Epson Perfection 3170 scanner

[jeffpolaski]

I am heavily invested in film-based equipment and processing, but

wish to dip a toe into digital. I read some praise for the Epson

3170 scanner on a Minox 8x11 web site. I figure if a user is

satisfied with results scanning 8x11 (also one of my goals), the

scanner might be a good one. I also want to scan 35mm and 120 B&W

negatives.

 

Has anyone had experience with the Epson 3170? I know that

dedicated film scanners are better than adapted flatbeds, but the

3170 evidently has the cool light built into the flatbed lid. It

also seems to be able to scan 6x6 and 6x9 negatives, which would

cost a lot more than $200 in a dedicated scanner.

[steven_clark]

Umm, there's already a thread on this about 10 lines down the page. The gist is the scanner's so new there aren't any reviews, it's not a high-end product so most of the photo sites aren't interested having already done it's more expensive big brother the 3200. When/if someone like C-Net does a review it will as a rule be utterly usefless to any photographer focussing on the software's lack of compensatyion for dumb users etc. Nobody want to buy it until they know it works just as well as the 3200, yet no-one wants to review it properly so others can find out.

[rich815]

It's no better than the 3200 and word is that 35mm scans from that are just barely acceptable (as compared to pretty much every preceeding flatbed scanner scanning 35mm film). Fine for web use, margin at best for any prints over 4x6, maybe 5x7 (with all dmax issues aside). For 120 the results will not be bad at all but of course not on full par of a dedicated film scanner (for 10x the $$$).

[john_kelly7]

I am setting up an Epson 3170 right now for a client. I have used the 3200 and I find no practical difference between them. I have not used the 3200 Pro. I am a computer consultant have been restoring old photograps for 4 years. Anyone who has done this kind of work knows that the scanner is only the mechanical part of the task. The software used and the knowledge of the individual are probably far more important than the hardware.

 

I doubt if, given the description of your needs, you need a FireWire interface and may need the USB 1.1 interface that the 3200 doesn't have. Epson has been continuously improving their scanners and the 3170 is one of their better units, especially considering the price. To scan 35mm slides for larger prints, 3200 dpi is imperative. The 3170 has that resolution.

 

The comment that another subscriber made, that this unit is not good for larger reflective prints is just plain noncense, and good only be made by someone who has never tried this unit. There are no software or resolution differences between the 3170, the 3200, and the 3200 Pro.

 

Try it, you'll like it.

[al_chang]

I had a friend scan in some 2 1/4's. It comes out very good. But we did not find any significant difference between 1600 dpi and 3200 on the 3170. We blew the 2 1/4 (6x6) to 8 x 14. It is of course not as sharp as my custom prints but probably as good as the quick photo machine enlargement (soft images.) We believe it will not be sufficent for 35 mm.

 

I've read in the past the Epson CCDs are not truely as advertised. They are for example on their 1600 dpis, truely 800 dpi per line and the adjacent line 800 but the pixel shifted (each line is one color.) Then they interpolate between the two. Similiar to what FUJI's digital camera CCDs worked.

 

I've tried to verify the Epson's Matrix CCDs to see if it was true but was not able to confirm it.

 

Therefore, I'm waiting for a 4800 dpi (or 2400 effective)

 

BTW, if a excellant 1600 dpi is what you want, it works great especially for the money.

[john falkenstine]

I HAD a perfection 3170. Software, or software CD that came bundled with the unit was totally defective and it took me several days to get my computer working properly again. I took the whole thing back and got a refund. I still have a CANON D660U which works fine for prints and has a film scanning option, but I have found that these flatbed scanners DO NOT make good film scanners. I don't think that you will be able to scan anything with the 3170 past medium format, because the unit has no holders for this film size.

[peterg]

I just picked up an Epson 3170. Apparently, I've got a lot to learn about Adobe, but I'm still pleased. This is a photo that was simply scanned in with no tweaks, just a slight crop. It was shot at ASA 800 with an M6 and 35/1.4 asph at either 1/30 or 1/60, and at f/4. The scanned print was processed at my favorite King Sooper's lab. Aren't courtside seats wonderful? They weren't my seats, sadly, but I was happy to be a guest.

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[kari_grimsby1]

I just bought the epson 3170 yesterday and I think it's great. I wanted a scanner at

home for 8x10 work prints and to put my work on the web. I scanned a tiny polaroid

i-zone print yesterday, as well as a 35mm color neg and a 35mm slide. They all

scanned beautifully. I'm sure 67 will be great too. I've used the 2450 in the past and

the 3170 scanner is definitely just as good--and faster--even on USB1. I don't think

paying the extra money for the 3200 is worth it unless you're in the middle of the

woods and have no access to a service bureau or a better scanner for final prints. I

have access to a high end imacon scanner through work, and would use that, fuji

frontier prints, or a darkroom, for exhibition prints, but for workprints from home,

this scanner is perfect.

[adrian_byng_clarke]

I spoke to a couple of people at epson about the 3170 vs. the 3200 and the 3200 PRO. From what I am told, the only difference between the 3200 and the 3170 is the firewire interface, and the difference between the 3200 and the 3200 PRO is bundled software (Silverfast, Monaco EZ Color etc....). The epson technicians basically said that the scanning harware is identical. Can anbody comment on this? This seem really inconsistant with all the posts here which have cited dissapointing 3170.

[john_de_roodt]

Hold on.....

 

I worked with profesional scanners and budget ones for film scanning like the bad quality Primefilm scanners.

It's my opinion that it's a matter of taste or what do you want to get from it? I mean if you use the Epson 3170 for scanning pictures you have to know it's not a profesional machine. On the other hand some people like sharp pictures cristal clear and what they think is unsharp is for the other nicer because they don't like the super sharp picture but more softer. One thing is true the Epson 3170 is from the new generation scanners and the technic is improved a lot. So if you are going to spend about 200 dollars it's so far the best option I have seen onthe market. Don't buy the on sale 2400 you through your money away for a few bucks.

If you have any Q's mail me redsfotografie@yahoo.co.uk