Re: [APML] Epson 4870 review

[Duncan Munro <dmunro@sfu.ca>]

I was experimenting with my 2450 last night. I tested the 2450 by scanning
some of my denser slides. I used the Epson twain software, Silverfast 5 SE,
Silverfast 6 trial version, Vuescan 7.6x trial version. I had no problems
extracting information from the densest parts of the slides with any of the
above software. The silverfast seemed to to the best job with its default
settings but it will only output 24bit scans. The epson software will scan
directly to 48bit output but it takes some trial and error to get a good
scan. Vuescan gave the best scans after some adjustment. I suspect that the
pro version with its multiple film profiles would really be the way to go.

I have no doubt that the 2450 has a true 3.3dmax as it seems to have no
problems with dense slides. 

cheers

Duncan Munro

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 15:28:59 -0600 astro-photo@seds.org wrote:
> The only 'film' scanner I have had access to (excluding one night when the

> local newspaper was scanning one of my comet images for an article) was
> HP's first one (S10?) The one that preceded the S20. I had several lunar
> images that were nearly useless due to the green cast in the scans.  When
I
> rescanned thru the 2450 (several years hence), the images looked decent.
> Not great, but decent.
> 
> I'll see if I can find one of my old film step-wedges to scan and see if I

> can estimate a true DMax range.
> 
> I'll assume that a true, dedicated film scanner would do better, but for
> most users and purposes, how many people will really try to justify the
> cost differences, given the specs on machines like the 4870?	Most
> photojournalism is now digital from the get-go, so its not needed there.
> 
> I live in a small apartment, so I don't have room for a darkroom anymore
> (gave my enlarger away to a high school friend of my son's).	Can't find
> anyone I can trust to develop film anymore, so I may go back and buy a
> couple of reels and make some developing tanks from some PVC drain pipe
> just so I can get film far enough along to scan.
> 
>  ...
>  I just remembered, somewhere around here I have a USB to SCSI converter,
so
> I should (?) be able to plug in the old HP scanner (unless operating
> systems are too incompatible). May also have problems with ASPI and
sparrow
> (or chickhawk or somethin') drivers).  We'll see.
> 
> Rich
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: astro-photo-bounces@seds.org
> [mailto:astro-photo-bounces@seds.org]On Behalf Of Roland Roberts
> Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 1:07 PM
> To: astro-photo@seds.org
> Subject: Re: [APML] Epson 4870 review
> 
> 
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> 
> >>>>> "rk" == Richard Klappal <klappal@xnet.com> writes:
> 
>     rk> I had the predecessor to the S20, and have the Epson 2450
>     rk> Photo scanner, a predecessor to the 4870.  The Epson wins,
>     rk> hands down, no contest.
> 
> Hi Richard,
> 
> I have the Epson 2450, but no slide/film-only scanner.	While I like

> my Epson 2450, I've always assumed that a decent film scanner should
> be able to do better.  Some of my darker negatives are not usable with
> this scanner.  All that really means is that I need to take better
> pictures :-)
> 
> Do you think the Epson 2450 does better than entry-level film
> scanners?  Have you been able to compare against any other film
> scanners?
> 
> regards,
> 
> roland
> - --
>		       PGP Key ID: 66 BC 3B CD
> Roland B. Roberts, PhD				   RL Enterprises
> roland@rlenter.com			      6818 Madeline Court
> roland@astrofoto.org			       Brooklyn, NY 11220
> 
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