i would definitely recommend nikon coolscan V ED or 5000 ED.
some of my friends own coolscan and the results they get are so beautiful they're making me so envious. haha.
(i own a minolta dimage scan dual II, but i'm tortured by the terrible noize it gives me most of the times...)

i just check the coolscan and a bit out of my price range. I think a flatbed scanner under 20,000 yen would be best for me. i might check out yahoo auctions for the coolscan to see what i can get. thanks for the info aria.

anytime. :)
oh, one more recommendation to make...
i hear epson GT series is also good although it scans a bit slower compared to other film scanners.
my two cents...

mark-
those coolscans are great, but steep! I use an older "GT" series that Aria mentioned, the Epson GT-9700 (2450 Perfection in the US) and for the most part it's great. Sure it would be nice for a dedicated 35mm film scanner, rather than a flatbed, but it's a money issue, and for online use and smallish prints, you really can't beat the price/performance of these scanners. They also are great for scanning medium format (and at the rate you're going, one of these days you're going to get one of these cameras!). Everything film-based on my site has been scanned with this scanner (i'm paranoid it's going to break at any moment).

The latest GT in Japan seems to be the GT-X700 (US: model no. 4870), which Kakaku lists for 36,800 (this one has "digital ice" dust removal technology and higher resolution than my model). The model before it, the GT-9800 (US: 3200 Perfection), is listed at Kakaku for 26,700.

Reviews of the model I have:
http://www.virtualtraveller.org/epson2450.htm
http://www.normankoren.com/Tutorials/Epson_flatbeds.html (updated for the 3200, more a how-to and news site about these scanners than a review per se -- essential).

I use the Epson Twain software and it's fine for me. Others tout Vuescan, which is cheap shareware, but a bit difficult to use.

thanks for the info Kurt, just hope my wife doesn't come around asking what the hell is medium format... I stopped by sakuraya today and picked up an epson brochure. The epson line seems to come well recommended, as well as their printers. But for price 30,000 just seems too much for me right now and am looking at the lower end 9300UF and 9400UF models.

well, if you don't have the dosh then you don't have it, but I would then wait a bit longer until you have some and get something that will last you a while. Of course you need to think about what you're going to use it for, but it seems to me you are going towards film....besides, the 9800F is less than 10,000 more than the 9300UF (according to kakaku.com), and only 5,000 or so more than the 9400UF. At that price differential, it seems silly to go for less than the 9800F (and trust me, if you do get into MF, even with a Lubitel or something like that, you'll be thanking me you went for the model that can scan MF (the 9300 and 9400UF models don't, as far as I can tell)). By the way, don't base your decisions on the prices of the big stores (Bic, Sakuraya, etc.), unless you're heavily invested in one of those store's point systems, you're much better off buying from a smaller store via Kakaku or down in Akiba. And now with the X-700 just released, you should be able to pick up the 9800 for quite a good deal.

ahhhh... you make a good case. will see how I feel after returning from holidays.

well Mark, I've of late started to get a bit disatisfied with my Epson, make no mistake for what it costs it's a great scanner, it's insane to get this kind of quality on a flatbed. BUT, it is still not as good as a dedicated film scanner, and comparison tests I've come across (sorry, didn't bookmark them) show this. So now I'm looking at the Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III, one model after Aria's and one model before the newish 5400, which is still in the 65-75,000 yen price range. The Dual III, however, is around 27,000 new, but on eBay factory refurbished units are going for much cheaper. Just one more option to throw your way... (although I must say whatever you're using to scan the latest from B.C. is doing quite a job -- hah, don't tell me they're digital!).

here's a review:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/SCAN/DSEIII/DSEIIIA.HTM
and do a search on photo.net. user feedback is quite positive.

wow good timing. i just revisited this topic lastnight and priced the epson X700 at my local shop, mind you i have not bought anything yet, im a true procrastinator. i checked out the Dimage Scan Dual III but seems this will not scan MF like some of the other flatbed scanners. the price is right for a dedicated film scanner mind you. aaahhh... i'll just use the community scanner for now which is btw an Epson ES-2200 or Expression 1680 in the US. they're all from film, nikon fm3a and fuji superia 800 and 400 ASA.

no, it won't scan MF, for that you'll need something like the older Multi Scan.....what's this, getting bitten by the MF bug so soon? does your wife know? :)

frankly i'd say as long as you can use this "community" scanner (i get this image of you trudging down to the community center with your negs), i'd stick with that, although there's some obvious color casting (nothing you can't get rid of with some PS work), it seems to be performing more than adequately for online use.