The Minolta 5400 or the Nikon 5000ED…?

Author's Rating:

Pros: I'd compare it favorably to a 50 thousand dollar scanner! (I'm not kidding.)

Cons: Quality scans may take quite a bit of time (but it's okay with me).

The Bottom Line: 
Great dynamic range, resolution and sharpness…amazing quality for under a thousand dollars…

Author's Review
For years, I was using a Polaroid Sprintscan (and a hand-me-down at that) to make my 35 mm scans. More often than not, I was amazed at the fine results that I got.

Then I upgraded my computer system (Macintosh) and could no longer connect the Sprintscan. I bought an Epson 2450 flatbed scanner which has the capability of scanning transparencies as well as reflective art and prints. The Epson 2450 does a wonderful job.

But, for scanning 35 mm transparencies (in my case, mostly Kodachrome), I wanted the best I could get with a target price of no more than around a thousand dollars.

Of course, resolution was a big factor but even more important was a wide dynamic range and a high D-Max. The ability to hold shadow detail (as well as highlight detail) was and is of major importance to me.

I read the reviews that I could find for both scanners (primarily, here, on ePinions.com). I was virtually unable to find any information, short of that provided by Nikon, for the Nikon Coolscan 5000ED. The reviews for the Minolta Dimage Scan 5400 were basically favorable though not over the top.

The two scanners differed primarily in their reputed scanning time (Nikon, fast; Minolta, slow--very slow).

The Minolta scanner has a greater resolution (5400 DPI versus 4000 DPI) and is nominally a hundred dollars less expensive. I was also concerned with the ability of each of the scanners to get excellent results from Kodachrome.

Aside from my not being able to find more comprehensive reviews of the Nikon scanner a consideration related to reviews of previous Nikon models faulting the batch scanning trays (available at extra cost). It would be nice, after all, to be able to have tens of transparencies scanned automatically.

Knowing that the Minolta 5400 was reviewed as being slow, I nonetheless opted to buy one. I went to Macconnection (dot com) but used the phone to place my order (got 50 bucks off the price that way).

The scanner arrived a few days later (free shipping). Opening the box, I found the scanner to be a nice looking unit (albeit, the body is generic gray). It measures roughly 2.5 inches wide (fits nicely between my two monitors), some 14 inches long and about 6.5 inches high. Two film holders are provided. One holds up to four slides and the other will hold a strip of six 35 mm images. The former film holder allows one to change one of the four slides without removing the holder from the scanning unit but I do not feel this is is of any significant value.

I hooked up the scanner to one of my Macintosh computers (I have a G3 and a G4, both running System X). I used the Firewire port on the scanner; it also has a USB port. Having loaded the software, I chose my most difficult slide to test the scanner's ability. I shot the photo, on Kodachrome, at Devil's Cove (just north of Malibu in the Los Angeles area) against a setting sun with black rocks in the background; a running figure was in the mid-ground. But it is holding the detail in the black rocks that is the real trick.

I used the automatic scanning parameters. My first scan was AWFUL!

I immediately thought to myself, Oh, my goodness, did I make a mistake!

Then I got the message that one of the other reviewers got. Something about the scanning utility will not work because other scanning software is active. It took me about fifteen minutes to solve that problem by discarding some of the, apparently extraneous, installed software.

Then I tried again with my "difficult to scan" Kodachrome slide. This time, I went into the advanced mode of using the software and set my own parameters.

Eureka!

I swear, based on not only this scan but the many I've made since, the Minolta Dimage 5400 scanner will hold its own against an Imacon scan or even a CreoScitex scan. Of course its resolution limits are 5400 DPI (optical) but within that range, I don't believe I could do much better even with a drum scan.

The scanning software offers enormous control over the scanning parameters. Though it is easy to use, I figure that it will take some getting used to for those who are not well versed in the use of levels, histograms, various color controls, etc. In other words, if you're not knowlegeable in terms of manipulating image controls, I suppose, it could take a few days of practice to understand using the software.

If you are a Photoshop expert (in terms of manipulating and modifying images), it should not take more than a few minutes to get up to speed with the Minolta software. Also of interest, the software manual accompanying the scanner offers some fine explanations with respect to color, et al (primary colors, both additive and subtractive and why black is added to CMY, giving us the CMYK printing process).

The software does not give scanner profiles for varied film types (Kodachrome, Velvia, etc.) but allows one to create his* own.

The scanner has a "door" through which one inserts the transparency carrier. From that point the scanner takes over and pulls, pushes and generally moves the carrier about. There are whirring noises and clicking noises…nothing too loud, more like the sounds one might imagine a robot would make.

One then makes an "index" scan which reveals the (up to) four slides or six negatives inserted in the carrier. The carrier(s), by the way, is nicely designed and manufactured. One then chooses one of the slides or negatives by clicking on the image in the Index scan. A larger image appears (pre-scan) and one may then choose to adjust the various parameters (brightness, saturation, gamma, color correction, etc.) before making the final scan.

Software features include Digital Ice (removing dirt and image defects), Grain Dissolver (to lessen grain; is automatically included when using Digital Ice) and Pixel Polisher (sort of an automatic way of adjusting scanning parameters: click on "fair skin," "tanned," "backlit" and others to change the scanning parameters).

The manual says that Digital Ice does not work with Kodachrome. Don't tell anyone. It works for me. And, I'm thrilled that it does. I didn't use it on my first scans and I was retouching dust for hours. I decided to give it a try. Scanning time is increased…but it works, it works with Kodachrome!

Some of my scans are not quite right. I then go back and readjust the scanning parameters and rescan. I have not been disappointed. I honestly believe my best scans will acquit themselves quite well compared even to drum scans. Of course, my scanning resolution is limited to 5400 DPI but it allows me to create 100 Mb plus scans.

For many, scanning time will be the downside. I can get a good scan in about three minutes but some of my multi-sample scans (up to sixteen passes over the transparency) can take 90 minutes or more. Because I can multitask with my computer, I am able to work on other projects as a scan is taking place. Or I just work on my second computer. Or, better yet, I go have lunch (or dinner) and sip a nice Cuba Libra (rum and Coke with lime).

Perhaps, we, as a society, are too much in a rush. Though, I would be happy to have my scans produced much faster, I am far more interested in the quality of the scans. And I have faith that "difficult" slides (subtle shadow detail, etc.) will yield exceptional scans using the Minolta Dimage 5400.

Like a fine wine, maturing, it takes an extra amount of time.



* Before the days of Political Correctness, it was appropriate to use the pronoun "his" or "hers" and was not necessary to use both "his" and "hers" ("hers" being understood).