Medium format scanner

pierre · Dec 26, 2003

Let's face it, as much as we love film and the darkroom, it's sometimes necessary to scan slides or negatives, or prints. You can't show anything on the Internet without doing this. MF film scanners are impossibly out of my reach, but from what I can tell, an Epson 3170 flatbed might be a good choice, pricewise, for scanning both film and darkroom prints. Anyone have practical experience with it?

I don't care about whether I can then make prints from the scans, as I don't intend to use it for that.

While I had a Canoscan 8000F before I sold it in favour of getting a Minolta Scan Dual III film scanner a while back, I thought that flatbed did a pretty decent job, even with 35mm film.

Aggie · Dec 26, 2003

pierre · Dec 26, 2003

Thanks Aggie. I will have a look at your photos. My understanding is that the 3170 is virtually the same scanner as the 3200 in terms of the actual scanning. Huge difference in price here in Canada though. The 3200 is over $600 Cdn.

Thomassauerwein · Dec 26, 2003

Don't get the Epson 2450 it really sucks for negs. Works fine for prints but can't seem to handle the range of information inside a neg.

Jorge Oliveira · Dec 26, 2003

As a general rule, the bigger the negative the lesser critical the scanner is.
For 8x10, even a cheap 600 dpi scanner is ample enough for Internet posting.

For MF (6x6, 6x7), I would go for a 1200 dpi.

Jorge O

bmac · Dec 26, 2003

I've had good luck with Mictotek scanners.

Silverpixels5 · Dec 26, 2003

Aggie:

How do you scan the 8x10 negs on the 3200? I was interested in getting one but it looks as if the transparency hood only illuminates up to 5 inches wide. I've only seen pictures of it on the net though, not in person. Thanks for any info you can offer.

Les McLean · Dec 26, 2003

I've had the 3200 for a few months and I'm happy with my scans. All the images I've posted in the gallery in the past two weeks have been scanned on it.

With regard to scanning 8 x 10 negatives, ypu would scan on reflective setting with the hood cover in place, the scan would be in negative which is easily converted in Photoshop.

Thomassauerwein · Dec 26, 2003

Les, Have you ever tried with the 2450? Also scanning in Neg mode then converting in photshop?

Jeremy · Dec 26, 2003

have you looked at www.publishingperfection.com

they have refurbished Minolta Multi-scan medium format neg/slide scanners for $299 or $399 (depends whether you want ROC/GEM or not).

It's where I purchased my minolta scan elite and it still works great.

Les McLean · Dec 27, 2003

Thomassauerwein said:
Les, Have you ever tried with the 2450? Also scanning in Neg mode then converting in photshop?

Thomas,

I've not used the 2450 and know little about it but I will ask around the industry in the UK to see what I can find out. The strength of the 3200 IMO lies in the quality of the software. It gives the ability to manipulate the raw scan and vary the end result and it is so simple to use. I've used a number of real top end scanners costing up to £17,000 (sterling) in promotions and photo shows in the UK and the software offers little extra.

ian_greant · Dec 27, 2003

Thomassauerwein said:
Don't get the Epson 2450 it really sucks for negs. Works fine for prints but can't seem to handle the range of information inside a neg.

Not to be disagreeable as I haven't used the 2450. I have the 3200 and from what I remember of the specs it only seems to be a slight improvement over the 2450. When I first got it I was more than a little disappointed with the results I got until I started scanning in grey scale in 16 bit and color in 48 bit.

Not all scanning software supports scanning in higher bit modes.

Cheers,
Ian

roy · Dec 27, 2003

On another list I visit I have seen references to an Epson 4870 flatbed scanner due out early next year, details of which are on the web, I believe. This is supposed to be highly specified.

pierre · Dec 27, 2003

I've been looking at Epson 3200 Pro, Epson 3200, and Epson 3170. I've closely studied the specs, and I still can't tell what the difference is, since the 3170 is substantially cheaper than the 3200.

ian_greant · Dec 28, 2003

pierre said:
I've been looking at Epson 3200 Pro, Epson 3200, and Epson 3170. I've closely studied the specs, and I still can't tell what the difference is, since the 3170 is substantially cheaper than the 3200.

3170 to 3200

3200 has a 4 inch wide transparency scanning strip compared to the 3170's 2.25 inch. (approximate sizes)

Also the 3170 does not support firewire.

3200 to 3200 pro is simply software differences.

Cheers,
Ian

Joel Rainville · Jan 12, 2004

Pierre,

I have received my 3170 this morning, and I am still shaking my head in disbelief. My 6x7 slides, color and b&w negs are sharp, very sharp.

Here's an example (Ilford Delta 400 in Ilfosol S) :

Dead Link Removed

and a 100% crop at only 600 dpi with absolutely no sharpening or anything, straight out of the scanner :

Dead Link Removed

When I ordered it, all I had in mind was to scan the few MF negs I have and return it. After spending the whole day with it (I even forgot to eat) I am keeping it, and seriously considering selling some of my 35mm equipment to afford a 6x7 camera (the MF negs I have now were shot a few months ago with a rented Mamiya 7 II w/80mm.)

Can the 3200 be any better?... Maybe, I don't know. I do know that I like what the 3170 gives me, at half the price of the 3200 (I am Canadian too).

Hope this helps.

Robert Kennedy · Jan 12, 2004

For me the thing about the 3200 was the firewire capability. I can scan VERY quickly now. Combine that with a hyperthreading chip, and I can play Red Orchestra while scanning....

pierre · Jan 12, 2004

Thanks for posting that Joel. That's a terrific photo, and the scan sure meets whatever standards I would have. That pretty much settles it in favour of the 3170 as far as I'm concerned - as soon as I have $300 bucks Cdn, that is.

As for firewire, nice to have i guess, but I'm already falling a little behind in terms of computer equipment. My computer isn't old, but no firewire on that baby, and probably never will be.

Robert Kennedy · Jan 13, 2004

That is a rub. For me I just happened to have it on my audio card that I bought earlier. It does do USB too though. USB2 if I am not mistaken.

sanking · Jan 15, 2004

Epson has announced a new scanner to replace the 3200, the 4870. It scans with a resolution of 4800 dpi and handles film sizes up to about 6X8" or 6X9". According to Epson should be available around February 1, 2004, and street price is said to be slightly below $500 US, more for the 4870 PRO.

Sandy King

Robert Kennedy · Jan 15, 2004

%$#@!&^@$!!!!!

I JUST bought the 3200 6-7 months ago!

Awwww man......

See, THSI is why I avoid digicams....

photomc · Jan 15, 2004

This is also why there will never be anyone using a 10, 20, 50 or 100 year old digi cam..but there are some great 100 year old view cameras out there....

Thomassauerwein · Jan 15, 2004

I am going to Photo L.A. tomarrow Maybe they'll have one there. I have the 2250 which is useless for negs.

Johnny V · Jan 17, 2004

I purchased the Epson 3200 last month knowing the 4870 is around the corner. There is (was?) a $100 rebate that brought the final price down to $256.US

Saw sample scans from the new 4870 and was not impressed!

jrong · Jan 19, 2004

Am in the market for a medium format scanner to replace my ancient Epson 1640SU with tiny transparency adapter.... was considering the Epson 3200 but now the 4870 is out so I might look into that too. Any feedback on the upcoming 4870 would be appreciated!

Jin

Medium format scanner

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