Epson Perfection V700 Photo Color Scanner by Epson
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Digital camera reviews of Epson Perfection V700 Photo Color Scanner
Digital camera Review: 1000 slides down, still no problems...
Summary: 5 Stars
I read many product reviews before choosing the Epson V700 scanner, and I definately made the right choice. I have copied more than 1000 slides so far without any problems. Yes the slide holder is rather flimsy, but then, it's not a child's toy. I tried the Silverfast software, but the dumbed down version included here kept crashing, even after upgrading, so I am using the Epson software and a photo program that I know well. This scanner does an excellant job and allows one to correct slide problems before the final copy. And the ICE feature does a remarkable job in producing clean images. I have produced remarkable photos at 3200 dpi resolution, can't imagine what the full 12000 dpi would be. I have not copied B&W negatives yet, but see no reason to be concerned. I would recommend this scanner to anyone who wants to convert their 35mm slides to digital images.Digital camera Review: A masterful technical achievement - how far we've come.
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Not all that many years ago, I had one of the first slide scanners available. It boasted an ability to convert slides to an amazing 640 x 480 pixels.
Now the Epson Perfection V700 is capable of 6400dpi resolution and in constant dollars costs less than half of what I paid for that now primitive and long obsolete transparency scanner.
And the V700 does so much more than that old unit.
First, the unit itself. It is big. The V700 is not something you're going to leave sitting on the kitchen table, unless you eat out all the time. The cover, with its built-in lighting for film scanning, is about two inches thick. One very cute and clever feature is a slot running down the center of the cover. A blue diode scampers down as a scan is progressing, a really nice way to find out where you're at in the scanning process. The V700 is a specialized unit, intended for photo print and film scanning. There is no ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)accessory available. And, frankly, considering the heftiness of the top cover, you're not going to want to do a lot of casual document scanning.
Setup was quick and problem free on a computer running Windows Vista Ultimate. There are the Epson utilities to load, including Epson Scan software, a hobbled version of Silverfast, which is dedicated scanning software and Adobe PhotoShop Elements (Version 5 for Windows, including Vista and Version 4 for the Mac).
I started my tests with photo prints.
The V700, whether using Epson Scan or SilverFast is quick. Probably, in fact, one of the fastest scanners I've ever seen. Response was so quick thst it surprised me.
I just picked a print off a display on a credenza. I am pleased to report that the V700 not only captured every detail in the print, but every speck of dust on the print as well. That is praise, by the way.
I used the digital ICE feature to reduce the dust and it performed moderately well with no measurable increase in scanning time.
The ScanFast software has a bit of a learning curve and the user interface harks back to Windows 3.x. Tooltips are uninformative and the program is not at all intuitive. I just used the default settings and the results were fine. I know, however, that ScanFast can do a lot more. I just have to get into the not-terribly-well-written-or-translated documentation.
Holders are supplied for 35mm mounted slides and film strips, 2-1/4 and 4x5 film. The holders don't appear to be all that sturdy, but Epson doesn't mention how to get additional holders. One of these days - and soon - I will contact their support department.
I used only the 35mm slide carrier. It holds 12 at a time. Inserting slides is simple and fast, though you do have to take care to make sure the slides are fully and properly inserted. It is easy to leave a slide not fully inserted in the holder and thus not parallel to the scanning surface which could create problems.
The Epson Scan software previews all 12 slides in the holder. You can then select the slides you want to actually scan. The Epson scan software automatically splits the multiple slides into individual images.
Scans of slides are terrific without any adjustment. I chose a bunch, with exposures ranging from good to awful. Reproduction was faithful. Epson Scan has a limited, but adequate toolset, for correction and enhancement. SilverFast has a much more sophisticated toolset, but you'll have to read the manual to use it.
I ran tests with Epson Scan up to 1200dpi. Results were, in a word, outstanding.
I think it is amazing that the technology has come so far, so fast. Back in the day, when resolution capability this high became available, it cost several times what the V700 does. For a very reasonable price, the V700 provides a high level of scanning capability. My estimate is that, without special adjustments, you could convert a couple of hundred slides an hour to digital format.
Good stuff indeed.
Jerry
Digital camera Review: A serious scanner for important scanning jobs
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
There are many reasons one would one to purchase a scanner like the Epson Perfection V700. You might be a professional photographer wanting to scan your older work. You might be an amateur wanting to scan many old family photos. Either way, you might find something you want in this product.
I, for one, am an amateur photographer but I also have been working to scan in thousands of old family photos and negatives. I have previously spent hundreds of dollars getting the scans done professionally and if you do not have the time to scan the photos yourself that is an option. However, if you have the time and patience you can look at this scanner to do the work. But beware, you will need to learn how to use it because it's not just "push a button and watch it do the magic." This is a professional piece of equipment.
First, this scanner does an excellent job of producing quality images. For the price, you are getting very good quality. It is certainly above the typical scanner, as it should be. There is very little that compromises the quality of this scanner's product.
This scanner allows you to scan multiple slides at once (many more than other scans normally would). That's a great feature, but the ability to batch scan combined with the dual lens system and other features makes this scanner a hefty piece of equipment. The preview image on the product's page looks big, but you have no idea until you actually receive this item.
I have heard some complaints about the plastic film holder and other plastic pieces. While I would prefer to have a more sturdy construction in areas, I do not mark that as a complaint. The scanner is well-built and I feel comfortable that I will own it for a long time without many problems. However, the downside to a lightweight, plastic film holder is that if you aren't very careful your images might not scan properly (and might not be up to the quality they should) due to their placement against the glass (or not).
The software is somewhat easy to use but you will have to walk through many features to understand it all. Installation was a breeze and it's worth giving their software a try. But you can always use the scanner with other imaging software as well.
Overall, I'd recommend this scanner to most people, especially a professional or to those wanting to scan a large quantity of photographs. Just be prepared to work for good scans.
Digital camera Review: Amazing product; impressive results
Summary: 5 Stars
An amazing product, easy to use with impressive results. The ability to individual adjust the scanning properties of each slide/negative allows customization to yield excellent outcomes. Plus it is fast. More effort than sending your slides off to be processed, but a lot more control over the quality of the final product. Highly recommended.Digital camera Review: Awesome scanner for anyone
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't know why everyone hasn't rated this scanner a five. It is very fast to set-up, and makes stunning scans. I am using it to convert all of my old 35mm negatives to digital images, as well as some old photo prints. You buy a scanner for its scanning, not the software that comes with it, and this is a solid scanner.
The software for actually scanning from Epson is very simple to use, and works great. LaserSoft Imaging SilverFast SE6 does not come with a manual, but when installing, you can install the manual as an option, and it links to their website and has very extensive and excellent instructions, including quick tour guides and videos on its use. I don't see what anyone is complaining about below when it comes to the software? Plus a copy of Photoshop Elements, you can't ask for more.
The bottom line - don't be scared to buy this scanner, everything is great about it.