No funds for the V700, so what do you suggest?

[Ti29er]

I was looking at scanning some 6x7 negs and looked at the V700 from Epson, but I can't manage the £££ righht now.

However, I see that there were a couple of models down from that model and I wanted your opinions if I may on the 4870 and the 4990.

Is there anything I need to consider too?

There a couple of these on eBay right now and with this being my 2st look at a neg scanner, I am sure you all know more than I!

Ideally they're for printing to 30 inches-ish.

Thanks

 

[Araakii]

V600 is good enough (for me).

 

[Dana B.]

Yeah, you can get scans good enough for the Web, plus smaller prints, on a V500 or V600. My Epson V500 has served me well for 120, though it's been a challenge for 135.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I had an Epson 4490 Photo and it was fantastic. I could scan up to 6x12 with the stock, unmodified negative carrier. After I mod'ded mine I could scan my 6x14 negs from one of my old homemade panoramic cameras.
When I bought my 4490 it was new and not cheap. You can get them refurbished these days for little over $100USD.

Phil Forrest

 

[Rob-F]

With such a large negative, you could pick a used 2450 (I know because I have one) and get perfectly good, sufficiently hi-res scans. I already get adequately large files scanning 6x6. It's only with 35mm film that the 2450 and other early Epsons are inadequate.

 

[Mudman]

The 4990 is a great little scanner. Used it for years during college. I do think the color I get with the V500 is better though.

 

[goffer]

I use the v500 and scan 135, 645,6x7, and 6x7... for 135 it's alright, but I haven't found any issues so far with medium format. Results can be seen in my 'photos' link in sig.

 

[XFer]

I recommend 4490 and 4990. Dirt cheap 2nd hand and OK for 4x-5x.
V700 is vastly better thanks to the dual-lens setup, expecially if used with wet mounting and Betterscanning holders (you may get as high as 8x with good technique), but it costs a lot even 2nd hand ! 🙁