Just to add my own experience for those considering buying a V500.
I found the scanner to be over than capable in general. I use a Nikon 9000 rented from a local lab and own a Canon FS4000 dedicated 35mm scanner too. Comparing the results on the same frames I observe the following:
o the 3.4 Dmax has never been a limit. I repeat. 3.4 Dmax is *not* limiting, I have scanned really dense slides and only over a strong light-table can I see more detail in the shadows (and the 9000 of course)
o V500 gives the same resolution as the dedicated Canon film scanner in 35mm for color negatives and chromogenics in general, a bit less resolution in BW films and slides. I have printed from a Portra 160NC in 35mm a well exposed frame at 60cm the long side and the print is totally wonderfull (all the strands of hair are there for those resolution freaks) resolution and tonality wise. The best sharpening method is a 200% at 0.9 radius initially and then a 30% at 2-10 radius depending on the image for me, and works great especially on lower iso films.
o I wonder why none else has noted this, but there is some problem with really saturated areas. I had tonality problems scanning a really red face on a Velvia which was shot under tungsten light, which had scanned perfectly in 9000. Nothing was there apart from a red red area. OK, we have to be sane. There should be no comparison between these scanners. The fact that this comparison itself is done means that V500 performs really well. In any case this was an extreme example, the fault was mine and I didn't expect more from any scanner at this price. Other less saturated slides like Kodak 100G scanned perfectly.
I suggest this scanner to everyone and from my experience you will have the best results with chromogenic films. I suggest the Neopan 400CN and Ilford's XP2 to anyone doing BW work. Leaving the lack of push/pull in darkroom abilities, these films are awesome, noise is simply non-existent, they print wonderfully in darkroom and scan like honey in V500. I just got a print from a portrait shot in 120 format with Neopan 400CN with a mamiya TLR and scanned in the V500 at 80X80 cm and 300dpi (for the printer) and the printed photograph has "that thing". Which means that everything in tonality (which is more important for me) and in resolution is there, so that everyone who looked at the photograph "felt" the person photographed exactly as he was in real life.
Film holders are not horrible (could be better yes) and the scanning software gave me in color negative films where Vuescan was a nightmare to color calibrate immediately useful results. All around I recommend this a lot and I am by no means affiliated to Epson or any of the brands that I mentioned.
