Epson V700 vs V850

hoffy · Jan 23, 2022

Hi Folks,

I've been using a V700 for 10+ years now. It seems to still work fine (probably need to get underneath and clean the platen again), but I am wondering whether there are better flatbeds available.

So, is there any real benefit getting a V850? I am using better scanning holders with anti newton glass.

Cheers

alanrockwood · Jan 23, 2022

hoffy said:
Hi Folks,

I've been using a V700 for 10+ years now. It seems to still work fine (probably need to get underneath and clean the platen again), but I am wondering whether there are better flatbeds available.

So, is there any real benefit getting a V850? I am using better scanning holders with anti newton glass.

Cheers

Basically these two scanners are very similar. I think the main advantage of the V850 is that it warms up faster. Also, according to at least one review it has a very very small resolution advantage.

I have a V750, which as you know is very similar to a V700, and so far I have not been tempted to "upgrade" to a V850.

I don't think there are any flatbeds that are any better than this series, except for the Creo/Eversmart famly, which is in a different (expensive) category altogether.

hoffy · Jan 23, 2022

alanrockwood said:
Basically these two scanners are very similar. I think the main advantage of the V850 is that it warms up faster. Also, according to at least one review it has a very very small resolution advantage.

I have a V750, which as you know is very similar to a V700, and so far I have not been tempted to "upgrade" to a V850.

That is what I am kind of thinking - that the V850 is not really an upgrade, more of a replacement.

But I would like to think that in 10 years that there would have been some form of advancement in home scanning tech. I suppose that while there has been a resurgence in film photography, its not enough to warrant R&D in this particular segment.

Frank53 · Jan 23, 2022

My V700 suddenly died after, I don’t know, but at least 15 years, so I got the V850. Apart from led light, which makes starting up a lot faster and the film holders, I did not notice any difference. Maybe there are some minor construction differences inside.

hoffy · Jan 23, 2022

Frank53 said:
My V700 suddenly died after, I don’t know, but at least 15 years, so I got the V850. Apart from led light, which makes starting up a lot faster and the film holders, I did not notice any difference. Maybe there are some minor construction differences inside.

I appreciate the feedback.

I'll keep running the V700 until it dies

jeffreyg · Jan 23, 2022

I had to replace my previous scanner due to a lightening strike outside of our house and did so with the 850. I don't really see much difference with the scans and actually prefer the previous film holders. The ones for the 850 hold strips of 3 (120) frames where the old ones held strips of 4 so now when wanting to scan older negatives, I have to cut the film strip. I've tried to modify the old holders but have not gotten one to work. The alternative is to put the film on the glass. You are right "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://www.sculptureandphotography.com/

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 23, 2022

jeffreyg said:
I had to replace my previous scanner due to a lightening strike outside of our house and did so with the 850. I don't really see much difference with the scans and actually prefer the previous film holders. The ones for the 850 hold strips of 3 (120) frames where the old ones held strips of 4 so now when wanting to scan older negatives, I have to cut the film strip. I've tried to modify the old holders but have not gotten one to work. The alternative is to put the film on the glass. You are right "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://www.sculptureandphotography.com/

Jeffrey, If you put the film on the glass platen, a second more inferior lens is used with worse resolution.

jeffreyg · Jan 23, 2022

Alan
I wasn't recommending to put the film on the glass I was just saying it could be done. I just cut the film into strips of 2 or 3 frames. With 4x5 the 850 holders hold 1 frame but I only scan one of those at a time anyways

Sirius Glass · Jan 23, 2022

If I was the OP I would wait to upgrade until the present scanner dies or has a major unrepairable failure.

warden · Jan 23, 2022

hoffy said:
Hi Folks,

I've been using a V700 for 10+ years now. It seems to still work fine (probably need to get underneath and clean the platen again), but I am wondering whether there are better flatbeds available.

So, is there any real benefit getting a V850? I am using better scanning holders with anti newton glass.

Cheers

I'm in a similar position, with an aging V750 for MF and an ancient Nikon Coolscan IV for 35mm. Both work for now. My plan is to switch to scanning with a digital camera when one of my current scanners dies. There hasn't been meaningful improvement in scanners for many years when compared to digital cameras and lenses, which get better each year.

hoffy · Jan 23, 2022

warden said:
I'm in a similar position, with an aging V750 for MF and an ancient Nikon Coolscan IV for 35mm. Both work for now. My plan is to switch to scanning with a digital camera when one of my current scanners dies. There hasn't been meaningful improvement in scanners for many years when compared to digital cameras and lenses, which get better each year.

I tried the digital camera scanning technique (using a Sony A7II) While its excellent for 35mm, I thought that there wasn't enough resolution for 120 and 4x5 - for that to be meaningful, I would need to take multiple images of the neg and stitch them. So I went back to the flat bed and in the end.

Maybe it would be better if I had more resolution from the camera.

But I still think for larger formats, the flatbed is the way to go

warden · Jan 23, 2022

hoffy said:
I tried the digital camera scanning technique (using a Sony A7II) While its excellent for 35mm, I thought that there wasn't enough resolution for 120 and 4x5 - for that to be meaningful, I would need to take multiple images of the neg and stitch them. So I went back to the flat bed and in the end.

Maybe it would be better if I had more resolution from the camera.

But I still think for larger formats, the flatbed is the way to go

I certainly agree about 4 x 5, which is where I think the Epson flatbeds really start to shine.

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 24, 2022

I'm getting around 600mb for color and around 175mb for BW at 2400 bpi 4x5. Is that what you get on the v850?

jtk · Feb 2, 2022

The most honest/meaningful way to evaluate scanners is with INKJET PRINTS, the bigger the better (13X19 is my inkjet maximum but I print everything 11X17 for archival convenience). There is effectively no alternative.

If one isn't capable of good inkjet prints with current Epsons and Canons one is not capable of evaluating scanners.

Size of files is not relevant except in terms of storage space. .

If all one wants is the best transparency duplicates the answer is E6 duplication film, which is no longer available.

If one wants to preserve one's negatives the only way to practically do that is with prints, whether inkjet or gelatin silver (darkroom).

jtk · Feb 2, 2022

To make better flatbed scans one needs to learn about and actually do wet scanning. It's a little challenging but is rewarding. I don't do it because I don't shoot roll film or sheet film...I simply rely on a Nikon V scanner.

Philippe-Georges · Feb 4, 2022

jeffreyg said:
I had to replace my previous scanner due to a lightening strike outside of our house and did so with the 850. I don't really see much difference with the scans and actually prefer the previous film holders. The ones for the 850 hold strips of 3 (120) frames where the old ones held strips of 4 so now when wanting to scan older negatives, I have to cut the film strip. I've tried to modify the old holders but have not gotten one to work. The alternative is to put the film on the glass. You are right "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://www.sculptureandphotography.com/

Get the Epson Fluid Mount!
https://www.epson.be/nl_BE/producten/accessoires/standaard/epson-fluid-mount/p/1865

tokam · Feb 4, 2022

Another consideration with the Epson flatbeds is cleaning of the optical components - mirrors, lenses, sensor etc. I have cleaned the underneath of my V700 once after it got a bit hazy, (from outgassing of lubricants?)

If the underneath of the glass platen gets hazy then what about the remainder of the optical path. I haven't found any info on the interwebs regarding disassembly and cleaning of the other components of the scanner. I think it would take a brave person to attempt this. Probably only worth attempting if the scan quality was seriously degraded and the alternative was to replace the scanner. Could be all sorts of alignment / calibration issues during reassembly

hoffy · Feb 5, 2022

tokam said:
Another consideration with the Epson flatbeds is cleaning of the optical components - mirrors, lenses, sensor etc. I have cleaned the underneath of my V700 once after it got a bit hazy, (from outgassing of lubricants?

I've done this a couple times now. The interesting thing is that in the film plain, it made little difference.

Epson V700 vs V850

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