Does software make the difference?

[Rogier]

I have a new Epson V850 and am wondering if scanner software makes a difference in quality. I recently scanned some very low contrast B&W images (whales are like elephants in dense fog...) and despite my best efforts (adjusting the height of the film holder to the best sharpness) and scanning at 6400 dpi I am nog getting good results. So I had the negatives scanned by my local lab with their Noritsu scanner. These scans are much better, nice sharp grain and much easier to work with scans (Tiff files).

I have Vuescan and the original Epson software which I find much easier to use than Vuescan. No processing is done with the scanner software the only thing I sometimes experiment with is the backlight correction.
I have a bias against Silverfast from past experiences. But wil this make a difference in the quality of my scans or is this as good as it gets.

I can kick myself for selling the Betterscanning film holders with my V750 before we moves continents as these things are no longer available.

Any advice here?

 

[Luke_Miller]

When I first got the V850 for our home office I experimented with negative scans. While medium format was OK, I did not care for the results from 35mm. Since I have the Minolta Scan Multi Pro film scanner I use it for film scans. I could probably live with the V850 for medium format, but not 35mm.

 

[Rogier]

Thanks, yes I just scanned some medium format. This looks great but 35mm is problematic.
I am looking at a Plustek or Reflecta. I used to own a Plustek but found it very slow to work with and also needed something to scan medium format.
Now I am in a position that I don't have to sell one thing to afford the other I can combine it by having the V850 do the batch scan and use the Plustek or Reflecta for those images that I want to get a much better scan from...

Unfortunately the really good consumer film scanners are out of production since a long time and are going to very high prices on the used market risking that I might end up with a doorstop when the 15 - 20 year old electronics break....

 

[Muggins]

If the carriers are anything like the V500, I suspect they don't hold 35mm very flat. Certainly mine look to the Mk1 eyeball as though the middle of the strip is higher than the edges.