Turn off the ICE and other corrections for B&W scans.
Yes, Chris, I did that but perfectly exposed B&W negatives have no detail in the lighter areas no matter what I do.
Before you take it back… take a look at/get VueScan at www.hamrick.com (also a good source of scanner info). It’s entirely possible that the bundled software isn’t optimized for what you need to do and/or the software doesn’t wring as much info out of the hardware as is possible.
Also, remember that you can set up your scans do use the HDR tools — merging three or more scans (way underexposed, normal, and way overexposed) to capture more detail than a single scan.
Art
You have to dig into NikonScan’s preferences and reset the clipping values. The defaults clip the hell out of both highlights and shadows.
Use the analog gain controls.
I must have a defective unit, which seems to be a problem for Nikon of late. Recently had to return two defective D200’s and a DX lens. A friend had to go through five DX2’s before finding one that did not have a defective sensor! This film slipping because there are no studs to lock in the sprocket holes has to be a defective film holder …the Nikon design team could not be that dumb…
They are. 120 film has to be held in glass to keep sharp, therefore requiring anti-newton ring glass, of which the Nikon stuff is mediocre at best.
Found my scanner! It’s an Epson 750 M Pro. This thing will scan any film up to 8"x 10", and you can even do wet scans using Kami fluid! I haven’t tried the wet scan yet but, the B&W of a 120 neg is like being back under my Beselar!!! Oh yeah! This blows away the Nikon…
