Is the Epson V600 still a good buy?

[frlrubett]

Have read multiple reviews (searched the forum) and seen many conflicting opinions on the rabbit hole that is film scanning and found it all quite confusing!

I shoot 35mm only, mainly B+W and sometimes colour. I don't really print and if I do I only ever go to A4 maybe A3 once a year. I post lots of shots online purely as a hobbyist and nothing more.

I want decent quality scans at a good price and do not mind fiddling to get good results.

Is this V600 good for me in 2019? Or should I look at higher models or even go towards the Plustek system or something else.

Thanks

 

[Jamie123]

Don't know what your budget is but I don't think any of the Epson Flatbeds are a good buy when you're doing primarily 35mm.

I have an Epson V850 aswell as a Nikon 9000ED. For medium format I actually often prefer using the Epson because the quality is very good and it's a bit less fussy but for 35mm it's just not there (even though it's arguably much better than the V600).

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I had V500 and it could give fine A4 scans. I don't think here is any difference from V600.
I don't think many scanners will gives super sharp A3. From 135 film.
At this size even optical printing starts to show limits of this format.

 

[ptpdprinter]

I wasn't happy with 6x9 prints from V700 scans, which has 50% greater resolution than the V600. You are much better off with a film scanner than a flatbed for 35mm.

 

[Dan Daniel]

OP, any chance you have a digital camera with interchangeable lenses? You could get a decent macro and use the digital for scanning.

The V600 (or 500, same optics I think) will do you well. For your purposes, that is. It is limited, won't go down to resolving grain for example. But perfectly usable for what you describe- internet and small prints.

If you are sending the film out for developing and the lab offers scans, try those at first. They might be all you need.

 

[DennisM]

Epson V600

Epson V600

I have an Epson V600, and I'm very satisfied with it. I use it to scan 35mm B&W and color negatives as well as slides. I also use it to scan 6x6 B&W negatives. For B&W negatives, I feel it is superb. Let me say that I do not do my own printing yet (still need to purchase a printer and editing SW). Locally printed 5x7 and 8x10 images look great to me. Editing SW would be necessary for color negatives in my opinion. However it scans chromogenic (c41 process) negatives very well, again in my opinion (scanned as B&W). Send me a PM, and I would be happy to send you scanned jpeg images.

 

[charjohncarter]

I didn't want to mess with two scanners so I bought the V 500, this is about as good as I can get with 135 film (35mm):

img757_edited-1 by John Carter, on Flickr

Click on the image and when it goes to Flickr then click on it again to enlarge.

 

[robert blu]

I'm satisfied user of the V600 for medium format and for my Polaroid prints.
Never used it for 35mm (I have a dedicated 5000ED for this) but I think much depend on the size of the final print. If your maximum size is A4 it should be reasonably good, just my idea.
Maybe one day I'll give a try just because of curiosity!
robert

 

[frlrubett]

OP, any chance you have a digital camera with interchangeable lenses? You could get a decent macro and use the digital for scanning.

Sony A7, would this work?

 

[Dan Daniel]

Sony A7, would this work?

Yes, it should work very well.

There's a thread here on scanning with a digital camera. Lots of info on the internet. If you are doing B&W, life is easy- simple inversion and some levels and such and you are done. Color with the mask and such gets more demanding.

All in all using a digital camera for scanning is slow. The advantage of a V600, for example, is that you can put 6 or 12 frames in the machine, hit go, and it takes care of all of them. I see using my scanner (V700 these days) as making contact prints and internet files. I haul out the macro for higher quality.

Best approach in my opinion- get a V600 or equivalent. See how it works. Start looking for a macro lens, and tripod if you don't have one. If you have wanted to try macro work, here's your excuse to buy a lens. If the V600 gives you what you want, you are done. If you want more, get a macro.

The Epson clearance center has good deals. For example, the V550 for $120-
https://epson.com/Clearance-Center/...to-Color-Scanner---Refurbished/p/B11B210201-N

I am not up on all the current models and such, nor macro lenses for the Sony. But ask around and do some searches.

 

[siracusa]

I can't speak to the V600, but I do have an Epson V500 which scans medium format negatives well. I have always been happy enough with the 35mm scans, but when my scanner finally expired I replaced it not with a flatbed but with a refurbished Reflecta RPS 10M about a month ago and I couldn't be happier. The scans are higher res than those I was getting from the V500, and generally better. The only area in which the V500 perhaps had a very very slight edge was in highlight detail, although I'm still learning the software that came with the Reflecta so I'm probably not yet getting the most out of it. But that aside, the Reflecta scans better, and has the added advantage over some of the other neg scanners out there in having motorised advance.

 

[ptpdprinter]

I can't speak to the V600, but I do have an Epson V500 which scans medium format negatives well. I have always been happy enough with the 35mm scans, but when my scanner finally expired I replaced it not with a flatbed but with a refurbished Reflecta RPS 10M about a month ago and I couldn't be happier. The scans are higher res than those I was getting from the V500, and generally better.

What you are seeing is the difference between a flatbed scanner with an actual resolution of 1560 and a film scanner with an actual resolution of 4300.

 

[DanskDynamit]

I have a V500 and is perfect for internet and also A4 size prints from 35mm.

 

[Range-rover]

This is a good thread I just got a Epson V500 for a pricely sum of $12.50 and so far
it's not bad the prints look good.

 

[DwF]

And a good thread for me. I have the Epson 2450 which for small prints and 2 1/4 has been good. I've been considering whether to look for an V700 or V 850 for my next scanner.