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Dropped $200 on a vintage Nikon film scanner - is it worth it in 2024 or a total waste?

I snagged a Nikon Coolscan V ED off eBay for $200 last month. Got it working with a janky SCSI adapter and old software on a Windows XP VM. The scans look amazing for my old negatives, way better than any flatbed I've tried. But the setup took me like 4 hours and I'm scared it'll break any day now. Is dropping cash on dedicated film hardware smarter than just paying a lab to do it? Anyone else gamble on old photo gear and regret or love it?
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2 Comments
cole_mitchell8
Buddy of mine spent 300 on a drum scanner, still working today.
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garcia.charles
garcia.charles8d agoTop Commenter
Changed my mind on this completely. Used to think paying labs was the only way for quality scans. Now I see the appeal of owning the hardware, even if it's a janky setup.
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