Cost Effective Flat Bed for Contact Sheets

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bwcolor

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Is it possible to do a contact sheet through a clear archival storage page, such as the ClearFile system, on a relatively inexpensive flat bed scanner and have sufficient quality to use this result to select negatives for scanning on a film scanner? If so, which scanner?
 
You need a scanner with a light source in the lid and enough area for 8x10. The Epson V700/V750 twins fit that description. I got an email from Epson today telling me that refurbished 700-750 units were on sale in the Epson Online Clearance store. The Epson 1680 with transparency unit will also work. I own one.

I don't have much hope for the quality. Reflections and not being able to hold the page flat will kill the quality. I could be wrong. But it's going to be dicey.

Loading a 35mm film holder and making a quick scan of the whole holder would probably be better.
 
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Yes, the focusing issue, reflections and the like. I was just concerned about dust and so it seems that development and sleeving until ready to scan in the film scanner would be ideal.

Is there a downside to going with the 700 vs 750 for contact sheet purposes? The savings of $155 is nice should there not be a major downside.
 
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I don't know if there is any real difference in hardware or perfornace between the two machines. I know the 750 has a software upgrade.

Frankly, I think you would be wasting the capabilites of the machine for contact sheet scanning. I just sold a 16x20 print from an Epson 4990 scan. The negative was 6x7.
 
It looks like the software that comes with the V750-M might just make the purchase worth the extra money. You get Silverfast Ai6 which also supports the Nikon 9000ED and Monaco EZColor
 
The 9000ED is listed as supported by Silverfast Ai6, but I don't know if the bundled software is somehow disabled as to what it can use vs. the stand alone software. Also, I've already paid for my Snow Leopard upgrade.. Maybe a problem there.
 
Check with Silverfast. I think that each scanner gets it's own version of Silverfast. The V700 comes with Silverfast-a lesser version than the 750.

In the last month I have seen used Epson 4990s for $200-$250. A very viable alternative.

Some samples. All scanned with Epson Scan software.

Arista Premium 100 35mm film. Ancient Epson 1680.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/d/172644-1/Cemetery+Diptych.jpg

Pentax 6x7. Tri-X Pro. Epson 1680

http://gallery.leica-users.org/d/168364-1/Weep+Angel+003-2.jpg

4x5 sheet film. Epson 1680.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/d/155660-1/Zedler+Mill-3.jpg
 
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Epson currently has the V700 for $373 in their 'Clearance Center'! Comes with free shipping, too! And yes, Silverfast is scanner specific.
 
No need to spend a lot of money. I bought an Epson 2450 for $100 w/ shipping included and it works fine for what you're talking about. It also works well for scanning my 4x5. Anything under that it's best used just for contact/proofing purposes. My workflow is to take the MF or 35mm negs, develop them, scan them on the Epson, and print the keepers on an enlarger. I assume that's your plan. It came w/ a software CD that includes Silverfast as well as the Epson scanning software.

Oops, I just noticed you plan on using a film scanner on the back end. Same difference though. The 2450 will work fine for your intended use.
 
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Steve:

Unless I'm getting the software which can be used on the Nikon 9000ED, then I think that I am better just getting a cheap alternative. It sounds like the bundled software might have functionality with other scanners disabled.
 
The price to upgrade the Silvefast software was more than double what I paid for the scanner. That's when I learned how to use the Epson Scan software. I like it much better than the two versions of Silverfast that I had tried.
 
It makes sense for the companies that allow their software to be bundled to put severe restrictions on the use, forcing you to upgrade.

I noticed with the current Epson scanners that the V700 and the V750 will do 24 35mm and it looks like I could do 4 6x7 at a time. I don't believe that the lesser models allow for this many negatives. I assume that the 4990 also allows for 24 35mm at a time.

BTW: Thanks for the samples. Obviously, the 4990 has greater capability than I need at a minimal cost above the bottom of the line scanners.
 
Exactly. The 4990 is an under appreciated scanner. My friend has that particular scanner. I'm pretty sure the holder accepts 24 35mm frames. However, it only accepts 3 6x7 and 2 4x5 negs. at a time. That's why I jumped on the 1680. It holds 6 6x7s and 4 4x5s.
 
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