has its benefits ... system upgrades at 3am without batting an eye). XP immediately saw the controller and scanner, asked for the software. Installed software and the scanner was up and ready to go in under 5 minutes. This is the one I got from E-bay. It is a refurbished "new" Minolta Dimage Scan Speed F-2800. 2820 dpi negative/slide scanner. I am freaking impressed by this thing. Full 2820 dpi scans in under 40 seconds. And this refurbished new condition looks like new, period. Not a mark on the scanner. All software and manuals are new and shrink wrapped (not only did it come with the minolta software but also Adobe Photoshop 4.0LE - not that I need it, but it shows it has the original software package). This is an exception value for $109. Anyway, here is the very first thing I scanned with this once it was up and running. This is that photo that prompted all this anyway, the one so "delicate" that I couldn't get a scan off the print. Note, this was scanned without my ever opening the manual so I am probably not using it anywhere near its full performance. Just had to see what it could do before I hit the sack. Scanned in at 2820 DPI, cropped, toned and then reduced to around 640xsomething (original is 2445x2105). No real cleanup, post scan work. Oh man, I am gonna have fun with this thing. :) -=>Donald

Probably should also post the photo. -=>Donald

Attached Link: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/DSS/DSSA.HTM

very nice Donald. Are you on a PC or a Mac ? I was impressed enough to go looking for more info about this scanner.I posted a link for others interested. Now i have like 1000 question but will try to curb most of them . So your total out lay for this bad boy was ?? ( SCSI interface card ( what model ) Scanner and shipping). I pretty much gave up on film for many reasons. Mostly because though it look good on print after scanning i was left with very dark useless crap. I tried going to different places and still got garbage. I bought 5 different mid range scanners and tried it myself with the same results. It would be nice to bring digital life to my negitives and start shooting with film again .

i'm impressed- proves to me refurbished off ebay can be a good thing! fascinating shot!

Tasquah - I'm on a PC running WinXP. Ask away on your questions and I'll answer what I can. :) The scanner was $109 + $22 shipping. The card I got was overpriced, but I didn't have time to run around and find the best deal. I got the Adaptec 2906 SCSI/SCSI-2/Fast SCSI controller -- that can be had off the net for about $35 (I got it from a local store for $69). So, total outlay was ~$200. If I had taken my time and shopped around would have been ~$166. If you already have a SCSI-2 controller with external plug then you are fine. The cable that comes with the scanner plugs into either the 25-pin d-shell style connector or the centronics style. You can also use a controller with the high-density 50-pin plug and then a cable that plugs into that and to either of the two from above (the scanner has both 25-pin D shell and centronics on it the back of it - along with selectable SCSI termination built in). Question about your scanner stuff ... when you had them, did you do any color correction and level adjustment to the photos after scanning? -=>Donald

Nice pic!.....good to hear you're happy with your purchase!

That turned out really well! Sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun! Great scan for not even opening the manual! :-)>

Donald. I tried allot of different methods to try and enhance my photos after the scan. I even went to different photo shops and had them scanned. I came to the conclusion i would have to do it myself. Granted most of my camera lens are pretty slow and most were scaned in with a flatbed scanner. I bought a faster lens and changed my film and it helped some but not enough . Most local photo shops are not really set up to do anything but a 1/2 ass job anyways . Training probly consits of push this, then this.