11/29/2005

Epson Scanner

Was this the scanner you guys were talking about a while back:

Epson Perfection 4990 Photo, 4800x9600 dpi

I need to get something better than the Epson 1600 I'm using now for scanning medium format negatives. I see it listed at B&H for $409. I've never been happy with the d-max of the 1600 for negatives. I'm too pooped to go back through the blog and look for what you said but I remember things like: it's almost as good / as good / as a drum scan. Things along those lines.

For $100 more you get:

"With an included professional software suite including LaserSoft Imaging SilverFast Ai, the Epson Perfection 4990 Pro provides a total digital imaging system right out of the box. It also offers expansive color management with an IT8 target to consistently color match photos. And, it incorporates leading-edge image acquisition software for maximum scanning control, plus high-speed connectivity options."

Do I need any of this extra stuff?

4 comments:

hrtl media said...

Silverfast is a pretty good scanning software,
then again, the Epson stuff works very well too.
IT8 targets are most important for color -
I'd save the hundred bucks and buy film :D

Dave Beckerman said...

Thanks - all.

Someday, I'll have to do a write up of the idiotic way that I get decent (not great)MF & 4x5 neg. scans from the 1600. Let's just say it isn't pretty and involves scanning the b&w negs. in color and then removing the color.

Dave Beckerman said...

Barrett, wow. I just downloaded VueScan demo and tried it with a difficult MF neg. Very very promising. You can really control the scanner with this thing.

They even have these film / developer combo settings.

Probably good idea to purchase it no matter what scanner I'm using it with.

I also hate the whole TWAIN thing which this skips by.

I think I'm going to spend tomorrow playing with it.

hrtl media said...

yeah, never mentioned it, Vuescan is THE
scanner software - don't bother with the
film thingie though, it just screws with the
curves... can easily be done in Photoshop

I mostly scan with auto-levels and have
tinkered with a few other settings and
that's 'bout it.