Several people have asked questions about the best scanner for scanning
stereo slide images. While there is no such thing a a single best scanner
it is my feeling that the Epson V700 or V750 just might be as good as an
all around scanner can get.

I say all around because, with its 8x10 scanning area, it can scan all
forms of stereo film from 4p Nimslo images to 8p full frame to 6x6 medium
format to full ViewMaster reels to 6x13 glass plates.

This is a flatbed scanner with a built-in transparency lid. None of the
film trays that come with the scanner will hold any of the stereo mounts,
but the raw film trays will hold uncut and unmouted film. There are
aftermarket manufacturers of trays that could work or you could modify
one of Espon's trays or you could simply place the mounted slide on the
glass or the flatbed.

However, each scanner has an optimum focus distance that can vary from
unit to unit based on manufacturing tolerances. Epson themselves
acknowledge this and offer adjustable feet for their trays to accommodate
this focus variable.

But what do you do if you don't have or can't use these trays? The simple
answer is to make shims to fit under your mount to raise it off the
glass. Now, how thick do these shims need to be? Well you will just have
to experiment to see what your scanner needs.

I have done a simple test and made a website to show the results. It will
also let peopel see the quality of this. The images on this site are no
where near the max resolution the scanner is cabable of, but it will give
you an idea.

The images I used were medium format transparencies taken with the new 3D
World TL120II camera and recorded on the new Fuji ProviaX 400 film.
Images were mounted in the 3D World plastic mounts.

So take a look and let me know what you think. I will be adding more test
and images as I find time.

http://www.dddphotography.com/scanner.htm

Thanks,

David W. Kesner

Dave,

That's an easy and effective way of shimming. What worked best for
you? My trays work best when the shims are on "+", the highest amount
of shimming. As two reviews I read mentioned "+" being better for them,
the manufacturing tolerances may be better than you would think. So your
stated conclusions would probably be what would work for other V700/750
users. It would be great to have auto focus though. I know on my RBT
101 projector for 35mm, it often changes focus between slides all
mounted in RBT mounts. I have to think there would be more sagging in
MF slides.

I know others have scanned 3D objects and gotten nice results. The
Epson V700/750 seems to have a very narrow sweet spot of focus. I don't
know if that is a difference with these scanners or that the 3D scanned
objects were never in great focus to begin with.

Dale Yingst

The 4990 scan quality is very close (or the same) as the V700... here
some scan comparisons

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/scan-comparison/

> Several people have asked questions about the best scanner for scanning
> stereo slide images. While there is no such thing a a single best scanner
> it is my feeling that the Epson V700 or V750 just might be as good as an
> all around scanner can get.
>
> I say all around because, with its 8x10 scanning area, it can scan all
> forms of stereo film from 4p Nimslo images to 8p full frame to 6x6 medium
> format to full ViewMaster reels to 6x13 glass plates.
>
> This is a flatbed scanner with a built-in transparency lid. None of the
> film trays that come with the scanner will hold any of the stereo mounts,
> but the raw film trays will hold uncut and unmouted film. There are
> aftermarket manufacturers of trays that could work or you could modify
> one of Espon's trays or you could simply place the mounted slide on the
> glass or the flatbed.
>
> However, each scanner has an optimum focus distance that can vary from
> unit to unit based on manufacturing tolerances. Epson themselves
> acknowledge this and offer adjustable feet for their trays to accommodate
> this focus variable.
>
> But what do you do if you don't have or can't use these trays? The simple
> answer is to make shims to fit under your mount to raise it off the
> glass. Now, how thick do these shims need to be? Well you will just have
> to experiment to see what your scanner needs.
>
> I have done a simple test and made a website to show the results. It will
> also let peopel see the quality of this. The images on this site are no
> where near the max resolution the scanner is cabable of, but it will give
> you an idea.
>
> The images I used were medium format transparencies taken with the new 3D
> World TL120II camera and recorded on the new Fuji ProviaX 400 film.
> Images were mounted in the 3D World plastic mounts.
>
> So take a look and let me know what you think. I will be adding more test
> and images as I find time.
>
> http://www.dddphotography.com/scanner.htm
>
> Thanks,
>
> David W. Kesner
>
>
>
>

Dale Yingst writes:

> That's an easy and effective way of shimming. What worked best for you?

I think what would be the best thing to do is to shoot a DOF wedge scale
and get an exact number in millimeters and then do your scans around that
number to see how they match.

Of course I don't have one of those fancy dof wedges so I might make one
myself.

Thanks,

David W. Kesner

Bob Venezia writes:

> Another article distinguished between the HiRes (4800dpi) and the
> SuperRes (6400dpi). I would have assumed that the HiRes lens for
> reflective art is meant to be focused on the surface of the glass,
> while the SuperRes lens is meant to be focused on the surface of the glass
> plus the width of the film holder, give or take a wedge.

I would assume the opposite. You would need the SuperRes lens for film
scanning as the image area is smaller - think of it as the difference
between making a contact print (HiRes reflective) or making an
enlargement (SuperRes transmissive).

> Have you tried comparing scans from the HiRes and the SuperRes? Can you
> tell if they focus differently?

There is no way to know which lens is being used unless it is the choice
between reflective and transmissive scans. In that cas ethere is no way
to scan a transparencey each way.

There is nothing in the user's guide about what triggers which lens is
used. It might just be a matter of what the scan rersolution is set to.
The scans on my site were done at 2400 dpi so I would assume it was using
the 4800 dpi lens. If I was to scan a medium format image at 6400 dpi I
think my computer would blow up with the file size produced *{;-)

I will do some more test when I get time and see what I find.

Thanks,

David W. Kesner

At 04:50 AM 5/31/2007, David W. Kesner wrote:

>I would assume the opposite. You would need the SuperRes lens for film
>scanning as the image area is smaller - think of it as the difference
>between making a contact print (HiRes reflective) or making an
>enlargement (SuperRes transmissive).

Both lenses can be used in transmissive mode. Epson makes no claim
that one mode should be used for any particular use, its just a
higher resolution scan.

..dan


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danny Vint

Specializing in Panoramic Images of California and the West
http://www.dvint.com

voice: 510-522-4703

When H.H. Bennett was asked why he preferred to be out
shooting landscapes rather than spending time in his portrait studio:

"It is easier to pose nature and less trouble to please."

http://www.portalwisconsin.org/bennett_feature.cfm