Epson Perfection V700 PHOTO scanner

[xpandebt@9%]

Before I start on-topic, I would just like to say "thanks" to this forum and it's members. I scoured online sources for research on the xpan and xpan II for months, and this forum was by far the most helpful. Most searches I made included a post or more from this website. And now, take note of my username. You are all to blame!

So, I went waaaaaay too far into debt, and now I'm thinking of adding a little more. My local photo places are woefully inadequate to scan xpan slide film. We tried the experimental flatbed (seriously bad), and then I heard from a CA-based XPan-Approved print shopt that the Frontier system the local shop uses won't work because they tried it (they said, "good luck with that..."), and they had a custom tray made for their other-brand machines, or some such thing. So I could either play the glacial-mail game, or I could simply buy a scanner and scan them myself (which will be cheaper in the long-run anyway, so long as quality is comparable).

I am thinking of buying the Epson Perfection V700 PHOTO scanner. Since it is brand-spankin' new this month, and as I said above, I never buy anything without doing my homework first, I would like to know: which one of you is a technophile and already has this scanner?

Who can tell me how it works (does it?) with the super-wide xpan format?

How many frames per scan?

Is the quality comparable (better/worse) to a professional feed-scanner or drum-scanner?

Is it wiser to get the V750 Pro for the wet-mount capabilities when dealing with super-curly slide film?

What's the down side of this scanner (if any)?

I can tell who the pro's are on this forum, and being a wea-newbie-self-taught photographer, I would GREATLY appreciate your wisdom to be bestowed upon me.

Thanks again.

P.S. I will definitely add to the gallery once I jump the obvious hurdle. And, I read in another thread that people were not confident that there are others out there who actually use the 30 mm lense- I went for broke (literally), and I can say my collection of all three lenses are all uniquely qualified for my varied photographic visions. The 30 mm on film is wider than the mega-wide viewfinder!

[marbrink]

I would wait for the V750 Pro. Even though the V700 seems very nice. If the V750 is just a little better it will be worth 2-300 USD's more. I think it will be better because it will use better optics. Something that's not usually found in flatbeds. So wait for the V750 with better optics, better software and wet-mount..

[Ukko Heikkinen]

http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/int...700/page_1.htm

Ukko Heikkinen

[xpandebt@9%]

Originally Posted by Ukko Heikkinen

http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/int...700/page_1.htm

Ukko Heikkinen

Thanks for that review page! Took me all afternoon to get through it. That is the most comprehensive one I have seen yet. It will definitely stay on my favorites, even after I buy the scanner (leaning towards this one now more than ever) because it has some really great tips about optimizing the scanner's capabilities.

About the previous comment, I think the V750 is already selling online, but I figure that I'm not quite the pro that will demand that level of quality just yet (emphasis on "yet"). The only thing I would regret not getting that one for at this point is the anti-reflection coating on the glass. I clearly understand the benefit of that feature, and I am generally enough of a technophile to spring for the added bonus. However, I figure that once I have used the V700 for a while, I can always sell that one and upgrade to the V750 when I am more capable of appreciating its better qualities. It sounds like these two models are high enough quality that they'll be around for a while.

The only quesion that I am left with is in regard to the xpan format. I am wondering if the software will automatically recognize the wide format 35mm frames for the thumbnail preview scans, when scanning-in strips.

By the way, if anybody else is considering purchasing this scanner, I found (through a Google search) a nearly $50 cheaper price than MSRP from Epson on this website store: www.costcentral.com. That was for the V700, not including $15 shipping. The V750 is more than $60 cheaper, and includes free shipping. I'm not the type to advertise for a product, save for what I think are great deals. Let me know if you find a better price!

[quigley13]

I have a 750 pro on order and will let you know how it stacks up against a high end Epson Flatbed and a nice 35mm dedicated scanner (stiched) as well as a pro drum scan.

[xpandebt@9%]

Originally Posted by quigley13

I have a 750 pro on order and will let you know how it stacks up against a high end Epson Flatbed and a nice 35mm dedicated scanner (stiched) as well as a pro drum scan.

Thanks! I would love to hear your opinion of the scanner compared to those others. The 750 PRO with the wet mount and the anti-glare glass is supposed to be the cat's meow. However, I just recieved my very own 700 PHOTO model just a couple of days ago!

My only complaint so far is that it arrived with a chunk of shmegma under the cover glass where I cannot clean it! It shows up on my scans (only one frame) like some blurry alien spacecraft on the horizon of my landscape shots! ICE does not work on it at the speed or quality level. I'll be calling up Epson, or at least the company I bought it from on Monday to settle up. Other than that accident, the scanner seems to work like a charm.

I am certainly no professional, so I wouldn't really know the difference between a good scan or bad, but the online review above was a MAJOR eye opener for me. I can't say I have acquired the same quality of scan when zooming-in to 400% like they did, but I went straight to 3.5mm's on the risers out of the box and have not yet compared 3.0 or 2.5mm's to see if the image sharpens up.

I answered my own question above about the auto function. In short- it doesn't work for xpan users. I will always have to scan my slides with auto off. It does function, it just cuts them in half-plus sizes so you get 5 standard-sized slides from three xpan frames (it apparently doesn't have enough of the last -3rd- xpan frame to justify adding the last bit of the last -6th- slide, cutting out nearly half of the last half-frame).

I attached an example shot that I was working on- at least I think it attached; 1st timer for that on here. This one was a 1200 dpi scan with low USM and speed ICE from the scanner, and no photo alteration in PS. Tell me what you think! (But don't call unless you want to buy it! )

I would love to see an example of your 750 PRO scan, if you don't mind. I am really interested in the comparison with a drum scan, since the review didn't directly do so.

[ERV]

I have the Epson 4870 photo scanner, which I think was the model before the 4990.
I recently scanned a bunch of Xpan film and noticed that the 35mm strip film holder doesn't hold the negs flat.
The two center strips of the holder are the particularly bad; the clips on the edge strips work a little better. I also had a hard time keeping the film straight.
The flimsy construction of the film holders are also mentioned in the photo-i UK review of the V700 and the picture of strip holder looks exactly like mine.

I've been thinking of a work-around for holding the film flat, or trying the stitch method with my Nikon V film scanner. Anyone else have a problem with the holders? Its a bit frustrating to have nice sharp negs and not be able to get a sharp scan..

[xpandebt@9%]

Originally Posted by ERV

Anyone else have a problem with the holders?

I know what you mean. One solution that I found was by accident. Since I had to wait a few weeks for the V700 to become available, my slide film was sitting in the developer's envelope during that time. Previously, the film was highly curled, but the wait flattened it right out. Yes, the holders are flimsy. However, I was still impressed with the scan quality in the review. The only other solution I can think of now is to buy an after-market film holder that is constructed better.

Anybody else have any better solution?

[jan normandale]

If I remember correctly elsewhere at RFF there was a discussion of an aftermarket manufacturer of holders designed to deal with these issues and I believe it was for both 35 and 120. Check the archives.

[Chaser]

Originally Posted by jan normandale

If I remember correctly elsewhere at RFF there was a discussion of an aftermarket manufacturer of holders designed to deal with these issues and I believe it was for both 35 and 120. Check the archives.

http://www.betterscanning.com/

[xpandebt@9%]

Originally Posted by Chaser

http://www.betterscanning.com/

Here's what that website says about this scanner:

"The Dual MF Film Holder for the

Epson® V-7xx Series

A holder version for these scanners is in the works but won’t be out until after V-750 is available for testing."

So, twiddle your thumbs a little longer...

[ERV]

Originally Posted by Chaser

http://www.betterscanning.com/

Chaser, thanks for the link. I think I'll give it a try.

[wdenies]

I may be wrong, but the stripholder offered at betterscanning.com is only available for 120/220 film, not for 35mm.
Even inserting strips into the original 35mm stripholder makes me crasy!

Wim

[ERV]

Originally Posted by wdenies

I may be wrong, but the stripholder offered at betterscanning.com is only available for 120/220 film, not for 35mm.
Even inserting strips into the original 35mm stripholder makes me crasy!

Wim

You are correct.
I think I'll email better scanning and ask if they would make a true xpan 35mm holder.. I would be willing to be the demo guy..

[wdenies]

Keep me informed!

Wim

[espressogeek]

I just received my v700 and i find the 35mm carrier to be utter junk. This is very frustrating since I am a digital guy just trying out film with my xpan and I am not getting results close to my cheapo oly e-300 and not even close to my Nikon D200 in terms of sharpness. The film needs something substancial to hold it flat. I would love to find a glass carrier or something similar.

[nksyoon]

Originally Posted by ERV

You are correct.
I think I'll email better scanning and ask if they would make a true xpan 35mm holder.. I would be willing to be the demo guy..

It's not convenient, but you can attach a 35mm strip with 3M sticky tape to the anti-newton glass they sell for their MF film holder. The glass will hold the film flat. See:

http://www.betterscanning.com/scanning/usinginsert.html

[espressogeek]

Huh, perhaps I will try that. My only concern is that I will sink to much money into this chasing something that is near impossible.

[beethamd]

I bought a 750 a few days ago. Very impressed. Here's one of my first scans of my camera-gear-authoriser, Helen.

Looks like I used a grad, but I honestly didn't, the clouds just looked that way.

[AusDLK]

Attention all Xpan scanners:

>35mm strip film holder doesn't hold the negs flat

I have a Xpan specific film holder under development that I hope to bring to market in the new year.

I have yet to find a satisfactory scanning solution for my Xpan film so I have decided to create one.

The holder will work on Epson scanners and will be guaranteed to hold film as flat as possible (without using troublesome glass holders).

Mine will be a very low volumn operation but if you are interested in my XpanScan holder, drop me an email and I'll keep you informed of my progress,

My email: ausdlk(at)gmail.com

[C R Maclauchlan]

I have an Epson V700 which I find to be quite good with my medium format negs. The Epson film holders are a joke but using a 3rd party holder (which also came with an optional piece of anti-newton ring glass) the results are fine. I recently purchased an xPan and for these negatives I do use the glass. I tape the negative to the glass and place it in the medium format holder. I like the results. I don't know about sharpness increases with the V750 but after researching I do NOT believe wet mounting is the panacea we are often led to believe it is.

[retrocam]

Originally Posted by C R Maclauchlan

I have an Epson V700 which I find to be quite good with my medium format negs. The Epson film holders are a joke but using a 3rd party holder (which also came with an optional piece of anti-newton ring glass) the results are fine. I recently purchased an xPan and for these negatives I do use the glass. I tape the negative to the glass and place it in the medium format holder. I like the results. I don't know about sharpness increases with the V750 but after researching I do NOT believe wet mounting is the panacea we are often led to believe it is.

I also have the V700 and find the holders to be a bit flimsy. Where did you buy the 3rd party holders?

[AusDLK]

I am working on decent (i.e., not flimsy and will hold film flat) film holder for multiple strips of Xpan sized film (24x65mm frame).

I'm am now expanding this idea to accommodate standard 35mm film for flatbed scanners.

If you might be interested in said holder, just e-mail me directly, ausdlk(at)gmail.com, and I'll keep you informed as to my progress.

[garymcat]

I have contacted epson too soon for a reply.

Originally Posted by xpandebt@9%

Thanks! I would love to hear your opinion of the scanner compared to those others. The 750 PRO with the wet mount and the anti-glare glass is supposed to be the cat's meow. However, I just recieved my very own 700 PHOTO model just a couple of days ago!

My only complaint so far is that it arrived with a chunk of shmegma under the cover glass where I cannot clean it! It shows up on my scans (only one frame) like some blurry alien spacecraft on the horizon of my landscape shots! ICE does not work on it at the speed or quality level. I'll be calling up Epson, or at least the company I bought it from on Monday to settle up. Other than that accident, the scanner seems to work like a charm.

I am certainly no professional, so I wouldn't really know the difference between a good scan or bad, but the online review above was a MAJOR eye opener for me. I can't say I have acquired the same quality of scan when zooming-in to 400% like they did, but I went straight to 3.5mm's on the risers out of the box and have not yet compared 3.0 or 2.5mm's to see if the image sharpens up.

I answered my own question above about the auto function. In short- it doesn't work for xpan users. I will always have to scan my slides with auto off. It does function, it just cuts them in half-plus sizes so you get 5 standard-sized slides from three xpan frames (it apparently doesn't have enough of the last -3rd- xpan frame to justify adding the last bit of the last -6th- slide, cutting out nearly half of the last half-frame).

I attached an example shot that I was working on- at least I think it attached; 1st timer for that on here. This one was a 1200 dpi scan with low USM and speed ICE from the scanner, and no photo alteration in PS. Tell me what you think! (But don't call unless you want to buy it! )

I would love to see an example of your 750 PRO scan, if you don't mind. I am really interested in the comparison with a drum scan, since the review didn't directly do so.

[Pherdinand]

Originally Posted by garymcat

I have contacted epson too soon for a reply.

i had similar gathering through the first months of usage. A big of plastic outgassing means fog on the flatbed glass inside.
You can take the glass off quite easily (4 screws covered with black plastic in the 4 corners of the scanner next to glass) and clean it.