8x10 Negatives on a Epson V850

I'm going to be photographing B&W on 8x10 sheet film. I'm looking for a way to scan these. I know I can have these drum scanned, but to get started I was looking at the Epson V850. I read about making the holder out of aluminum or a rubber mat to keep the newton rings from happening. My question is, has anyone tried scanning an 8x10 neg at 2000dpi or 2400dpi? I have heard that the scanner can't scan the complete image area at this resolution. I emailed Epson and they said that the "bundled software" (Silverfast) may be able to handle this. I was hoping someone could shed some light on this. Thanks!

Hey there

Pretty sure it can be done. I think Ben Horne has a youtube video about where he scanned 8x10 negs on an epson flatbed. I can't remember details exactly but it would be very close to the full image. Sorry I can't be more specific.

I scan 4x5 on a V750 at 2400 ppi with no issues using Epsonscan. I use a sheet of anti-newton ring glass with the dull side down spaced over the platen at the optimum height using rubber feet. I tape the negative to the underside, emulsion side against the glass; i.e. up, and put a cardboard 4x5 window mask over the whole thing to reduce glare at the edges of the scan. It works well enough.

In the worst case, even if the scanner can't handle an entire 8x10 neg at that resolution, you could scan it in sections and stitch them in photoshop.

I scan 4x5 on a V750 at 2400 ppi with no issues using Epsonscan. I use a sheet of anti-newton ring glass with the dull side down spaced over the platen at the optimum height using rubber feet. I tape the negative to the underside, emulsion side against the glass; i.e. up, and put a cardboard 4x5 window mask over the whole thing to reduce glare at the edges of the scan. It works well enough.

In the worst case, even if the scanner can't handle an entire 8x10 neg at that resolution, you could scan it in sections and stitch them in photoshop.

hsandler said:

I scan 4x5 on a V750 at 2400 ppi with no issues using Epsonscan. I use a sheet of anti-newton ring glass with the dull side down spaced over the platen at the optimum height using rubber feet. I tape the negative to the underside, emulsion side against the glass; i.e. up, and put a cardboard 4x5 window mask over the whole thing to reduce glare at the edges of the scan. It works well enough.

In the worst case, even if the scanner can't handle an entire 8x10 neg at that resolution, you could scan it in sections and stitch them in photoshop.

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I think 8x10 with my approach might be problematic though, because such a large negative is likely to sag in the middle towards the platen. You might need something that stretches the negative to keep it flat. Perhaps a sheet of plain glass with the negative emulsion side down on it. Hopefully, no Newton rings with emulsion to glass.

In any case, you won't get 2400 ppi real resolution unless the negative is suspended above the platen. The optimal height varies with each particular scanner, but is generally between 0.5 - 1.5mm above the platen.

I believe that for the V7xx and V8xx, when the 8x10 transparency mode is selected, the scanner expects the original to be flat on the glass. That is why there is just an 8x10 "area guide", and not an elevated film holder like there is for all the other formats.

Go to a glass place and get two sheets of anti-glare picture frame glass. Get them sized to fit within the glass area of the scanner. Put one sheet down on the scanner glass with the anti-glare side up. Add the negative, then put the second on top with the anti-glare side down. In other words, put the anit-glare sides against the negative to eliminate Newton rings. Put the Epson negative mask down first. The bottom sheet of glass raises the negative so that it's in focus.

I've been doing it this way for a dozen years.

juan said:

Go to a glass place and get two sheets of anti-glare picture frame glass. Get them sized to fit within the glass area of the scanner. Put one sheet down on the scanner glass with the anti-glare side up. Add the negative, then put the second on top with the anti-glare side down. In other words, put the anit-glare sides against the negative to eliminate Newton rings. Put the Epson negative mask down first. The bottom sheet of glass raises the negative so that it's in focus.

I've been doing it this way for a dozen years.

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Doesn't putting anti glare glass under the neg blur the fine detail?

gmikol said:

I believe that for the V7xx and V8xx, when the 8x10 transparency mode is selected, the scanner expects the original to be flat on the glass. That is why there is just an 8x10 "area guide", and not an elevated film holder like there is for all the other formats.

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That's correct, but the Epsons use a lower resolution lens for area guide scans on the platen. If the OP wants 2400 ppi real resolution, it may not be possible with the area guide. See Sandy King's comment here: http://www.largeformatphotography.i...son-V700-V750-Dual-Lens-System-Please-Explain

Yes, but my understanding is that when the "super high resolution" optics (as described in the linked post) are selected, it doesn't cover the full area of an 8x10 negative. Hence the need to use the "high resolution" optics, and place the negative directly on the platen.

hsandler said:

Doesn't putting anti glare glass under the neg blur the fine detail?

Click to expand...

No

I scan my 8x10 negs all the time using the Epson V850. What I have done is I have taken a undeveloped sheet of Trix320 and in the complete dark I have fixed it for 5 minutes. I then dried it and I use this as a spacer under my exposed negs. Basically I put the clear spacer directly on top of the scanner glass, I then place the neg on top of this (shinny side down) close the lid and I use Epson scan software at a max of 1200 dpi but mainly at 600 dpi...........
I hope this helps

Neil

Before diving into drum scanning I have made dozens of scans from 8x10 negatives on the 750 by wet mounting directly to the glass, within the film area. It isn't so easy and needs to cut down the mylar to fit, tape down all the edges, etc. The BIGGEST problem with this scanner is the inability to focus directly on the film plane. John' suggestion of using extra anti newton glass sandwiches on top of the platter just means you are even further away from the factor focus point for the 8x10 film area. If you are dead set on making flatbed scans, a better option would be to use the epson 10000 xl (or whatever the current version is) and wet mount directly to the glass. You can then focus directly on the film plane and not have to worry about trying to deal with the stupid inset on the 750/850.