Nikon LS-2000 Super CoolScan Film Scanner (PC/Mac)

Top-quality output is the paramount concern behind the design of the compact (5.5 pounds) Super CoolScan. You can scan 35mm film strips or slides and Advanced Photo System film. Adapters permit an exchange of film types without resetting the scanner or software. The average scan time is approximately 20 seconds at 2,700 dpi optical resolution. LED technology provides unadulterated, dependable color without requiring recalibration and supports work in 1 of 10 RGB color spaces, plus CMYK. The multisample scanning feature permits automatic removal of surface imperfections from your scans and a high dynamic range of 3.6.

The Nikon LS-2000 Super CoolScan's compatibility with both PC and Mac is particularly convenient for business needs. For more scaling options, the LS-2000 scanner is bundled with Altamira Genuine Fractals software.

Product Description
Get great results from slides, strip film or Advanced Photo System film with the Super Coolscan 2000 from Nikon. This 36-bit professional level 35mm film scanner features Digital ICE, a revolutionary new technology that locates, isolates and subtracts defects such as dust, scratches, and smudges on the film surface. This scanner's results can rival that of drum scanners with its Multi-Sample scanning technology, a scanning method that samples the image up to 16 times, then combines the data into one image.The Super Coolscan 2000 scans 35mm film and Advanced Photo System film (with optional adapter), positive or negative, color or monochrome. The Nikon Color Management System provides very accurate color and correctly matches colors on monitors and printers, and users can work in sRGB, CMYK, RGB and Lch color spaces. The LS-2000 offers auto focus and single-pass RGB line sequential image transfer.

Now for the negatives. The documentation is not very thorough. If you want to learn the ins and outs of every function and menu of the Nikon Scan software, you'll have to consult the websites of some powerusers. The slide feeder, which I also bought, is a bit clumsy. I haven't had any huge problems with it yet, but its construction certainly doesn't inspire a lot of faith. Also, you have to sit their and use the software to advance to the next slide, so it isn't as automated as you think. You can't pop 50 slides in, adjust all the settings, and come back the next day to fifty completed scans. And finally, as others have noted, Nikon's tech support is extremely weak.

All in all, I think this is a great scanner for the serious photographer who wants to generate high quality scans without spending a fortune on drum scans. Those who just wish to get usable scans to post on web pages should go with a lower cost scanner or have their local photo shop transfer their photos to a Kodak Photo CD.


Nikon LS-2000 scanner   January 31, 2000
Robert D. Jones (Kettle Falls, WA)
55 out of 56 found this review helpful

The scanner is great. The problem is Nikon's serious lack of customer support. Once you buy from Nikon they completely forget about you! My LS-2000 has a problem with certain flash transparencies. They just fail to scan at all. I have called Nikon's tech support 4 times (on my own nickle) and they havn't made any effort to contact me at all. The equipment is great - but beware that you will be all alone once you purchase it!


Quite a shoddy scanner if you ask me   June 12, 2000
Tom Tom (Arizona USA)
50 out of 54 found this review helpful

We bought one of these, and the slidefeeder attachment, to do scans at work. Well, we're on our 3rd scanner right now. That after having to make numerous calls each time to tech support before they decided to replace the scanner each time. The scanner is VERY buggy, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The slidefeeder is poorly designed and poorly manufactured, sometimes it jams, sometimes it tries to feed 2 slides at once. The most common error we get is "Stage locking screw is still in place", even though the stage locking screws have been removed. Our first scanner simply died, the 2nd one kept getting the "stage locking screw" error, and the 3rd one which we have currently is doing ok, SO FAR, I have no doubt it will fail shortly and we'll be on #4. There are better scanners to be had.


Love It!   December 16, 1999
Helene DeLillo (New York, NY USA)
37 out of 45 found this review helpful

The best scanner for 35mm shooters in the market place. The quality is great. It's works well with negatives & slides, it's easy to use, and has great production features!


Very Poor Tech Support !!   October 19, 2000
26 out of 27 found this review helpful

I have to say that when the scanner works, it works beautiful and when it doesn't it becomes a total mystery. You start to receive funny error messages like "Cannot focus on slide" or the screw is still in the unit. Tech support is gravely lacking ! They took away the discussion board which really helped, so now you have to call tech support.

I love the unit when it works, I also have the 50 slide feeder which works 97% of the time. The software and tech support need to be upgraded.