Epson Perfection Makes My Day

[Andy Sjostrom]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=27766185' target='_blank'>http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/...es&oid=27766185</a><br /><br /></div>I realize that this is quite an off-topic post, hence the category! However, I just have to express my joy and satisfaction from a product I have worked with the last few weeks. It seems as if Pocket PC enthusiasts share a number of interests other than Pocket PCs; digital media and photography being two of them. I am no different, it seems! I recently started working with <a href="http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=27766185">Epson's flatbed scanner Perfection 3200 Photo</a>. My wife is a professional photographer and film is still not yet totally outperformed by digital products in portrait photography. We have scanned film in all kinds of formats with this scanner, and it totally rocks. Recently, the scanner won TIPA's (Technical Image Press Assocation) annual award for Best Flatbed Scanner 2003-2004 and I have total understanding of their judgement.<br /><br />For detailed information, you can <a href="http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Scanners/Epson_3200/page_1.htm">read photo-i's review here</a> and <a href="http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20030822/index.html">Tom's Hardware's review here</a>! From photo-i: "The Epson Perfection 3200 heralds a new era for scanning. It promises to satisfy the needs of photographers who have a collection of negatives and who also need a flatbed for day to day scanning. The 3200 scanner comes complete with a 4 x 9" Transparency Unit and film holders that accommodate film formats from 35mm to 5 x 4". Previously, on most scanners the transparency units were sold as an optional extra and could cost as much as the scanner. With an optical resolution of 3200 x 6400, the 3200 is perhaps one of Epson's most eagerly awaited items since the Epson Stylus 2100 printer."<br /><br />It just happens to be so that we also have the Epson Stylus 2100 printer. A real beast, hard to tame but simply awesome once it is up and running!<br /><br />Some Epson Perfection 3200 Photo highlights:<br />• 3200 x 6400 dpi resolution<br />• 4" x 9" transparency unit adapter<br />• 48-bit scanning<br />• Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 (FireWire®)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/epson3200.jpg" />

[Philip Colmer]

I've got this scanner as well - it replaced an HP scanner that was getting too cumbersome when scanning negatives.

I love the way the Epson can find photos on the platter & automatically straighten them. I also love putting two strips of 35mm film in the holders, hitting preview and letting the software find all of the negatives! Fantastic compared with HP :-)

Where I have had problems, though, is with the Silverfast software. This is bundled with the scanner and, apart from anything else, is supposed to be really good at eliminating marks from negatives. Maybe I'm missing a trick or two - or maybe the bundled version is too cut down - but I haven't had much luck with eliminating scratches. It also annoys me that, compared with the Epson scanning software, I have to do one picture at a time :-(

But it is a great scanner! :-)

--Philip

[Bob Anderson]

While I can't speak to this particular model, I can say that one of it's precursors, the Epson Perfection Photo 2450 has been one of the best darn investments I've ever made. I've scanned in lots of pictures and it is a joy to use... and the quality is unbelievable... I use the firewire connection and can "share" the scanner between my desktop and laptop (which both have firewire ports)....

Epson really is the leader in the printer and scanner markets as far as I'm concerned.

[Andy Sjostrom]

Where I have had problems, though, is with the Silverfast software. This is bundled with the scanner and, apart from anything else, is supposed to be really good at eliminating marks from negatives. Maybe I'm missing a trick or two - or maybe the bundled version is too cut down - but I haven't had much luck with eliminating scratches. It also annoys me that, compared with the Epson scanning software, I have to do one picture at a time :-(


I had to study the manual a bit regarding the automatic dust removal. I did get it to work very well and I am sure you will too. 8)

Regarding the "one picture at a time", I agree with you. We also have a Minolta 35mm film scanner which scans six pictures in one go, which is really handy. I guess, as with Pocket PCs, there are always more to wish for! :D

[Andy Sjostrom]

While I can't speak to this particular model, I can say that one of it's precursors, the Epson Perfection Photo 2450 has been one of the best darn investments I've ever made.

I know...! If I am not mistaking, Epson Perfection Photo 2450 won the same award last year. I tried getting one, but they were out of stock everywhere!

[beq]

I've really been wanting to get a Perfection for a long time. BUT the only thing holding me back is that I need at least legal-size (8.5x14) scanbed. Additionally I also have regular uses so I would prefer an ADF attachment built-in. (Heck if it's affordably I would love tabloid-size scanbed and auto-duplex scanning! :D)

For these things it looks like I would be stuck with HP? Actually before I've been using Microtek scanners...

[apeguero]

Dittos on the 2450. Great Scanner. I actually use two PCs and can freely share it with the two due to the scanner having both Firewire and USB 2.0. I plug the firewire to my main PC and the USB 2.0 to my laptop. Works like a charm. I love it.

One thing I wish is for them to make the glass removable so I can dust it as dust can get under there :D Anybody ever get that glass removed without having to dissasemble the whole thing?

[tmulli]

Andy-

How do you like the Minolta scanner? I have been thinking of purchasing one.

[ricksfiona]

$500 dollars 8O

I have a $100 scanner and it works great. I understand you got the faster interface and probably better resolution. But is it REALLY worth $500?

For that money, I would expect a feeder. One picture at a time is a real drag let alone a time waster.

[maximus]

An 'ancient' camera + scanner ... I think it is time to avoid all the scanning pain, and move to digital SLR. I would argue that Sigma SD9's effective 10+ megapixels and Kodak's DCS 14n with 14 megapixels can produce better quality than the 35mm film.

Ah, those investment in lenses ...

[qgman]

An 'ancient' camera + scanner ... I think it is time to avoid all the scanning pain, and move to digital SLR. I would argue that Sigma SD9's effective 10+ megapixels and Kodak's DCS 14n with 14 megapixels can produce better quality than the 35mm film.

Actually, most tests conclude that any of the current crop of 6MP DSLRs produce better quality images (due in large part to the complete lack of grain) than 35mm film. The real contest is now digital versus medium format. Although Canon's 1Ds can in certain conditions come close, medium format (and for that matter large format) still rules in terms of resolution. See D60 vs. Medium Format (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/d60/d60.shtml) form more details.

[Stake]

I just purchased the Pro version of this model and I have to say it is just an amazing film/flatbed scanner without question. I needed a compromise in funtionality: need to scan reflective documents and images as well as film. This was the definate answer.

The Pro version is only different in software packages. It comes with a full version of SilverFast and Monaco EZColor 2 which enables profiling of all input and output devices for seamless color control which alone sells for $300 so the $500 or so for the Pro version was well worth it.

From the scans that I've made so far, I'm incredibly impressed for a dual purpose scanner since I've toyed with the possibility of just getting a separate film and flatbed devices. Yes, the resolution of digital SLRs are getting better than film but I'm an old-school photo guy who learned the hallowed ways of color and black & white printing. I still love the process.

The next thing to get is a printer. So any word of an successor to the Epson Stylus 2200?? :?:

[Certified Optimist]

Ok, any suggestions for brand/model for someone who only wants to scan 35mm negatives?