Epson V700 issue

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Hello all,

I have been using an Epson V700 for about three years now, and there is a really irritating issue with it.

Along one edge of the film, I get some sort of reflection from the negative carrier.

It is more pronounced with fabricated grain films, such as Kodak TMax 100/400, Ilford Delta 100/400, and Fuji Neopan Acros. With traditional grain films, like Kodak Tri-X and Ilford FP4+ I sometimes don't get the problem at all.

The attached files show one pinhole shot, which has the banding along the top of the frame, and the other from my Hasselblad / 50mm Distagon, in which it's along the right hand edge.
Both files have not really been edited, they are just raw scans, but I believe you can see the problem quite easily.

It is with 100% certainty not a film developing issue, because I can print the negatives in the darkroom without any problems at all. I can also lay the film flat on the scanner platen and it goes away. (I get Newton rings instead, but that's beside the point).

It has happened with Kodak Portra 400NC as well. The problem is mainly with 120 film and is less pronounced with 35mm.

Has anybody else had this problem?
If yes, have you been able to fix it?
If yes, how?

I'd be very grateful for help. I had great hopes for the V700 when I bought it, and for the life of me I can't comprehend why so many people like it. To me it's just one bad surprise after another... Disappointed.

Thanks,

- Thomas

 

[PVia]

Thomas, I have a 700 as well. It didn't do this to the best of my knowledge at first, but now it is appearing. I've been scanning some new 120 slide film (Velvia) and I'm getting a light band in the same place you are, plus sometimes about a 1/4 inch into the image. This happens when I place the film right on the glass...so that little trick does not work for me.

I'm very upset by this...I googled around and it is well documented at this point. I don't think there's a way around it with the type of images you shoot; large expanses of even tone.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Thanks for your reply, and confirming that I'm not crazy.

The strange thing is that the Epson V700 is pretty well received in the marketplace, and it is, by no stretch of the imagination, an inexpensive scanner. To pay 600 bucks for something that performs this poorly is regretful. I feel stiffed at best.

I wonder if the 'Better Scanning' neg holders will resolve it. I should write the proprietor of that business and ask.

 

[PVia]

I read that it has happened with those holders as well...can't find the link but remember reading it these past few days. Don't take my word as last though...I'd ask around some more or Doug Fisher, the manufacturer.

 

[PVia]

Thomas, I just scanned another strip of 4 negs, 120 Velvia, emulsion side down to glass at 45 degrees or so to the rectangle of the scanner glass...and I am getting a line that corresponds to the vertical/parallel of the platen, hinting that the problem could lie in an internal reflection inside the scanner.

I'll try to run a few more trials...

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I think I'm going to try getting a dedicated film scanner at some point, and save the V700 for scanning prints. Too much headache. Or maybe it's a sign I need to get back into doing contact sheets, and print everything in the darkroom (which I enjoy infinitely more). However, I was hoping to start making digital negatives, and I'm not sure that scanning silver prints is the best original to start with...

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Thomas, I just scanned another strip of 4 negs, 120 Velvia, emulsion side down to glass at 45 degrees or so to the rectangle of the scanner glass...and I am getting a line that corresponds to the vertical/parallel of the platen, hinting that the problem could lie in an internal reflection inside the scanner.

I'll try to run a few more trials...

That's interesting, Paul. Even if we can find the reason for the problem, it may be difficult to do anything about it. Or do you have ideas?

 

[PVia]

Thomas, I make digi negs from prints occasionally...works great.

 

[pellicle]

The strange thing is that the Epson V700 is pretty well received in the marketplace, and it is, by no stretch of the imagination, an inexpensive scanner. To pay 600 bucks for something that performs this poorly is regretful. I feel stiffed at best.

I have seen that on some of my holders too ... I assumed it was reflection into the frame from the light, so I just took some fine grit sandpaper (like 800) to the edges of the holder to dull it down a little. Seems to have worked for me

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Thanks, that's a very interesting piece of advice. I'll definitely try that. Thank you!