Short rant about getting a flatbed scanner

tehabe · Oct 7, 2023

I recently ordered a Epson Perfection V600 and it arrived today. I ordered it because I used to own one and sold it when I got the Plustek OpticFilm 8200i. Now I think it was a mistake to sell it because sometimes I want the option to use another scanner not because the one I use is bad but because I need variation in my process for reasons. I also know about the limitation of the V600.

Anyway, I received the scanner today and set it up, connected it to my computer and: nothing. Well, the orange error light was blinking and when I looked at the glass I noticed a little black thing but because I couldn't remove it, I guess it is on the inside of the glas. Well, I guess this scanner will be returned.

The question is now, do I return it to get a refund or do I get a replacement device. The question is, is the V850 worth three times the price of the V600. The question is should I get something like a Sony α6x00 with a macro lense and and and and and.

My personal experience is, yeah I like the Plustek, works really well but a flatbed scanner has its perks also, scanning two slices of a film was neat with the V600. Yeah, it wasn't the sharpest or the best quality but what I do with those images, they end up on some website or on the smartphone displays of friends and families.

jeffreyg · Oct 7, 2023

I have an 850 with SilverFast Studio Ai8 and have no issues with 120 and 4x5 or occasional 35. I can print up to 16x20 and had a few up to 5ft I’m sure other systems might be sharper but my results have been very sharp and have been well received in exhibition

tehabe · Oct 7, 2023

I'm currently very much considering that I will get the V850 instead of a another V600. I like the idea of scanning with a camera but I don't think that is realistic at the moment, too many moving parts.

BMbikerider · Oct 7, 2023

I would return it to wherever it came from and point out the problem. One thing you could try is have you reset the small movable plastic switch on the top end of the scanner? This is usually set so that everything is locked in place during transit

tehabe · Oct 7, 2023

Epson did that right I think, the lock switch blocks the USB port when locked. So if you can insert the USB cable, the scanner is unlocked. I don't know why the scanner didn't move. But the lit was also stuck when I tried to open the scanner for the first time. The scanner doesn't work and the glas plate is damaged or at least not cleanable by me.

Sirius Glass · Oct 7, 2023

I had the V600 and now I have the V850 scanner. Both work well. Getting the shipping locks released properly and in order can be a problem. Beyond that return the unit and get another. I suggest to save money that you contact Epson and buy a reconditioned scanner. The warranty will be shorter, but the unit will be thoroughly tested before leaving the factory. With the V850 I gave up on using the WiFi and I only use the USB cable and that took care of all the special problems that the WiFi caused.

tehabe · Oct 7, 2023

I can't find anything about WiFi support in the V850, do you have a source for that?

Sirius Glass · Oct 7, 2023

tehabe said:
I can't find anything about WiFi support in the V850, do you have a source for that?

It comes with the system and it is automatically set to be set up and used. It goes to sleep and cannot be woken up. It hangs up the system and cannot be interrupted or reset. I have spent hours many times on the telephone getting it straightened out when it hangs up. Now I have gotten it to only work on the USB cable and never look elsewhere. I have used Epson printers since 1984 but I will never buy one again. I will buy HP printers instead.

tehabe · Oct 7, 2023

Hmm, in the specs to the Epson Perfection V850 Pro it only says USB. This is just a scanner, not a printer.

PhilBurton · Oct 7, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Now I have gotten it to only work on the USB cable and never look elsewhere.

What config settings?

Sirius Glass said:
I have used Epson printers since 1984 but I will never buy one again. I will buy HP printers instead.

Off topic, but not. I replaced a Canon AIO with the HP 9010. Way, way better scanning software. Scans duplex.

Pioneer · Oct 7, 2023

I use an old Epson V500 and a Plustek 7600 and neither one seem to be ready to die yet. Once the V500 dies I'll pick up a reconditioned v850 but I see no reason to do it right now. Epson makes a tough scanner I only hope the V850 is as long lived.

Alan Edward Klein · Oct 8, 2023

I upgraded to a V850 from a V600 when I started shooting 4x5. If you only scan 120 and 35mm, I'd stay with the V600. The marginal improvements in resolution and dMax with the V850 aren't worth the cost. For comparison, you can see scans from both machines in all formats on my FLickr site.

Pioneer · Oct 8, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
I upgraded to a V850 from a V600 when I started shooting 4x5. If you only scan 120 and 35mm, I'd stay with the V600. The marginal improvements in resolution and dMax with the V850 aren't worth the cost. For comparison, you can see scans from both machines in all formats on my FLickr site.

I can scan up to 8x10 but I scan anything large format from a print, not a negative. All that is necessary is to make a contact print. My V500 does a good job of scanning those but its nothing special and I think that just about any scanner can scan a contact print.

Bushcat · Oct 9, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
I will buy HP printers instead.

I look forward to your posts when you discover their peccadillos, including the subscription model.

KenS · Oct 22, 2023

After being 'downsized from Agriculture Canada's nearby Research Centre decided I was NOT going to 'give up making photographs, and my PhD-type daughter challenged to sign up for my BFA degree at the nearby university..and because of my age it was free of cost. I soon found out I knew 'more' about making 'good' photographs than most of the faculty..

A year or so later I was 'invitrd to 'sign up tp "do my MFA at a "private College of Photogrphy in Calgary (ACAD)at around $15 to 17k per semester. They were somewhat shocked when I declined, BUT they kept on calling me and it got to the point of anger and told the caller that of called me again I would be taking legal action in a local court for "harassment"

I have heard no more since that "promise' was 'delivered (see me smile )

Ken

PhilBurton · Oct 23, 2023

Bushcat said:
I look forward to your posts when you discover their peccadillos, including the subscription model.

For my HP 9015 AIO, the ink subscription is optional. Compared to the Canon AIO I replaced, the HP model has way better software for scanning (documents).

Short rant about getting a flatbed scanner

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency