If your task is to scan hundreds of slides, you should consider choosing a plustek 7500i film scanner with the SilverFast software, like I did.
I wasn't a pro with this issues, but wanted quality scans in a reasonable amount of time without having to read books about scanning or image processing.

My workflow:
-Scanning is done by the 7500i and SilverFast SE Plus
- Most options and settings are left to the automatics
- iSRD enabled, sometimes Multi Exposure
- Saving to 48 bit files.

This is quick 'n easy and gets you detailed high quality scans (due to the losslessness of the RAW format).
I'm able to do any image processing later on with SilverFast HDR.
Following this procedure I can assure neither to lose a single scan in my archive nor any details by scanning.

P. York (landscape photographer)