Grain and film scanners

[Steve Dye <stevedye@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I thank all who made suggestions concerning the problem I have experienced
with my Epson FS200 films scanner and its ability of resolving film grain
above and beyond what has been expected from it.

I thought I had found the solution when a few suggested that it might not be
film grain but noise. On close inspection I found that I had used a very
long SCSI cable (well over 6 feet) that was mixed up with power cables too.
Convinced this was the problem I took the opportunity of replacing both my
SCSI card in the PC for something a bit faster, as well as a new well
screened shorter cable. The result - No Difference :((

However  . . . I scanned some Ilford XP2 (Black and white neg.) and that is
much better with very little grain which brings me to think that it is in
fact the film that has been the problem all along and the scanner is being
honest in its rendition - I rarely do silver based prints so I had little to
judge my earlier scanned results with.

If as it now appears this is the problem what film should I be using given
that I am restricted to 35mm and would prefer colour neg? 

Suggestions greatly appreciated

Steve Dye, Yorkshire, UK.