Just curious, for those of you who develop your own film and scan it at home.
I’m thinking about setting up a dark room at home, I have most of the equipment ready to do so and I’m just wondering what kind of scanner would be best to get? What do you use? Or what in your experience works best?
I’ve looked at Epson scanners and while I’d love to get one, there’s no way I can afford to spend that much.
So the cheaper alternative, things like Veho, Tecknet, Kodak.. etc, they all have purpose built negative scanners in a range of cheap prices. But are they any good? Do any of you use them?
On the topic, I actually bought a second hand Epson scanner from Ebay, to my disappointment it doesn’t want to work with my computer at all and the negatives came out really blue for some reason.
Do the negatives always come out blue on cheap scanners?
Dolly.
9 comments
gauthierdumonde
I use an Epson V6000 scanner. It scans 35mm and 120 film. I Paid 230 euros for it (new) the more professional V7000 was too expensive. The colours are mostly good, but when you scan also the sprockets, the scanner goes bananas. Then you have to adjust the colours manualy with the software (included with he scanner).
Be sure always to use an air duster, otherwise you will see lots of dust on your scans.
Greetz Gauthier
dollymixture
@gauthierdumonde Thanks for the comment Gauthier. I might try the Epson I bought again and failing that look in to getting another Epson. Ideally I'd like to be able to scan 120 film too.
Thanks again.
Dolly.
dinospork
What kind of scanner is your second-hand Epson? Can you say more about the settings you're using? Are you scanning in Professional Mode?
My scanner is a refurbished Epson Perfection 4490 that I bought for about $100 from the Epson site. I remember having some issues getting started. Don't give up!
dollymixture
@dinospork It's an Epson Perfection V100, I used it on Professional Mode and it worked once or twice... but now the light on it keeps flashing red, which suggests it's either malfunctioned or that the software isn't working. No matter what I try I can't get it to scan again. I was also using it without the negative scanning attachment (I forget what you call it) but I was told by Epson that it is possible to scan without this.
Needless to say, I won't be buying second hand scanners from Ebay again, just incase.
I won't give up just yet : ) My dad is a computer wizard, I'm sure he'll be able to get this scanner working again.
Thanks!
gauthierdumonde
If it is a software problem he will surely fix it. The first link on google leads to the Epson website where you can download the software drivers. So good luck. the V100 goes up to 9600 dpi, you don't need more.
jonathansajoux
I recently bought Epson V500- refurbished for 100 dollars on http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ and it works great and other friends of mine has the same with good results.
Maybe you could try to adjust colors with the Histogram after preview in the epson software.
asharnanae
As to the old scanner, Did the scanner sound very loud, gravely or bang when it tracked the light back and forth? if yes, then you may have to open it up and see if the mechanism is ok. Also, does it have a position lock? My scanner has 2, and if you don't slide them to the open setting it wont scan. If you going for a new scanner, the I would go to the V500 or upwards, just for the flexibility of scan, if nothing else.
dollymixture
Thanks everyone. @asharnanae I'm not sure if it has a position lock, but I will get it out again and check! It didn't sound loud or bang etc, so I think everything is working okay. I think it may be the software it's not recognising or something like that, but I tried it with two different softwares, the Epson one and another, and still no luck.
I will have to have another look at it and see what it does this time.
Thanks Again
Dolly.
atria007
i use v500 scan all formats..and pay 112 euros 8D