All adapters can be "hot swapped," in that they can be changed without powering-down the scanner or requiring any special operations in the software. Several adapters are available as accessories and accommodate a range of film sizes and types, including 120/220 film (sizes 6x4.5 to 6x9), medical slides (from electron microscopes), and 16mm filmstrips. The 8000 ED comes equipped out of the box for scanning both 35mm slides and film strips and medium-format film strips. The maximum "real" scanning area is 8,964 x 11,016 pixels on 6x7 film, up to 10,000 x 13,176 pixels on 6x9.) This represents an enormous amount of data - A maximum resolution scan in 14-bit mode can result in a file size as large as 790 megabytes. (Depending on the film format being scanned, this total possible area will be cropped somewhat. The total scanning area is an enormous 10,000 x 13,860 pixels. The maximum resolution of the 8000 ED is 4000 dpi, resulting in a maximum image size of 3,654 x 5,646 pixels when scanning 35mm film.
A single version is sold for both Mac and PC platforms, including an IEEE 1394 interface card with both Mac and PC driver software in the box with the unit. The 8000 ED is a "FireWire" (IEEE 1394) connected device, a virtual necessity due to the enormous amounts of data it's capable of generating. (A bit larger on all sides than a typical shoe box.) At 19.8 pounds (9 kg) it's hefty but not too hard to move around. While its proportions are wider, the 8000 ED still isn't too unwieldy, with its 9.64 x 19.9 x 7.87 inches (245 x 485 x 200 millimeters) dimensions. The 8000 ED is slightly larger than the previous LS-4000 ED model, accommodating a much larger strip film adapter.
IEEE 1394 ("FireWire") interface, with card included for Mac or Windows."One-line" scanning mode for higher quality scans.
Supports film sizes from 35mm through professional 6 x 9 cm medium-format.True, uninterpolated 4000-dpi scanning resolution.Here's a list of some of the key features of the 8000 ED: The new 8000 ED incorporates a number of enhancements over the previous generation, and further blurs the line between what's attainable with affordable desktop scanners versus the $100,000+ "drum" scanners used by professional graphics houses. This, combined with a 14-bit A/D, the 4000 dpi uninterpolated resolution, new ED (Extra-low Dispersion) optics, and the by-now standard Super Coolscan options such as Digital ICE, analog gain control, and multi-sample scanning makes for an exceptional scanning tool for 35mm and medium-format film. In reviewing the Coolscan IV ED and Super Coolscan 4000 ED previously, we were impressed with the obvious improvements Nikon's made in raw image noise levels. Now, Nikon's raised the bar again, with a complete series of new scanners, ranging from a more purely consumer model (the Coolscan IV ED), through the new Super Coolscan 4000 ED, to the high-end, medium format Super Coolscan 8000 ED that's the subject of this review.
At the time, the LS2000 (the actual model number) represented the state of the art in desktop film scanning, and large numbers were sold to photo enthusiasts and pro photographers alike. Back in mid-1999, their Super Coolscan 2000 was one of the first slide/film scanners that we reviewed at the Imaging Resource. (This point might be subject to some argument, but the original Nikon film scanner was the first that we personally saw that could consistently create good-looking scans from a variety of color negative film emulsions.) From that early position, they continued to innovate, and have consistently maintained a commanding position in the high end pro/prosumer scanning market. Nikon was arguably the first company to really figure out the bizarre color qualities of color negative film, as seen in their first film scanner, released something on the order of a decade ago. Correct for faded negatives and film grain automatically.