Is there a glass negative carrier compatible with my ancient Epson 3170?

RLangham · Feb 26, 2020

So for my small and medium format shooting, I've been using a quite old Epson Perfection 3170 Photo. The OEM software for it only runs on Windows XP (not a problem as I was able to dedicate an old laptop to it), and it gives acceptable quality scans at moderately high resolutions. The only problem I run into is that the 35mm negative carriers are trash. They really are. They leave a lot of curve in the negatives, and there are ugly artifacts at each end of each strip, where the end is trying to curl up. Moreover, I find it difficult to get the negatives aligned properly without harmful "manhandling." (They want to slide in at a slant.)

In short, they're worse than the negative carriers that came with a "slide converter" that someone gave me for Christmas.

Does anyone know of a glass carrier that works with this particular type of scanner? Is that even a thing for this type of scanner? I'm new to scanners--until last year I just had a lab scan my negs.

shutterfinger · Feb 27, 2020

Check out http://betterscanning.com/

radiant · Feb 27, 2020

Everyone should try scanning straight on glass too (the trick is to face the emulsion on glass). Works fine on Epson V600 at least..

jtk · Feb 27, 2020

I have been happy-ish with similarly ancient Epson 3200 and various Better Scanning holders, especially 6x7... But definitely not 35mm...that's why I bought a Nikon Coolscan V.

RLangham · Feb 27, 2020

vedostuu said:
Everyone should try scanning straight on glass too (the trick is to face the emulsion on glass). Works fine on Epson V600 at least..

I thought it would fail to focus correctly--I thought for scanning transparencies, this model of scanner automatically set the point of focus to a little above the glass (i.e., at the precise point at which the compatible film holders would be holding the film. To my knowledge there is nothing in the OEM software for the 3170 that would allow me to adjust this focus.

At any rate, when I first got the scanner, I tried doing a partial scan of a B/W 4x5" direct on the glass (partial because the lightbar is considerably less than 3.93 inches wide). It returned absolutely nothing but noise. I was careful to put it emulsion down...

RLangham · Feb 27, 2020

shutterfinger said:
Check out http://betterscanning.com/

I see that the only products for Epson 3170 are MF, though...

shutterfinger · Feb 27, 2020

you missed the an glass insert for any epson 35mm holder at the bottom of the home page.

RLangham said:
when I first got the scanner, I tried doing a partial scan of a B/W 4x5" direct on the glass (partial because the lightbar is considerably less than 3.93 inches wide). It returned absolutely nothing but noise

did you have the calibration area blocked or dust in it? try it again.

RLangham · Feb 27, 2020

shutterfinger said:
you missed the an glass insert for any epson 35mm holder at the bottom of the home page.

did you have the calibration area blocked or dust in it? try it again.

I suppose I did have the calibration area blocked. I'll try again when I can find some thin glass to put overtop of it. My last piece shattered. But no, I also saw the glass piece that site had for sale. It was fairly specific about the carriers it could be sized to fit, and the 3170 wasn't on the list.

shutterfinger · Feb 27, 2020

Try http://fpointinc.com/epson.htm

RLangham · Feb 27, 2020

shutterfinger said:
Try http://fpointinc.com/epson.htm

Ah, I saw this just as you posted it. Thanks for the link! However, the website you link is up, but the "store" to actually get a price and possibly buy it redirects me to a "moved document page" that redirects to itself.

Deleted member 88956 · Feb 27, 2020

I really think that instead of pushing the envelope with 3170 which I see no destination reached, replace it with at least V550 / 600, which you can get for around $100 used (or even not so much) and go from there. A Minolta Scan Dual III or IV would give you superior 35 mm results and these two can be had well under $200 with some patience or luck.

Deleted member 88956 · Feb 27, 2020

Also keep in mind that the so called AN glass is just an anti reflective type used for art framing, but there are cheap and bad or really good for more. But even best quality will not cost what some of these special poeple are asking. Most framing shops should be able to cut a piece for your crappy 35 holder to drop right in

RLangham · Feb 27, 2020

Witold said:
I really think that instead of pushing the envelope with 3170 which I see no destination reached, replace it with at least V550 / 600, which you can get for around $100 used (or even not so much) and go from there. A Minolta Scan Dual III or IV would give you superior 35 mm results and these two can be had well under $200 with some patience or luck.

Also keep in mind that the so called AN glass is just an anti reflective type used for art framing, but there are cheap and bad or really good for more. But even best quality will not cost what some of these special poeple are asking. Most framing shops should be able to cut a piece for your crappy 35 holder to drop right in.

I mean, eventually, I'll buy a better scanner, when I'm getting paid a little better and I've saved up for it, but I was just wondering if there was a way to scrape a little more out of the 3170 for less than a whole better scanner... I like the 3170 both because it's really not that bad in terms of IQ and because it's so cheap to replace if the moving parts fail-- sometimes without carriers you can get a working scanner for $40, as I recently did when my first one broke.

EDIT: I meant to reply to both posts, sorry. Yeah, I'll look into that. Thanks!

juan · Feb 28, 2020

Go to a glass or framing place and get two sheets of anti-glare picture frame glass cut to size to fit within the glass area of your scanner. Look carefully and you can see the anti glare side. Sandwich the negative between the sheets of glass with the anti-glare sides facing the negative. I’ve done it this way for 15-years.

Is there a glass negative carrier compatible with my ancient Epson 3170?

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

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