I don’t find that the Nikon Scan 4 software is incompatible with modern operating systems, at least on the Windows side. I’m currently using a CSIV, though looking at going for an 4000 and modding my SA-21 roll feed adapter into an SA-30, so I can do whole roll scanning which is handy as I’ll be developing film myself, and I’m using it with Windows 10 64-bit.

Windows even found a driver for the IV, though it is one of Ed Hamrick’s (VueScan) drivers. Those work fine with NS4. No compatibility modes, no fiddling with drivers. I wonder if the 4000 will be trickier on the merit of the FireWire connectivity. I’ll have to grab a PCIe FireWire card that works with Windows 10 first, though!

In reply to Daniel.

Are you using the Nikon CoolScan software? It can be that your gain is set wrong… (too dark) making the image noisy. The question is… are you seeing image noise (digital) or are you seeing the grain of your negative (analog)?

I just pulled my CoolScan 4000 out after many years of being on the shelf. It’s connected to my PowerBook g4 through FireWire and It seems like everything I try to scan comes out really grainy. Not at all like your examples and not how I remember it scanning in the past. Really disappointed. I don’t know if you run into this at all. If so, what seems to be the situation when you have this problem?

I just wanted to say I just connected my Nikon LS-4000 to my Macbook 13, using Apple Thunderbolt 2 adapter $29 and the a 3 foot Firewire 800 to Firewire 400 cable $10 and using Vuescan 9.45 works great!

So if anyone needs to or wants to IT WORKS!
Christopher

Hi Jip!
Great article, I will definitely use your tips to set up my LS-4000! I was just wondering how do you conect your scaner to Mac Pro? Do you use the Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter?

In reply to Shahan.

Hey Shahan,

Yes I still have it and still use it. It works great with denser negatives, it’s called “CoolScan” because it uses RGBI LED’s to light the negatives which are strong enough to even scan dense negatives. I’d actually say the scanner prefers dense over thin negatives.

Jip

In reply to Mick Bauman.

Hey Mick,

It’s the latest 50mm Summicron-M (Not the APO). Leica still sells it today, it’s been the same since since 1979, the only change was 6-bit coding was added to the bayonet when the Leica M8 came out.

Mine is from 1994 :)

Jip

In reply to Rick Mansen.

Hey Rick,

It is the latest 50mm Summicron-M. The non APO version.

Jip

Hi! Do you still have this scanner? How well does it work with denser negatives? Looking to get one of these for scanning color and black & white film.

Hi, may I ask which Summicron-M 50mm Type You used for the second picture, the ‘pink’ sunrise landscape? Looks absolutely outstanding.

Your pictures just got me order 4000ED on ebay. The quality is amazing, vivid colors and a subtle grain adds up a lot to a “feeling” one is getting just from a fist look.
May I ask what Summicron-M 50mm type You used on a second picture ‘pink’ landscape-sunrise picture?
It says there are 6 types according to Year of production, that spans from 50s till now; It’s a pre-asph I assume?

I just remembered my 2008 MacBook Pro 17 has both FireWire 400 & 800. Disconnect the Nikon 4000 Coolscan ED from a Power Mac G4. Using Vuescan, works much better the old G4…

In reply to Eduard de Kam.

Dat werkt inderdaad ook, compressie maakt de bestanden altijd kleiner, er zit echter verschil tussen de manieren van comprimeren. Het is waar dat LZW compressie minder effectief is dan ZIP compressie.

Jip

Ik gebruik een digitale camera om de dia’s en negatieven te reproduceren. Het gaat heel snel, je moet alleen leren de kleurnegatieven positief te maken:-)
Worden 16-bits TIFF bestanden kleiner van ZIP compressie? LZW compressie maakt ze juist groter.

In reply to M.

You are quite right however, the scanner is fully compatible on Microsoft Windows machines. Worst case scenario you can just buy a cheap desktop computer or laptop running some version of Windows and keep using the scanner. If it dies it dies, but all electronics die eventually and there will always be an alternative. But for now I am most pleased with the results. And I think they are better than the currently available newer products by other manufacturers even if you go a price class higher.

Kind regards.

These ancient scanners and archaic software are temporary solutions either until something burns out or the old computer gives up the ghost. I had a Minolta that did not operate properly with VueScan because the USB port was too fast for the device. This might be the real killer of film when one or two scan solutions persist (all sub-optimal) and the concurrent cost of scanning at a lab rises.