Can any APS film scanner read the magnetic-strip metadata and preserve it in scanned files?
Asked 9/19/2010
4 views
2 answers
0
I have several APS rolls to scan. Many film scanners can physically hold APS film, but I’m specifically looking for a scanner that can read the APS magnetic-strip data and ideally include it in the output file metadata. Automation for advancing the film would also be useful. Are there any scanners or adapters that can do this, including discontinued models I might find used, or is it more practical to have a lab scan APS instead?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
11
Well, I've searched for this for a good long while. It took some real search foo, but I eventually found the terms that seem to produce a few god results: APS Film Magnetic Strip Reader.
It seems there is only one product that can be found that can read the magnetic strip on APS film that contains the EXIF metadata. Its the Nikon Coolscan IV APS Film Adapter, a discontinued product that does not seem to be available from any commercial storefront on the internet. I did a search on eBay for Nikon Coolscan, and there seem to be quite a few things, including APS specific gear. The APS Film Adapter was not listed when I did my searches, however its eBay, so you never know.
From what I can tell, the Coolscan scanners and the film adapters seem to be pretty expensive...as in, the $2000-$3000 range. Not exactly consumer-level gear. Most of the information I was able to find (which included the links from @nik, as well as several other similar sites and forums) seemed to indicate that the advanced features of APS film never really took off, and the magnetic strip that contained the metadata was never really effectively used. Seems like that is partly due to the downfall of APS as a film format (couldn't tell you why it really failed, never knew much about it.)
There was one other product that I found, the Fuji Frontier Minilab, that seems to be able to scan APS film. A lot of information seems to indicate that it can read the magnetic strip and extract the EXIF data from it, however I couldn't find anything that actually confirmed that. Sadly, it is a commercial product, rather huge, and probably far outside of any individuals price range. You might try taking your APS film to a shop that uses the Fuji Minilab, and see if their scans include the EXIF metadata. Beyond that, I couldn't find anything else relating to scanning APS film and including the EXIF in the resulting digital images.
Originally by user124. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user124
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—some APS-capable scanners could read the APS magnetic-strip data, but they’re older, discontinued products.
From the answers here, the main options mentioned are:
- Nikon Coolscan with the APS Film Adapter (reported to read the APS magnetic strip)
- Kodak Advantix Film Drive FD-300 (reported to preserve at least some metadata, such as date)
These are no longer current products, so your best chance is the used market. Availability may be hit-or-miss, and older APS hardware can be expensive relative to its age. Also, even when metadata is read, support for embedding it into modern EXIF workflows may be limited and depend on the scanner software.
If your priority is simply getting good scans with minimal hassle, a lab may be the more practical route—especially if you don’t want to hunt down discontinued APS-specific hardware. If your priority is preserving APS metadata specifically, then a used APS scanner or APS adapter is the path to investigate.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI15y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How can I scan APS film, and is it safe to open the cartridge?
Why can a flatbed scanner stretch an image differently depending on scan orientation?
Can scanning a film negative multiple times at different exposures improve dynamic range?
How do I get 35mm film developed and onto my computer?
Can you calibrate a film scanner for color negatives, and does calibration matter for black-and-white film?