The discontinued Coolscan range of slide and film scanners has proved extremely reliable and durable. This includes the 35mm models: LS-40, LS-4000, LS-50, LS-5000 and the medium-format models: LS-8000 & LS-9000.
Although Nikon no longer supports the Coolscan range, all of the above models may still be considered mid-life with many further years of service ahead of them given some periodic maintenance. Contact me at coolscanuk@gmail.com. I do not support the earlier Coolscan models with SCSI interfaces which are becoming increasingly rare due to the long-obsolete interface and the problem of running a host computer to support it.
Servicing involves complete disassembly and cleaning of the components in the optical path together with cleaning/re-lubrication of the moving parts. Various capacitors, which suffer age-related degradation, are replaced. The scanners with Firewire (IEEE1394) connections (LS-4000, LS-8000, LS-9000) have a tendency to failure of the interface chips. One of the originally-fitted Firewire chips is increasingly experiencing failure while the other is susceptible to damage inflicted by the user. I hold good stocks of both chips and replacement of both is possible. The USB Coolscans (LS-40, LS-50, LS-5000) suffer most frequently from PSU failures although there is also damage that can occur through the USB port. Both these are repairable. It is rare for failures to be mechanical (unless abused) and aside from becoming noisier as the scan motor bearings wear, the scanners tend to show few signs of age that affect their performance. When scan motor wear does begin to affect scan quality, the motor can be replaced with modern equivalents.
The most common cause of scan degradation in Coolscan scanners is dust and other air-borne contamination. Because of the orientation of the primary mirror it is susceptible to both debris falling from the media being scanned and dust settling from the air. This will tend to degrade contrast and if the dust is also contaminated (typical domestic location), this can attack the protection over the silvering on the front of the mirror and cause pitting. Three precautions help to avoid this...
1. Ensure that all media is free from loose dust & debris during scanning.
2. When not in use, consider storing the scanner on its side which places the mirror face vertical. The large Coolscans may be placed on their left side and the small Coolscans can ideally be stored upside-down.
3. A dust-proof container or plastic bag is also essential for long periods between use.
Care of Coolscans - Firewire Interface
The following precautions apply to the Firewire Coolscans:
1. Always switch off the Coolscan before plugging or un-plugging the Firewire connector (as Nikon instruct in the manual).
2. Never plug the Firewire connector without visually confirming correct orientation. Don't assume it will only fit one way round; it can be forced in reversed which will blow the Firewire PHY chip. Place a mark on the upper side of the connector to make this easy to check.
3. Never strain the Firewire cable. Extreme sideways force on the plug can short contacts and blow the PHY chip.
4. Always use a high quality branded Firewire cable eg Belkin. Some cheap ones are un-screened and non-precision plugs can promote the problems of 2. & 3. above..
The stand-alone Coolscans are extremely robust but the host computer connects to the heart of the scanner and can inflict serious damage upon it. Most is repairable but some is not. Interruptions or variations of the incoming mains supply while the Coolscan & computer are switched on and connected can cause damage. If your mains supply is unreliable, the solution is an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) which can be bought quite cheaply (around £100). They will also protect your computer and allow controlled shutdown in the event of an unexpected power interruption. Note that both Coolscan and computer should run from the UPS.
Care of Coolscans - TRANSIT MODE
All Coolscans have a "transit mode" to protect the mechanism against shock when not in use or being transported.
All 35mm Coolscans: While switched on, remove the film/slide adapter and wait for motor activity to cease. Switch off and then replace the adapter.
LS-8000: While switched on, eject any film holder and fully close the sliding dust cover on the front panel. Wait for motor activity to cease and then switch off.
LS-9000: While switched on, eject any film holder and then press and hold (for 3+ seconds) the front panel "Eject" button. Once motor activity has ceased, switch off the scanner.
Further Information:
I am based in Lincoln UK. If you have a Coolscan scanner in need of service or repair then please contact me by emailing coolscanuk@gmail.com Please allow a few days for a reply. Be aware that I do have a waiting list for scanner servicing.