venchka
Veteran
Many of you are looking for a budget priced scanner. I was in the market for a scanner. I was ready to buy the Microtek M1 when Microtek bailed out of the N.A. market. Thank goodness I delayed.
After Christmas I was really anxious to buy a scanner. My focus was on a used Epson 4990 or new/refurbed Epson V700 or V750.
Out of the blue an Epson Expression 1680 with the full film scanning hardware and software accessories was listed on another Forum. I wasn't first to reply but I was first to say "I'll buy it" after the seller listed the shipping costs. OUCH! The 1680 is a big chunk of hardware. The selling price was $150, very reasonable. Shipping from L.A. to Houston was another $75. Ouch! No worries. The scanner arrived yesterday. I am very pleased so far.
Things I like so far: The MF and 4x5 film holders hold more film than the Epson 4990 I had been using. 3 strips of 3 6x6 frames or 4 sheets of 4x5. That is a huge plus. The really cool thing: I set up 4 sheets of 4x5 this morning. Selected all 4 sheets. Selected Batch Scan. Left for work. I will have 4 140Mb+ TIF files waiting for me when I get home.
How are the scans? It's early, but based on the few 4x5 scans I made last, the 1680 holds it's own with the 4990 scans I made in 2008.
The Epson 1680 is big. Solid. Well made. Has 2 FireWire ports. A very professional package. If you find a nice one at the right price, Go For It!
Cheers!
Wayne
After Christmas I was really anxious to buy a scanner. My focus was on a used Epson 4990 or new/refurbed Epson V700 or V750.
Out of the blue an Epson Expression 1680 with the full film scanning hardware and software accessories was listed on another Forum. I wasn't first to reply but I was first to say "I'll buy it" after the seller listed the shipping costs. OUCH! The 1680 is a big chunk of hardware. The selling price was $150, very reasonable. Shipping from L.A. to Houston was another $75. Ouch! No worries. The scanner arrived yesterday. I am very pleased so far.
Things I like so far: The MF and 4x5 film holders hold more film than the Epson 4990 I had been using. 3 strips of 3 6x6 frames or 4 sheets of 4x5. That is a huge plus. The really cool thing: I set up 4 sheets of 4x5 this morning. Selected all 4 sheets. Selected Batch Scan. Left for work. I will have 4 140Mb+ TIF files waiting for me when I get home.
How are the scans? It's early, but based on the few 4x5 scans I made last, the 1680 holds it's own with the 4990 scans I made in 2008.
The Epson 1680 is big. Solid. Well made. Has 2 FireWire ports. A very professional package. If you find a nice one at the right price, Go For It!
Cheers!
Wayne
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xvvvz
Established
Wayne - congrats on the new scanner. The 1680 has an outstanding active focusing lens system that can produce some very nice scans. For $225, you have a nice scanner!
Doug
Doug
ZeissFan
Veteran
I have the model just under that -- the Expression Pro 1600 -- and it's an excellent scanner. It has very good dynamic range, although I think the newer V700 and V750 might be better.
The film holders are quite good, and it does a very good job with transparency, b/w or color negative.
Nearly all of the photos on my site have been scanned with the Epson. I think that you got a great deal.
It's a big scanner, and the box is roughly the size of what a traditional TV used to come in. The 1680 added Firewire, while the 1600 uses USB and SCSI. Make sure that you get the latest scanning software for it from Epson's site. I turn off the autoexposure and autosharpening.
I've been thinking of using/making a custom holder for larger format negatives. They still tend to sag a bit in the middle.
The film holders are quite good, and it does a very good job with transparency, b/w or color negative.
Nearly all of the photos on my site have been scanned with the Epson. I think that you got a great deal.
It's a big scanner, and the box is roughly the size of what a traditional TV used to come in. The 1680 added Firewire, while the 1600 uses USB and SCSI. Make sure that you get the latest scanning software for it from Epson's site. I turn off the autoexposure and autosharpening.
I've been thinking of using/making a custom holder for larger format negatives. They still tend to sag a bit in the middle.
venchka
Veteran
Thanks for the tips. I downloaded all the software I could find at Epson USA.
I'm sure I will be back with a lot of questions. The contained SilverFast Ai 5. An antique fro sure. So far, I have used the Epson TWAIN software for scanning.
I'm sure I will be back with a lot of questions. The contained SilverFast Ai 5. An antique fro sure. So far, I have used the Epson TWAIN software for scanning.
venchka
Veteran
Life is good!
Life is good!
Yesterday I downloaded all of the current software at Epson USA. I installed all the new drivers for Windows XP as well as the stand alone version of Epson Scan. Everything works great.
Epson has done a great job in writting new drivers for new operating systems. Will other companies do the same? Konica-Minolta didn't.
Happiness is having my very own scanner. Life is very very good.
Life is good!
Yesterday I downloaded all of the current software at Epson USA. I installed all the new drivers for Windows XP as well as the stand alone version of Epson Scan. Everything works great.
Epson has done a great job in writting new drivers for new operating systems. Will other companies do the same? Konica-Minolta didn't.
Happiness is having my very own scanner. Life is very very good.
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venchka
Veteran
The results are in...
The results are in...
...I love this scanner!
6x6 AGFA L ISS negative from 1969. Mamiya TLR. (80mm/2.8 lens)-I am convinced the lens was the 105mm. Scanned at 2,400 SPI. TIFF file converted to JPEG and resized for the web. This image is a bit large, but I wanted y'all to be able to see a bit of detail.
Thanks for looking!
The results are in...
...I love this scanner!
6x6 AGFA L ISS negative from 1969. Mamiya TLR. (80mm/2.8 lens)-I am convinced the lens was the 105mm. Scanned at 2,400 SPI. TIFF file converted to JPEG and resized for the web. This image is a bit large, but I wanted y'all to be able to see a bit of detail.
Thanks for looking!
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venchka
Veteran
Another sample...
Another sample...
AGFA L ISS film again. About half of the original 6x6 negative.
And now for something modern. Ilford Pan-F+ in Rodinal. Cropped 6x7 negative.
Another sample...
AGFA L ISS film again. About half of the original 6x6 negative.
And now for something modern. Ilford Pan-F+ in Rodinal. Cropped 6x7 negative.
wakarimasen
Well-known
Is this scanner still supported for spares or repairs?
Best regards
RoyM
Best regards
RoyM
venchka
Veteran
I'm clueless
I'm clueless
I have no idea. For $150 I'll use it until it croaks. Even if Epson agreed to fix it for free, roundtrip shipping would kill the deal. It's easy to see why Epson stopped making scanners like this. It's big and heavy and requires two boxes for transport.
If/when the 1680 dies, I'll move on to a low mileage Epson 4990. Assuming I can find someone will ing to part with a 4990. Not very likely.
Cheers!
Wayne
I'm clueless
I have no idea. For $150 I'll use it until it croaks. Even if Epson agreed to fix it for free, roundtrip shipping would kill the deal. It's easy to see why Epson stopped making scanners like this. It's big and heavy and requires two boxes for transport.
If/when the 1680 dies, I'll move on to a low mileage Epson 4990. Assuming I can find someone will ing to part with a 4990. Not very likely.
Cheers!
Wayne
wakarimasen
Well-known
Hello Wayne,
Did you try this scanner on 35mm negatives? So far I have only tried to scan 35mm with my HP C7180 and the results were not very good!
Best regards,
RoyM
Did you try this scanner on 35mm negatives? So far I have only tried to scan 35mm with my HP C7180 and the results were not very good!
Best regards,
RoyM
venchka
Veteran
Yes I have...
Yes I have...
A few. 35mm Plus-X negatives. Click on the Large Size icon below the small 640x480 previews for a slightly better version.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/venchka/Europe-1969_001/france/
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/venchka/wayback/
Tiny crap JPEGs are no way to evaluate a big TIFF file. I will print some of these. Hopefully they will look ok printed.
Yes I have...
A few. 35mm Plus-X negatives. Click on the Large Size icon below the small 640x480 previews for a slightly better version.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/venchka/Europe-1969_001/france/
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/venchka/wayback/
Tiny crap JPEGs are no way to evaluate a big TIFF file. I will print some of these. Hopefully they will look ok printed.
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wakarimasen
Well-known
Wow - they look really good! This is a flatbed only - yes? Did you use any particular type of film holder or flatten the negatives?
I'm really keen to scan my own 35mm for printing - probably only up to 10X8 maximum - and am trying to find the most cost effective route of going this.
Best regards,
RoyM
I'm really keen to scan my own 35mm for printing - probably only up to 10X8 maximum - and am trying to find the most cost effective route of going this.
Best regards,
RoyM
dfoo
Well-known
Used coolscan.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
It looks like the FireWire version is via an optional add-on or SKU.
Anyway, the scans look good ... looking forward to your thoughts on 4x5 TIFFs ... is there up-to-date MAC support?
Anyway, the scans look good ... looking forward to your thoughts on 4x5 TIFFs ... is there up-to-date MAC support?
venchka
Veteran
Thanks Earl. This particular unit was complete with all of the original film holders and the Firewire card. The Epson site had current drivers for all Windows O.S. including Vista. I can only assume that they had Mac support as well. It's easy to find out at Epson USA.
4x5 16 bit grayscale 2100 spi TIFF files are very nice indeed. Much better than my skills at negative making. Batch scanning 4 at a time is a huge time saver. The files are in the 135Mb + or - range as I recall. 6x7 files are about half that size.
I'm going out this weekend with a new lens and new film. I'll let you know next week how the 4x5 TIFF files turn out.
4x5 16 bit grayscale 2100 spi TIFF files are very nice indeed. Much better than my skills at negative making. Batch scanning 4 at a time is a huge time saver. The files are in the 135Mb + or - range as I recall. 6x7 files are about half that size.
I'm going out this weekend with a new lens and new film. I'll let you know next week how the 4x5 TIFF files turn out.
venchka
Veteran
Show me the 4x5 holders
Show me the 4x5 holders
In a perfect world I would have a Nikon Coolscan for MF and smaller formats. Alas, Nikon scanners are large format challenged.
The world is not a perfect place. We do the best we can with what we have to work with.
Show me the 4x5 holders
In a perfect world I would have a Nikon Coolscan for MF and smaller formats. Alas, Nikon scanners are large format challenged.
The world is not a perfect place. We do the best we can with what we have to work with.
venchka
Veteran
Epson holders
Epson holders
Thanks Roy. I am using the Epson holders. My negatives have been in sleeves since 1969. They aren't perfectly flat, but flatter than film I have developed recently. I plan to buy Doug Fisher's Betterscanning MF holders with ANR glass as soon as I can afford them.
Epson holders
Thanks Roy. I am using the Epson holders. My negatives have been in sleeves since 1969. They aren't perfectly flat, but flatter than film I have developed recently. I plan to buy Doug Fisher's Betterscanning MF holders with ANR glass as soon as I can afford them.
mh2000
Well-known
The most cost effective way to do this is find a used Minolta Scan Dual II or III for ~$50, it will blow away any flatbed, even the new top high end Epsons.
wakarimasen
Well-known
How do these compare with the Nikon Coolscan III LS-30?
venchka
Veteran
The Minoltas and Nikons don't do large film. I suppose if I stumbled on a $50 Minolta (I doubt they are that cheap) I would buy it just for 35mm use. I really don't have room for another scanner.