Epson V850 Vs. Microtek Artixscan F2

[Red John]

Hi all,

I am looking for a scanner exclusively for MF. My budget is limited and I have discarded the Reflecta MF500 and the Plustek OpticFilm 120 by its long history of problems. There are too many dissatisfied people to dare with any 2000 euros.

Therefore, I I've noticed two scanners. The new Epson V850 and the unknown Microtek Artixscan F2. I have found very little information about this latest model.

There is a person who has it, but there is no much information with which to compare.

I don't know if it will be better choice the new Epson or unknown Microtek with their AF and better dynamic range.

Scandig wrote a review of the Microtek Artixscan F1, but they have told me to have no plan to do the same thing with the new F2. I don't know if there will be a significant increase in resolution. 2000 DPI seems to me very low resolution.

Is better built the Epson than Microtek? The Microtek weighs twice.

 

[MarinB]

This scanner has very well made carriers, better than those on a Microtek. Witnessed it in person, as well as several Microteks with the bottom drawer for glassless scanning. About 3000 dpi resolution.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Epson-F-3200-Photo-Slide-Film-Scanner-/281567565612

 

[kosta_g]

Use a digicam and a light box! if you already have one that will save some pennies.
http://petapixel.com/2012/12/24/how-to-scan-your-film-using-a-digital-camera-and-macro-lens/

 

[mcfingon]

I use an enlarger to get the alignment, chikne
http://members.iinet.net.au/~fingon/howto/making_digitizer_mark_three/

 

[Red John]

Epson Spain told me that they had not received any negative report on their film holders in the V850 scanners. I think to pull balls out.

 

[mdarnton]

Have you actually tried that yourself?

The camera would have to be in perfect alignment with the negative for that to work... Like when you use an enlarger.

That's how I do all my film. Alignment is actually quite easy: put a mirror on the light table or negative stage. When the mirror reflection of the camera lens is centered in the finder--I align the lens' reflection with the circles in the center of the finder--the alignment is perfectly parallel. This is an old trick for copy work and works just as well for negs. Virtually everything on my flickr pages was done this way, and I explain my process here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdarnton/7183241686/

Resolution depends on the camera and lens used. My Nikon D300 is plenty good up to 13x19", which is as large as I ever print.

 

[sevo]

Have you actually tried that yourself?

The camera would have to be in perfect alignment with the negative for that to work... Like when you use an enlarger.

That would be the regular purpose of a reproduction/copy stand.

 

[newsgrunt]

I place the negs on the glass (emulsion down) and lay a sheet of AN glass on top of the neg. Need to flip in PS but you can scan as much rebate as your heart desires 😉

 

[greggan]

Epson V850 pro filmholder issue.

Epson V850 pro filmholder issue.

The Epson V850 pro / V800 Medium format film holder issue is real and explained here http://www.stockholmviews.com/epson_v850/index.html however don't let this make you turn down the new Epson scanners they are great performers and the holder can easily be modified to work 🙄

 

[greggan]

My review is now updated with a how to modify the Epson V850 / V800 holders tutorial. This mod make them easier to load and also helps to get the film to stay aligned. This mod is so simple to perform by anyone with the slightest amount of D.I.Y skills and a sharp knife can do it.

The mod: www.stockholmviews.com/epson_v850/epsonV850tweaks.html

 

[Pherdinand]

nice page, thanks for the writeup. As a v700 owner, how do you think: does it make any difference to get the new epson v800 holders versus getting the "betterscanning" made holders?
i won't get the v800 for the reasons you nicely list at the end 🙂