Simple scanner for my first MF negs

[Ronald_H]

Hi all,

Recently I bought a Yashica Mat 124 as my entry into the world of medium format. The camera is fine, despite being about as old as me. It looks like it has hardly been used.

However, the only scanner I have that can scan MF is an 11 (!) year old Epson Perfection 1200 Photo. In digital terms it is stone age technology. However, scans from B/W are still acceptable for web use. But it can't handle my color negs. If it is old age or simply because the negs are a bit on the dense side, I really don't know. For 35mm I use a Nikon Coolscan V btw.

Obviously I am looking at the Epson V500 and V700. Despite different figures for DMax there don't seem to be that many differences between them and may people here comment favourably on the V500. But there is a big difference in price.

My question is therefore simple: Hoe does the V500 handle dense(r) color negatives? Nothing dramatic, on the light table they look perfectly ok to me. That's where my old 1200 gives up. Blown out scans that are totally off in color.

Btw, I want (obviously) also a scanner that is good enough for nice prints. This seems covered with the V500 and V700.

Comments are appreciated.

 

[xvvvz]

The v500 usually works pretty well with well exposed negatives. Dense positive film like Velvia that is not exposed just right can be problematic. You are going to have to move up to a new or used dedicated film scanner to get a significant jump in ability to "see" into the shadows though and that is going to cost multiple times the price of a V500.

Doug

 

[Fotohuis]

About the Yashica Mat 124-G: A fine camera but due to the age they nornally need a CLA.

The V500 has one stroke for scanning roll film. The V700/750 has a bigger scan area. Further the Dmax. is a bit more.
For regular use the V500 is fine. Scan at 2000 dpi for 6x6 gegatives and 3200 dpi for 24x36mm. Above 4000 dpi the scanner will produce only more data but hardly any improvement.

Here some samples:

and some pics with the V500 scanner from this camera, split grade photo print:

 

[Fotohuis]

And an example of a direct negative scan (V500). Church of Herpen. Made on Rollei IR820/400 film. Above windmill: R3 (Rollei) on E.I. 400 in AM74 1+9. Roll film negatives are scanned by Dougs holder from http://www.betterscanning.com .

 

[sooner]

It's funny because I just set up my new V700 last night and am still testing it. But until now, I have scanned my MF negs with an Epson 4490, which I bought refurbished for $99 from Epson, and it always worked just fine. I used a Minolta Scan Elite II for my slides and 35mm negs, but for the medium format it was just fine.

 

[venchka]

Epson 4990 if you can find one in good condition cheap. You will have large format capability for the day when you buy a large format camera.

No? Never say, "Never!"