New V500, Now What?

I use an epson V500 with silverfast SE (which works better for negatives for me than the Epson software). I only use it for medium format negatives (ilford xp2 mostly) and for my last roll of kodachrome. I still need to optimize my workflow, but I am not unhappy with the quality, considering what the v500 costs.

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Hasselblad 500CM, Carl Zeiss planar T* 80/2.8, Ilford xp2, epson v500, silverfast SE.
 
j.scooter said:
I have revisited your post and am impressed by the level of sharpness your scans have. Do you use the provided film holders or do you have aftermarket holders or scan from the bed?

Thanks
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Thank you again. I use the factory original film holders in all formats. I am saving up for a Betterscanning holder for 120 at least. Maybe the mounting station for 4x5 if the 120 holder makes a noticeable improvement.
 
Sorry if its thread-jacking, but how do you guys get big files out of the scanner? The size of the scans are good enough, pixel dimension-wise, but they are...small when you look at the file size, around 800-900kb. And you can't zoom too much before the pictures start looking pixel-y. Any help? I'm using 800dpi in Vuescan. Thanks.
 
PollitowuzHere said:
Sorry if its thread-jacking, but how do you guys get big files out of the scanner? The size of the scans are good enough, pixel dimension-wise, but they are...small when you look at the file size, around 800-900kb. And you can't zoom too much before the pictures start looking pixel-y. Any help? I'm using 800dpi in Vuescan. Thanks.
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crank up the DPI. If you scan a 35mm negative at 300 DPI, you create a file that only has 300 pixels on its shortest dimension. If you boost it to 1600, then you have 1600 DPI on the shortest dimension.
 
Does anyone else have problems with the negative carriers/trays that come with the V500? If there is any curl at all to the negative these trays do not flatten the filmstrip enough. I get a lightening around the sprocket holes of the film while scanning-really ANNOYING. Any help would be most appreciated.

Are these what I need?: http://www.betterscanning.com/scanning/insert35.html
 
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Can you explain the problem around the sprocket holes. I would love to be able to scan the edges of the film, but my holders only show a narrow strip of black around the image. I set the scan window (dotted frame) to the edge of the actual image. I don't have a V500.
The glass inserts are said to work well.
 
PollitowuzHere said:
What's the best DPI setting for the V500? I know the maximum DPI setting isn't noticeable, it only serves to pad the file size.
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Somewhere between 1,600 and 2,400 DPI is the limit of the optics. Anything larger is guesstimated software added dots that were not part of your original.
 
I failed to mention that I use an anti-static brush and canned air. Those two items do a better job and are a lot faster than ICE. Keep up the good work.
 
V500 print size

V500 print size

What is like the maximum print size one can get with the v500 scans from a 35mm neg.?

thanks
 
It depends on what you will do with the print and what film you were scanning in the first place. I can comfortably make 8x10 inch prints that may go in a frame on top of the TV or on the sideboard. I have made tests for 12x18 inch and if viewed from more than 4 feet away the test looked fine. Not 12x18 prints that I would want to put my nose up to but hung on a wall view from 4 feet they would be fine...
 
Whack em on the back of the head!!! Seriously!!

Whack em on the back of the head!!! Seriously!!

Stuart John said:
It depends on what you will do with the print and what film you were scanning in the first place. I can comfortably make 8x10 inch prints that may go in a frame on top of the TV or on the sideboard. I have made tests for 12x18 inch and if viewed from more than 4 feet away the test looked fine. Not 12x18 prints that I would want to put my nose up to but hung on a wall view from 4 feet they would be fine...
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If somone actually goes up to one of your prints over 12X18 inches in size and puts their nose up to them, I consider it perfectly legitimate to sneak up behind them, YELL "MORON!!!", and whack em on the back of the head. What idiots.😕
 
Thank you all for saving me the money, I was pondering one of these but will go and hire the use of a drum scanner instead. At £20-30 per hour or with quite healthy discounts for half days I can get a lot of scans done for the cost of the V700. The V500 just does not quite look up to the quality I need.
 
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