Leica pictures scanned with Epson 4990

[vicente_bataller]

Hi all,

 

First of all, sorry if I've not categorized properly the question.

As a Leica user (M6ttl + 50'cron)and possible future owner of the

scanner mentioned above, I would be interested in seeing your Leica

pictures (as well as medium format ones) scanned with the Epson 4990.

 

Also comments on overall performance and maximum quality for prints.

Most interested in negs and slides scanned. And comparations with

negs dedicated scanners.

 

Thanks,

[ross_wilson1]

Hi,

 

I have the model down from that which has a slightly lower dmax and only does the film scan (above and below) over a smaller section of the full platen, otherwise it's the same.

 

I got some Fuji NPC processed at Peak Imagine with their pro package, when I scanned the negs after receiving the prints back they were exactly the same in terms of colour as the pro processed prints. I highly recommend this scanner for the price. In theory the 4990 should let you see even further into the shadows, not to mention let you scan more at a time and let you apply ICE to a print bigger than 6x4. There is however a new model coming out soon, Amateur Photographer has a review next week, so it's not that far away.

 

Rgds

 

Ross

[terry_rory]

Ross, is this the new Epson scanner you are referring to...

 

http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson%20V700/page_1.htm

[terry_rory]

I would not bother with Amateur Photographer's review. That photo-i-uk review I posted is bound to be better. AP is just an ad rag.

[ellis_vener_photography]

while y'all are hopping up and down aboutt he V-700 I would not be so fast to rcommend it. The V-750M will be out shortly and from what I've seen andgathered from my talks with the chief engineeer in Epson's scanner division quality from the V-750M will be better than what you can get with the V-700, especially if you take the care to use the included fluid mount tray.

 

I've been working with an Epson 4990 Pro for nearly a year and cannot really recommend it for 35mm photographers.

[ellis_vener_photography]

While y'all are hopping up and down about the V-700 I would not be so fast to rcommend it. The V-750M will be out shortly and from what I've seen and gathered from talks with the chief engineeer in Epson's scanner division, quality from the V-750M will be higher than what you can get with the V-700, especially if you take the care to use the included fluid mount tray.

 

I've been working with an Epson 4990 Pro for nearly a year and cannot really recommend it for 35mm photographers.

[bobtodrick]

I'd second Ellis. For a few years now I've been using an Agfa DuoScan...a highend neg/flatbed scanner that is still considered one of 'the' scanners to have for prepress. I like it because my workflo is still darkroom based...I go in, make a 'perfect' (hahaha...is there any such thing) print, than scan it to make reproductions. I've used the Agfa to scan medium format and 4x5 and get decent results printing upto 11x14 or so...but for 35mm I only use it for making 4x6 (contacts). If I was going to give up my wet darkroom the first thing I'd purchase would be a Nikon 5000 or 9000 ED.

[anthony_brookes5]

Vicente - I was about to buy an Epson 4990 to replace my Canon 9900F but decided against it having read the Photo-i review of the Epson 4990.(He is agood reviewer and I bought my Canon on the strength of his review of the 9900F) A friend bought the 4990 and is fairly pleased with it. However we both agree that at up to A3 - which is the largest we can both print - you cannot tell any differences in the scans. I am glad I spoke with my friend and saw his scans because although it has a better dpi than the Canon - it's not worth the change for me.

[thomas_sullivan]

This is not a slam, but I really don't get why anyone who can afford a Leica & 'cron won't just spend the money on a dedicated film scanner like the Nikon mentioned above. The quality from them are just soooooooooo much better than a flatbed......for 35mm.

 

Now, with regards to 2 1/4, while Ellis and Brooks are here.........I use an older Epson flatbed 1640SU for my MF film scanning, and although it's "respectable" it's not as good as 35mm in my Nikon LS-2000. I've always felt that I needed a dedicated film scanner for MF, but I get the impression that this Epson V-750M might be a viable alternative. I would like to be able to do 11x14 prints quite regularly, with the occasional 16x20 (from a neg that is near perfect (if, and when that happens......heh)) from 6x6 and 6x4.5 cm negatives.

 

Is this something that could happen? or should I just keep on saving for a Nikon 9000 or something in that area?

[andy middleton]

i got myself the 4990 last year as it handles med format as well as35mm.Overall i am very

happy with the scanner although I must admit I am no pro.here some kodachromes that were

scanned with the 4990<div></div>

[andy middleton]

AND HERE A BW NEG SCAN<div></div>

[terence_mahoney1]

I have my middle-format negatives scanned on a Tango. The chap who operates it uses the Epson for proofing. He said not to waste money on the Nikon 8000/9000 because it's still far short of the Tango for large prints and more expense than necessary for proofing...<i>unless</i>, said he, I wanted something to scan 35mm as well. Given the choice between a 35mm-only Nikon scanner plus an Epson flatbed, he said he'd get the 9000.

[ross_wilson1]

You might look at it as someone who buys a Leica with a 50 cron has just saved and spent all their money. Or an M6ttl is cheaper than a D200 or good D70 kit etc.

 

Yes I was refering to the V700, I was not aware of the V750 but the fact the V700 was mentioned in AP is more of a clue to its iminent arrival in the UK rather than AP's legendary (not) reviews.

 

Can't say I've ever used a dedicated film scanner, but obviously they're supposed to be better, that said it would appear Epson is re-writing what a flatbed can do. Especially considering it scans film from above and below. Not the same as a dedicated film scanner but, still not so bad, and Epson aren't exactley known for making crap products.

 

As usually it depends on your budget, and what you want out the other end. All I can say is the 4490 being not too disimilar of the 4990 gave me prolab print colours and some great 16x12's.

[michaelkh]

Personally I would be somewhat inclined to trust an AP review over photo-i. Vincent's

reviews often seem to be written to match a foregone conclusion, to me, and I have never

fully understood his test methodology. The poor proof-reading drives me crazy, too.

 

Having said that, and notwithstanding some rather unsubstantiated claims of equality with

the (old) Nikon 4000, it does seem to me that his review indicates a significant

improvement in the V-700 over the 4990. But then he's been inferring that epson flatbeds

are 'almost' film scanner quality for some time. If they are, it seems to me that this is only

in the sense that five is more 'almost' ten than four is.

[ross_wilson1]

If you want to read an opinion from someone with experience of using many types of film scanner and who's opinion is that the 4990 maybe a bit closer to 10 than 5 then you can find it here:

 

http://www.kenrockwell.com/epson/4990.htm

 

And perhaps the Ap review will have something to say on that too.

[nemeng]

I have the Epson 4870 and use it for 35mm and 120 scans (mostly C41).<p>

 

Works well enough, but as many others have noted elsewhere, the "4800dpi" claim is wildly optimistic. Even at 2400dpi for the 120 stuff, the images are pretty soft.<p>

 

Having said that, the scanner is more than good enough for small prints (A3 max) and web work. All my (Leica 16mm Fisheye-Elmarit-R) QTVR scans are done with the Epson as well, and no-one complains about <i>their</i> quality :?)<p>

 

Links:<p>

 

<ul>

<li><a href="http://4020.net/vr/">4020.net/vr/</a> (Leica QTVR)</li>

<li><a href="http://blad.4020.net">blad.4020.net</a> (Hasselblad street candids)</li>

<li><a href="http://www.hamrick.com">hamrick.com</a> Vuescan scanner software</li>

</ul>

[jim_britt1]

I have the 4990 as well as the Nikon Coolscan 4000... the epson is used for medium to 8x10

format and I have had no trouble blowing up those scans. I also use it for making proof

sheets of 35mm, no longer needing to go into the darkroom to do that job. i don't believe it

comes close to the Nikon for individual 35mm scans.

[jtk]

From what I've seen, the 4990 is capable of fine work from 35mm... good -looking 14X17 from appropriate images (perhaps not highly detailed scenics).

 

Nikon V will always beat it...my Provia slides, scanned at 4000ppi, are exquisitely sharp at 12X18, grainless...the scans would obviously work much larger from these files if I had the inclination and the printer.

 

The new Epsons (after 4990) will be significantly better than 4990...should put new life back into MF equipment, as long as there's film.

[anthony_brookes5]

I haven't read the Epson 4990 review for a while but I believe he said that it was virtually unnecessary to buy a dedicated 35mm scanner as the Epson 4990 was so good.

[mr.wind-upbird]

The 4990 is good, but not THAT good for 35mm. I own both a Nikon 5000 and an Epson 4990, and despite what any reviewer says, no flatbed was made to scan 35mm transparencies. If you care about the quality of the scan beyond posting to the web (which requires very little scan sharpness), you'll consider a real film scanner. As for some output examples from the 4990, here's one from a 6x6 Reala neg shot with an old Rollei TLR.

<center><img src="http://static.flickr.com/1/123925720_0038b55bf7_o.jpg"></center>

[Rob F.]

I just hope the 4990 has more user-friendly software than my 2450. I also hope it works better. Admittedly, it was both Epson's first film scanner, and my first film scanner. I call the Epson Smart Panel the "dumb panel" and I have found their Twain software confusing, too. I did manage to get some good 6 x 6 color scans off it, when it was working--which just now it is not.

 

What I really like is my Konica/Minolta Scan Dual IV. I know there are more pro-level scanners out there, but the Dimage Scan Dual IV is a dream to use, and I like the results.

 

Right now I would throw my Epson 2450 right out the window in frustration, as it is not working. But I can't do that. I'm in the basement and the window is too small. I dunno--it jsut sits there and looks at me. If I click on the Dumb panel, I get a message saying that it "cannot access the scanner, because it is not ready, or another scanner is in use." But another scanner is not in use. I wouldn't mention it, except that this is emblematic of the problems I have with this Epson.

 

If you don't need to scan larger than 35mm, I would get another brand!

[bobtodrick]

See here http://www.dtp-aus.com/hi_flat.htm with 'good' prepress flatbed scanners running $35,000.00 it's a cinch that no consumer grade flatbed is going to give 'Leica quality' scans on 35mm.