Response to Scanning negs with dense base

Without seeing the scans I can't say for sure but I suspect the problem is related to grain aliasing rather than the film base. There is a place where the grain size and scanner resolution play havoc with your ability to get a good scan. That precise place is hard to nail down but I think you've found it. The scanner you're using is marginal for making good 35mm scans from any film type. A dedicated 4000 ppi film scanner will give much better results. Making real prints and scanning them on your flat bed may give the very best result from 3200. Real grainy coarse films are hard to scan on any scanner. The best results you can get scanning 35mm negs is probably from C41 process films like XP2, next from carefully exposed and processed films like TMAx 100 or Delta 100. You want negs that are thin, not contrasty and with full information in the highlights and shadows.

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