Damn My Epson 4490!

[novum]

It was making a funky chattering noise, and no, the index holes weren't blocked, as I use a Better Scanning film holder. Anyway, the scans were only working partially, so I took a closer look at the scanner and noticed that the end opposite the hinge looked odd. The glass surface was caving in, since all that was holding the glass up were a few tiny plastic tabs and a perimeter of dried up double-sided tape! I tried to jerry-rig something to work, but to no avail.

Now, is the V700 as cheaply made as my piece of junk? Surely not! I "should" get a CoolScan, but I can't afford that option. Any suggestions short of letting a lab scan my 120 film?

 

[maddoc]

Sorry to hear about your scanner ! That's to bad ... :bang:

When I started using 120 film, I asked at Yodobashi camera (very large photo and electronic discounter here in Japan) what they charge for scanning 120 film (at that time I had only an Coolscan V ED for 135 film) and hearing the price (~ $30 for developing + scanning + CD from Kodak) made me buying a V700 very quickly...

 

[Tuolumne]

I can do a better job with my Epson 4990 than any lab I have ever used. Get a new scanner!

 

[trev2401]

hi Novum, sorry to hear about your scanner too...

well, i second the vote on the V700. I used to use a V750 to wetscan my 120s/4x5s. Good investment i feel, and unless u use your scanner as a form of self-defense, i'm sure it'll last quite a bit.

Maddoc, おはよございます。げんきですか？　　🙂

 

[dazedgonebye]

My old Epson, 3790...I think, had the whole mechanism that moved the scan head come loose from the base.
I drilled holes and added new screws. Stronger than before and left me wondering why epson didn't use the extra $0.08 worth of hardware to make it stronger the first time.

That said...my last two epsons have been fine.

 

[maddoc]

Maddoc, おはよございます。げんきですか？　　🙂

trev2401,

おはようございます！元気ですよ🙂。。。忙しいだけど。

 

[novum]

Thanks for your suggestions, everyone. I admit I'm rough with my gear, and I've probably scanned over a thousand images in the year I've had the 4490. I was generally satisfied with its performance, but not its lack of robustness. Anyone know anything about the capabilities of the CanoScan 8800F? I'm curious about trying something other than an Epson right now. I also have an Epson R2880 that I have a love/hate relationship with; that printer requires the right planets to be in alignment to work at its best.

Thanks, again!