Scanner recommendations.

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Doog

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A family conversation threw up the idea of buying a scanner. Seeing an opportunity I suggested getting one that could scan my old 2 1/4 square negs. It would mainly be used for scanning my wifes old pictures for her genealogy work. I'd prefer not to spend the earth on one but equally I don't want cheap and cheerful unless it produces quality results. So if you have any recommendations, I'm listening intently;)
 
Epson Perfection v500

I'm sat next to mine at this moment. I love it for ease of use flexibility of scanning all kinds of negaive sizes including some old Brownie box camera negs I have from the 1930's whan my Dad was a little boy.

There's a couple on ebay at the moment
 
The V500 is probably the first thing you'll be recommended, but that depends what your interpretation of your budget is (is there a reason why everyone always never states an actual budget?).
 
Freecom

The reason I always recommend the V500 is simple. I did a training course at Epson a few years a go, everything from the V300 to the ( I think ) V2400 a huge beast with all sorts of extras.

I've owned a whole bunch of Canon Lide series scanners and when it boils down to it the V500 is the best value for money ( Around £200 ), easiest to use and most versatile.
Go any higher up scanner ranges and the money gets silly. Go lower and you dont seem to get all the addons necessary for the older film formats.

One good thing with a V500 is that if you eventually get all your prints and slides, films and negatives scanned you can still sell it and get most of your money back.

I do agre with the How much have you got to spend though :D
 
Thanks guys, I think the reason people don't give a price is because most of us don't have oodles of cash to throw around these days and none of us wish to sound like we're hard up, even though a lot of us are. I certainly wouldn't like to go over two fifty and having just done a check find the Epsom V500 coming in at £170 approx on the first site checked. I'd be happy with that but as said I'd go more for the right machine.
 
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Chris: don't disagree at all with the V500 recommendation for a second, in fact it's what I've recommended in previous threads of this sort.
 
I am thinking about buying a scanner, and having been reading up about them in the last two weeks, I am now leaning towards the Epson range probably the V500 or the 600. A lot of people remark on the ease of use re the V500, and that is a major point for me. I believe the Canon 9000F has to have additional software added for full(?) use. Is that correct ? From what I have gathered about the V500 it is a simple plug-in and go. Is that correct ? Looking for answers, please.
 
I'd try and hold out for a dedicated scanner rather than a flatbed, but its always going to be difficult if you want to scan formats bigger than 35mm.
 
Fred

If you have windows 7 all you do is unpack it, plug it in and answer yes when it asks if wish to install the software. It then goes off and installs the scanner and software and says " there you go " job done start scanning.

As for dedicated scanners I totally agree that they would be slightly better but the V500 still blows me away for reproduction and ease of use.

If they are now under £200 do yourselves a favour and grab a bargain.
 
joxby said:
I'd try and hold out for a dedicated scanner rather than a flatbed, but its always going to be difficult if you want to scan formats bigger than 35mm.
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Yup, for 35mm it's a viable idea and a very good one, but a dedicated medium format scanner is something that most people won't budget for.
 
The V500 goes to 6x12, so pano MF, or 2 6x6's at once, but its still a flatbed.
If it absolutely has to be a flatbed and 2nd hand, I'll take the 4990 because it scans 2 6x6's 5x4 and 10x8 film.
If it has to be a flatbed and new or 2nd hand, V700 and upwards, the V500 would not be on my shopping list.
All hypothetical of course since flatbeds aren't on my shopping list..:lol:, but they might have to be for Large Format scanning:)
 
Thanks All, Yes I require a flatbed as I also use med. format gear, and the flatbed would kill 2 birds with one stone. Initially I was looking at the Plustek until I realised it did not accomodate 120 film, so I think it will have to be the flatbed. Interestingly, although also asking about the Canons, especially the 9000F, no one has remarked on that or its kin, so it looks like the Epsons are getting the votes. Used ones (V500s) on ebay are going for £120-30 + postage, and it takes them closer to the price of a new one. May as well spalsh out a bit more for a new one.
I am still interested to hear other opinions. All would be welcome.
 
SussexBlue said:
Pc world have a good price on the V500, use code 'prscan10' listed at £179 and you pay £161.99
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/epson-perfection-v500-photo-scanner-01565731-pdt.html?srcid=198&gclid=COPT0uLcpqkCFcod4QodJX_oug
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My son ordered the V500 after recommendations on this thread (thanks everyone) it arrived yesterday but haven't had a moment to play with it yet. Payed £180 for it. :bang::lol: Not to worry, my son has tried it and he's impressed with it. (He's the geek in the family, studying IT at uni) Woo hoo, I get to scan my old 2 1/4 squares.:):D
 
SussexBlue, I saw that from PC World about 2 weeks back and thought it was a bargain. But when I went on site I could not fathom out how to get the deal. I will have another look at that with that code you quote.
Likewise, Doog, great update, but at 60+ years(me) and you say easy to use, yet your son is a geek. What hope is there for me ? To be honest, it looks as though I will be going down the Epson path.
 
Got a copy of Elements 6 with it too. Pity it isn't the latest version though.:|
 
Handy thread - I was wondering how much a reasonable MF capable film scanner would cost.
 
palefire, I am getting a good feedback here, and weighing up the pros and cons. The way I see it, is that most tend to plump for the Epson make. Seems very little in the way to recommend Canon flatbeds. Epson flatbeds are about £150 +/- on ebay for used ones. New ones are selling for £200-230, the V500, that is. If you google Epson, then on their own site you can see a video of their scanners in use. Everything seems simple - a case of plug in and go.
 
pityacka said:
palefire, I am getting a good feedback here, and weighing up the pros and cons. The way I see it, is that most tend to plump for the Epson make. Seems very little in the way to recommend Canon flatbeds. Epson flatbeds are about £150 +/- on ebay for used ones. New ones are selling for £200-230, the V500, that is. If you google Epson, then on their own site you can see a video of their scanners in use. Everything seems simple - a case of plug in and go.
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I use a canon 9000f and it's great. Oddly the silverfast software supplied gives better images on my mac than it ever did on my pc!
 
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