Nikon Coolscan V ED, VueScan, MacBook running High Sierra

desmobob

Senior Member
I have a nice Nikon Coolscan V ED that has been sitting idle for many years. I've since become a Mac user. I'd like to start shooting some film again. Would you recommend using the Coolscan V and purchasing VueScan software, or purchasing a more modern scanner? My budget leans toward purchasing VueScan at under a hundred bucks rather than four or five times that on another scanner.

Thoughts? Advice?

Thanks,
Bob
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
There's not a thing wrong with that scanner. It's a 4,000 dpi scanner. You just need software to drive it. Follow your instincts and just upgrade the software to the VueScan software.
 

desmobob

Senior Member
There's not a thing wrong with that scanner. It's a 4,000 dpi scanner. You just need software to drive it. Follow your instincts and just upgrade the software to the VueScan software.

I've downloaded the trial version of VueScan and will fire up the ol' Coolscan V for a test run...

In the mean time, I've just made arrangements to drop off my F2S film body for a CLA at a camera repair shop nearby. :) I might leave one of my F4s or F3s for a spa treatment, too...
 

STM

Senior Member
Does it only run with a firewire card like my CoolScan 8000? This is what I did with mine. I went on ebay and found a laptop with a built in firewire card. It was only about $100. The only software on it besides the operating system is Nikon Scan 4.0. It works like a champ. I tried Vuescan with it and was not impressed, to be honest. Nikon Scan 4.0 is better and works flawlessly with the scanner.
 

STM

Senior Member
Does it only run with a firewire card like my CoolScan 8000? This is what I did with mine. I went on ebay and found a laptop with a built in firewire card. It was only about $100. The only software on it besides the operating system is Nikon Scan 4.0. It works like a champ. I tried Vuescan with it and was not impressed, to be honest. Nikon Scan 4.0 is better and works flawlessly with the scanner.


Just find one with least Windows XP and a built in firewire card, if that is what yours uses, and you will be in the tall cottons! The Nikon software dovetails perfectly with their scanners, as expected, you cannot say the same with Viewscan, I am talking through personal experience. Even after all these years that combination is still working perfectly for me!
 
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