Does anyone have any recommendations for a dedicated film/slide scanner that is os-x compatible? I am not looking for a flatbed with a negative adapter, but rather a dedicated high-res unit.
Also how much money would I be looking at spending.

Thank-you
Leon

Any of the Nikon Coolscan scanners are good. They have had digital ice dust removal for a while which works pretty good.

If you're looking second hand you should be able to pick up something like a Coolscan 4000 or 5000 for $1000 - $1200.

The Minolta scanners have a good rep for scanning negs (you did say negative adapter).

Google "Minolta Dimage scanner 35".

I have a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual IV dedicated slide scanner which I've been quite pleased with (for the price, which was around $US300 when I was living over there, I think they're around $AU500 here).

The main downside to this unit is that it doesn't have any form of DigitalICE or equivalent (digital removal of dust and scratches).

Apparently there can be some problems with Kodachrome and DigitalICE, although I've not investigated that in detail (so it may well be incorrect).

If I had my time again I would definitely get something with dust/scratch removal on the hardware side.

Quality bundled software as mentioned already for any of the high range gear, whether it is scanners or printers you are after, is worth its weight in gold in my opinion.
Stewie

Point to remember about ICE is that it does not work with silver-halide black and white films. The infrared gets blocked by the silver perhaps. Chromogenic B+W films such as Ilford XP2 work fine with ICE.

Trouble is most bundled software is not much good, whereas Vuescan is the best software for almost every scanner out there

I reckon Vuescan is pretty disgusting to use, but it works, and is much cheaper than SilverFast.

I admit Vuescan doesn't have the slickest GUI, but Silverfast doesn't work for nowhere near the number of scanners Vuescan does. Over 700 at last count.
Also, I had a very old MicroTek flatbed (with transparency adapter) scanner that gave very average scans (from the bundled software), anyway I did some scans with Vuescan and was pleasantly surprised with the results. So I kept the scanner, instead of off-loading it.

^ I tried microtek flatbed.. was disappointed with the results.

However I am rather pleased with the way Epson Photostylus does it.

Never tried Vuescan.

You can download a demo version which can be registered fairly cheaply, thereby removing the watermark consisting of $ signs (quite appropriate!).

Thanks for the tip off.

I always read of the Nikon ones being compared as the benchmark. I would get a Nikon one if I was you.

Then there is the Epson V700 scanners (which are flatbed scanners) but check this review out before you make a judgment. It is a big review but very in depth and it made me buy 1.

http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/int...700/page_1.htm

I have yet to do Negatives or Slides as we just got it. But I might try and do some this weekend and might even post a result for you if I get time.

Cheers...

Thanks for all the advice guys. Will be checking out the Nikons shortly.