If you are serious about digitizing your family stockpile of photos or if you are a professional or serious photographer hobbyist, you need to check out Nikon’s Super CoolScan 9000 ED. Supporting formats from 35mm slides and film strips to 16mm film, the Scanner-Nikkor ED glass lens offers a 4,000 dpi optical resolution.
While the scanner is not cheap, it’s worth according to the reviews I’ve read.
A high-performance dedicated film scanner designed for imaging professionals, the Super Coolscan 9000 ED offers high-quality scanning of 35mm slides, 35mm film strips, medium-format film, medium-format slides (with optional 120/220 mounted film holder FH-869M), glass slides for microscopes (with optional Medical Slide Holder FH-8G1), and 16mm film (with optional 16mm film holder FH-816). The Scanner-Nikkor ED glass lens offers a 4,000 dpi optical resolution, while the 10,000-pixel, three-line monochrome linear CCD image sensor and 16-bit per color A/D input (8-/16-bit output) provide true-to-life, brilliant results.
Nikon’s own LED illumination technology ensures accurate color separation with no warm-up time or risk of heat damage. Scan times are as fast as 40 seconds including image transfer to display, and as fast as 13 seconds in preview mode. Automatic color/contrast compensation helps you achieve accurate results, while the ICE4 advanced digital image correction suite of technologies, including digital ICE, digital ROC, digital GEM, and digital DEE, helps to restore old slides to their original glory. Additionally, the included Nikon Scan 4 software provides a comprehensive and easy-to-use interface for managing your scans.
The Super Coolscan 9000 ED has an IEEE 1394 (FireWire) interface, while one-touch scan and preview buttons will have you scanning film in no time. PC and Mac compatible, the Super Coolscan 9000 ED also comes backed with a one-year limited warranty.
Price: $1789.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)
As of Feb. 2, 2010 there is no software update for using the Coolscan 9000 with Mac Snow Leaopard. Support says they are working on it.