Thoughts On Epson V700 Scanner.

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Just some initial observations having used it in anger a few times now.

It's substantially built, and nice and quiet - my last one sounded like a cement mixer! I've just used the Epson software so far which is pretty basic in terms of features, but it seems to produce reliably good scans, so I'm not complaining at all - I'm all for things being nice and simple.

It's great to be able to preview scan all the negs as thumbnails inititally and then choose the ones you want to scan. You can scan just one or the lot, or any number in between just by ticking a box alongside the thumbnails. Scanning is very quick, but it's slows down as you'd expect if you enable dust removal or digital ICE - particularly the latter.

A nice touch is the colour restore function. I shot some Portra 160VC at least two years out of date with a pronouinced green cast and ticking the box for this feature did the trick beautifully without adding any scan time.

There's also a grain reduction feature which produces a very similar effect to noise reduction in digital - plasticky looking images - have nothing to do with it! :puke:

The negative carriers are somewhat flimsy for a scanner in this price range, but they're simple to load and hold the negs securely. I've had no issues with carrier height so far although adjustment is provided, albeit just two settings -standard and + which presumably raises the height slightly. I've not had cause to change from the standard position - scans seem pretty sharp.

All things considered, a really nice scanner which takes the poo fag out of scanning a lot of negs. I couldn't be more chuffed with it. :thumbs:

EDIT.
I've now done some testing with the neg carrier height adjustment and with the adjusters turned to the + position scans are very sharp indeed! And I thought they were sharp before.... doh!

This was the finding of the reviewer in the review linked to further down the thread too so it's likely to have the same benefit for everyone.
 
Likewise,

Although I did have to play with the height setting (3 btw, no feet, low and high) to get the best scan for the 5x4 negs but I am extremely happy with the quality I get out of it for Large Format.

Not so much so with 35mm, but this is mostly down to my Neg storage techniques as I find the holderd dont hold the film flat enough so i tend to get varying degrees of focus across the neg if thery are particuarly curly ones.

Epson Scan works fine and the only things I could wish for is a densitometer function and the option to do multipass scanning the same as viewscan. I dont get on with the actual program but occassionally those features would be nice!
 
I agree on the non-flatness of roll film in the standard holders. I'm looking at some betterscanning holders but put off by he price. If I was scanning for final print it would probably be a different matter, and when I start doing my digit negatives I'll probably have to have a look again.

scanning 5x4 is great though, no flatness issues and you can use a lowish resolution to get good scans.

It's a nice scanner but the holders are a bit of a let down
 
OK I've kicked this one round the floor a bit.:D

Straight scan... no dust removal


3572982859_8eb597b315_o.jpg


Hang about...
 
With colour restore and dust removal...

3573804802_eb3096174b_o.jpg


ICE next..
 
With ICE enabled and colour restore...

3573831090_c3af3ccec7_o.jpg


Long scan time though ...7 minutes instead of less than a minute.
 
It's pretty impressive I suppose, but this a pretty extreme example and the scan times get tedious. For the moderate amount of dust you'd usually get I'd prefer to do a straight quick scan and spot out the dust in editing.

ICE is supposed to perform all sorts of minor miracles on damaged photos, but from what little I've seen of it, it's OK with light creases, but with anything more substantial, it gives at best a good start on hand restoring and sometimes it's a definite hindrance.
 
erm...Sid I dunno mate. :thinking:
 
A bit of research... It seems ICE doesn't like the silver found in black and white films and some prints... so not a nono, more a suck it and see job. Also despite being a Kodak baby, ICE can be temperamental with Kodachrome slides. :shrug:
 
Does anyone know if theres a major difference between the 700 and the 750. I want to get a scanner to start scanning my 5x4 scans.
Also, whats the larges anyone has managed to print a 5x4 scan before the quality of the print becomes slightly blurred and pixelated.

Cheers Edd
 
The 750 has a fluid mount accessory and slightly better optics...supposedly
I dunno if it uses different lenses for hi and low res...:shrug:
It has a better Dmax value, and calibration/scan software bundle.
 
These are the most in-depth reviews of the 700 and 750 you're likely to find...

V700

V750

As Joxby says, the V750 comes with a glass plate on which you can fluid mount large format negs, although the scanner doesn't come with the fluid, which has to be sourced separately.

The differences between the two scanners aren't major but the V750 comes with some additional software which is probably worth more than the price difference.
 
I bought the 750 not so long ago and have found it to be a superb scanner, so ditto to everything mentioned above! I can't fault it! :)

I find Digital ICE does a good job for removing the odd specs of dust left on the slides but of course as mentioned it makes a pig's ear of mono negs.
 
I've now found that with the neg carrier height adjusters turned to the + position, scans are much sharper -just about perfect in fact.
 
Just been looking, there seems the be a few different versions of the 750 scanner. Unless they are all the same and just selling for 3 completely different prices. Just curious as to how much difference there is between the 3 or if there all the exact same thing.

cheers
 
eddo123 said:
Just been looking, there seems the be a few different versions of the 750 scanner. Unless they are all the same and just selling for 3 completely different prices. Just curious as to how much difference there is between the 3 or if there all the exact same thing.

cheers
Click to expand...

As far as I know, there's only one version of the 750. If you're seeing a huge difference in prices, I suspect it might be to do with the amount of bundled software supplied. The 750 normally comes with some very expensive bundled software which accounts for most of the price difference over the 700.
 
Oh right, thanks for that. Do you know if its at much of an advantage to include these programmes? I have seen the scanner for under £500. Seems like a bargain to me, ill be investing in one in the next few weeks i think
 
Hi guys,

I thought I would reply to this thread to offer any help I can relating to the V700/V750. I wont come outright and say who I work for or what my area of responsibility is but I have a solid knowledge about Epson scanners.

So quick outline of some of the differences between the V700/V750. First of all there are indeed only two versions of these scanners and the main differences between the two are these

1, software bundles - More comprehensive on the V750 with the inclusion of silverfast for example

2, The V750 has a special coating on the glass that helps reduce reflections (in short, marginally better scan quality) also slightly better optics engine

3, The V750 has the Fluid mount kit inclusive as part of the price, but does not include this in the retail box. Instead you need to call the Epson customer interaction center with your serial number and proof of purchase to get it sent out. Also note that the fluid itself is a seperate purchase, details again found via the interaction center.
Whilst mentioning the fluid mount kit it is worth noting that if you absolutely require the sharpest quality output from the v700/750 this is the way to go. It is slower but the quality is definately best.

4, Digital Ice is indeed slow and the reason for this is the that technology uses a double pass, once with IR light and then with normal light the resultant scan from the IR is then taken away from the normal scan. The algoritham used has an impact on scan time aswell. It is worth noting that digial ice will improve with dpi increase and by selecting the highest level of setting under the DI option. Also Digital ice does not like film with grain, like kodachrome etc as this gets mistake for blemishes

If you have any other questions relating to the product I will try to answer them as best as I can, providing it does not become an extention of my day job :-)

thanks
 
Great 'horses mouth' info Huss - thanks. :thumbs:

So the fluid mount kit can be bought separately for the V700 then?
 
Thanks Huss
Just wandering if the bundled software is really worth the extra cost. Ill be doing most of the edits to my scans in photoshop. Though i do like the sound of the liquid for the sharpest scans possible
 
Hi again,

CT, yes you can indeed buy the fluid mount kit for the V700. I can't remember the price off the top of my head but if you speak to your countries hotline they will be able to help

Eddo, regarding the bundled software it is a difficult one to answer really as I don't know what your scanning workflow is and whether the functionality of something like silverfast or monaco ez colour will offer you any benefits. My advice is to get yourself over to the relevent software websites so you can understand what they have to offer and see how this translates to your workflow.

cheers
 
thanks for that huss
 
I know it's not dedicated film scanner, but having got back into 35mm slide, I am looking at this as a possible purchase. I stupidly sold my Nikon Coolscan V and should have kept hold of it, but I didn't.
So the question is this: Buy New v700 for all round scanning or look at picking up a secondhand Coolscan V?
 
Get the V700 - it's as good as, and sometimes better than a dedicated scanner and it's an all round scanner too. Flatbed film scanners have come a long way.
 
I've got the Epson V750 and find it a very good flatbed scanner. I got it at a good price so bought it instead of the V700. I contacted Epson and got the free fluid mount but have not had the chance to try that out yet. I actually prefer using the Epson Scan software instead of the Silverfast software. I prefer the look of the scans with the Epson software but maybe I'm not using the Silverfast properly. Anyone got experience with both ? I've been scanning mostly 645 B&W negs.
 
chewyuk said:
4 mins per scan, the plate contains 12, so 2ish hours for a full 36 roll of velvia, just about!
Click to expand...

Where you getting that from? at 2400 dpi - less than a minute per scan.
 
Ok it is pretty obvious who I work for so I will not bother disguising the fact any further :P
The question of film scanner vs Epson V700/V750 has come up many times in the past two years when I have demo'ed the above machines at places like focus.

I will be perfectly honest and say that I have never used a dedicated filmscanner myself, but what I do know is that I get to talk to lots of users who have and the feedback when comparing the two is always positive. To the point of real life users doing the sales pitch for me sometimes when I am on the stand.

A V700/750 is never going to be as fast as a dedicated film scanner, but then it is not £2000+. So if your on a budget and want comparable quality then you could do alot worse than going for the Epson option. Please don't think I am instantly bias either and my opinion is unfounded, independent reviews out there attest to the quality of these scanners too :-) So judge for yourself

p.s I dont work on commision.
 
Huss said:
Ok it is pretty obvious who I work for so I will not bother disguising the fact any further :P
The question of film scanner vs Epson V700/V750 has come up many times in the past two years when I have demo'ed the above machines at places like focus.

I will be perfectly honest and say that I have never used a dedicated filmscanner myself, but what I do know is that I get to talk to lots of users who have and the feedback when comparing the two is always positive. To the point of real life users doing the sales pitch for me sometimes when I am on the stand.

A V700/750 is never going to be as fast as a dedicated film scanner, but then it is not £2000+. So if your on a budget and want comparable quality then you could do alot worse than going for the Epson option. Please don't think I am instantly bias either and my opinion is unfounded, independent reviews out there attest to the quality of these scanners too :-) So judge for yourself

p.s I dont work on commision.
Click to expand...

I want a good quality scanner that I can print to A4, anything bigger will be from the slide. The Coolscan V was great, but I didn't rate the software. Think they have stopped making the Coolscan V's now, but I paid about £550 for it.
Not bothered about scan times, just want a smart image!
 
chewyuk said:
Must have miss-read, thought I saw 4 mins a scan somewhere ...
Click to expand...

Obviously you can get longer scan times by upping the dpi but at 2400 dpi you get 20mb files which is plenty big enough for archival or storage.
 
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