My dear MF3D fellows!

I think that this point was already discussed before here, but maybe you have some
informations for me concerning the following:

I´m searching for a scanner that works on 35mm slides as well as on MF slides and I want to
work on negatives also! And, of course, it should give me fantastic results on the scanned
pictures!
I saw an EPSON 3170 PHOTO scanner, that has all the tools I need. But I can`t judge the
results, because I have nothing to compare with!
Maybe you have some informations what`s your favorite scanner.

Thanks a lot and best regards

Chris

On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 4:08 PM, chrisjachner <chrisjachner@web.de> wrote:

> I saw an EPSON 3170 PHOTO scanner, that has all the tools I need. But I can`t judge the
> results, because I have nothing to compare with!

That is a closeout scanner and is no longer available from Epson. For
about the same price ($179.00 after rebates) you can get the V500 with
much better features (like an LED light source). However the DMax is
only 3.4.

> Maybe you have some informations what`s your favorite scanner.

I really like my Epson V700 Photo which I have had for some time now.
It has a DMax of 4.0 which allows you to capture a much wider range. I
have scanned everything from 35mm slides to mounted Realist Format
slides to mounted MF stereo slides (both cardboard and 3D World
plastic mounts), as well as unmounted film. Of course it is $499.00,
but you do get what you pay for *{;-)

David W. Kesner
Boise, Idaho, USA

chris jachner wrote:

>I´m searching for a scanner that works on 35mm slides as

well as on MF slides and I want to

>work on negatives also! And, of course, it should give me

fantastic results on the scanned

>pictures!
>I saw an EPSON 3170 PHOTO scanner, that has all the tools I

need. But I can`t judge the

>results, because I have nothing to compare with!
>Maybe you have some informations what`s your favorite

scanner.

I have been using a EPSON 4870 PHOTO for the last 3 years or
so. I scan at it's maximum of 4800 PPI and that seems to
get all the resolution there is on the film and much more
than I can get printed on a Holmes View. I compare to the
original slides under magnification.

I am able to scan my mounted slides of any format and can
copy Holmes Views as well.

Since my 4870 is about 3 years old, it is likely that Epson
has something better now. Check their specs.

Chuck Holzner

Dear Chuck and David,

thanks a lot for your mails concerning your choice of scanner!

Your answers help me a lot. I started comparing different models of Epson Scanners and
learn a lot by doing that! This all will help me to make my choice!

Best regards to you and all the other poeple out there taking 3D pictures!

Chris

One thing I did not see in the previous messages is mention of digital ICE dust removal.  My old Epson 4870 has it and I would not live without it.  My scans nearly always come out perfectly clean.  It is slow - figure at least a half hour for a high resolution scan of a stereo pair - so you'll want  to have something else to do while the computer chugs away.  Anyway, my scanner does capture both 35mm and MF slides right down to the film grain.  My only complaint is that it misses detail in the deepest blacks of contrasty slides.  Some day I'll need to see if I can bring out the blacks by combining multiple scans in Photoshop.

Oleg

Chris wrote:

>
> I think that this point was already discussed before here, but maybe
> you have some informations for me concerning the following:
>
> I?m searching for a scanner that works on 35mm slides as well as on
> MF slides and I want to work on negatives also! And, of course, it
> should give me fantastic results on the scanned pictures! I saw an
> EPSON 3170 PHOTO scanner, that has all the tools I need. But I can`t
> judge the results, because I have nothing to compare with! Maybe
> you have some informations what`s your favorite scanner.

I have an Epson 2450. It's OK, but I only use it for web stuff. I
don't like the Epson software, and the SilverFast SE software isn't
much better, but VueScan <http://hamrick.com/> works fine.

You don't mention budget.

If you can afford it, I'd recommend a film scanner like the Nikon
Coolscan 8000 (discontinued) or 9000 or the Microtek ArtixScan 120tf.

On a lower budget, or wanting to scan larger formats, I've been told
that the Microtek ArtixScan M1 (or the Pro for an additional film
holder and upgraded software) is the current scanner to get. The 4x5
and 120 holders keep the film under tension, and 35mm, 120, and 4x5
scanning is glassless (no glass between the sensor and the film). For
larger than 4x5 film the film is supported by a glass tray, but the
scanning happens above the glass, and the film can be optionally wet
mounted to the glass. In addition the M1 costs less than the V700,
and the M1 Pro is less than the V750.

If you do get an Epson, Better Scanning
<http://www.betterscanning.com/> makes replacement film holders that
hold the film flat, and let you fine tune focus by adjusting the film
holder height.

--
Brian Reynolds | "It's just like flying a spaceship.
reynolds@panix.com | You push some buttons and see
http://www.panix.com/~reynolds/ | what happens." -- Zapp Brannigan
NAR# 54438 |

Oleg writes:

> My only complaint is that it misses detail in the deepest blacks of
> contrasty slides.  Some day I'll need to see if I can bring out the
> blacks by combining multiple scans in Photoshop.

That is because the 4870 only has a Dmax of 3.4. The Epson V700 that I
have has a Dmax of 4.0, allowing capture of a wider range.

PS - it also comes with Digital ICE.

Thanks,

David W. Kesner
Boise, Idaho, USA