Epson VS-50000 & VueScan

Apologies if this has been discussed--I didn't find anything by searching.

I'm looking for a moderately priced 11x17 scanner, but it needs to output 48-bit color. The Epson VS-50000 would fit the budget, but its specifications indicate that it uses 48-bit internally, but only outputs 24-bit.

The reason I'd like to hear from anyone who has used this scanner with VueScan software is that when I bought VueScan to use with my film scanner I accidentally discovered that with it the scanner in a little Canon all-in-one printer/scanner could actually output 48-bit color. Apparently VueScan somehow accessed the internal color data!

If there's already a thread on this, please feel free just to point me toward it.

Thanks!

Why exactly 48 bit? Anything more than 8-bit per color is key for editing after the scan:

http://digitaldog.net/files/TheHighBitdepthDebate.pdf

There are lots of high bit scanners that can provide all those bits after the scan for further editing.

No scanner driver is going to provide more than what the hardware can produce. IOW, a 36-bit scanner is a 36-bit scanner; no driver is going to provide true 48-bits from that.

Why exactly 48 bit? Anything more than 8-bit per color is key for editing after the scan:

http://digitaldog.net/files/TheHighBitdepthDebate.pdf

There are lots of high bit scanners that can provide all those bits after the scan for further editing.

No scanner driver is going to provide more than what the hardware can produce. IOW, a 36-bit scanner is a 36-bit scanner; no driver is going to provide true 48-bits from that.

Exactly 48-bit or 16 per channel, if you prefer, is not critical, but more than 8 is, for editing purposes; I used the term loosely, as a class, as it often is in software settings.

As for output, Canon's specifications for the Pixma MG7120 say "Color Depth 48-bit Input / 24-bit Output." (Canon U.S.A., Inc. | PIXMA MG7120)

So Canon is only claiming 24-bit output, but when used with Vuescan the file produced by the MG7120 is recognized by Photoshop as a 48-bit file.

So I believe it is possible for software to access the internal data that is not output by the manufacturer's driver. Thus my question regarding the Epson VS-50000.

Exactly 48-bit or 16 per channel, if you prefer, is not critical, but more than 8 is, for editing purposes; I used the term loosely, as a class, as it often is in software settings.

OK good, so you only want and need high bit data. A 12-bit per color scan would be fine yes?

The Canon may claim 48-bits and it should provide that with a scanner driver that doesn't truncate the data which is sounds like what you are describing.

Take a look at SilverFast.

From what I see, the Epson WorkForce DS-50000 IS a 48-bit scanner.

Epson WorkForce DS-50000 Color Document Scanner | Flatbed Document | Epson US

Doesn't appear to be a scanner really intended for photography or images; is that what you're looking for?

This is:

Epson Expression 12000XL Photo Scanner | Photo and Graphics | Scanners | For Work | Epson US

OK good, so you only want and need high bit data. A 12-bit per color scan would be fine yes?

The Canon may claim 48-bits and it should provide that with a scanner driver that doesn't truncate the data which is sounds like what you are describing.

Take a look at SilverFast.

From what I see, the Epson WorkForce DS-50000 IS a 48-bit scanner.

Epson WorkForce DS-50000 Color Document Scanner | Flatbed Document | Epson US

Doesn't appear to be a scanner really intended for photography or images; is that what you're looking for?

This is:

Epson Expression 12000XL Photo Scanner | Photo and Graphics | Scanners | For Work | Epson US

I think that is what I was looking for, that it is a a 48-bit scanner.

Beyond that, is there a reason it would not be appropriate for photographs? The top optical resolution is only 600, but for scanning an 11x14 print, that should be fine as long as I'm not trying to make a mural.

I would love to get the 12000XL, but it is almost 3 times the price, and I was hoping there was a more economical solution.

Thanks for your help--sorry I'm not better at stating my question accurately.