Epson v750 for print scanning

[rumblings]

I hope to buy an Epson scanner soon to use mainly for scanning old photos.

Should I buy the expensive V750? It has two features which the cheaper
Epson scanners don't have. Is it worth paying the extra for these??

The features I refer to are:

1. Hi Pass Optical System
2. Dmax of 4 instead of 3.2


The hi pass optical system sounds a useful feature but I know that the
mirrors become dusty over time and was wondering if over a period of say
3 years, I'd get better results than the V750 by buying a cheaper model
(eg the 4490) and replacing it after say 18 months (to overcome the
problems of dust in the light path)

I suppose I'm asking, Does the V750 have noticable advantages over the
4490 for print scanning?

 

[Ole-Hjalmar Kristensen]

r> I hope to buy an Epson scanner soon to use mainly for scanning old photos.
r> Should I buy the expensive V750? It has two features which the cheaper
r> Epson scanners don't have. Is it worth paying the extra for these??


r> The features I refer to are:

r> 1. Hi Pass Optical System
r> 2. Dmax of 4 instead of 3.2


r> The hi pass optical system sounds a useful feature but I know that the
r> mirrors become dusty over time and was wondering if over a period of
r> say 3 years, I'd get better results than the V750 by buying a cheaper
r> model (eg the 4490) and replacing it after say 18 months (to overcome
r> the problems of dust in the light path)


r> I suppose I'm asking, Does the V750 have noticable advantages over the
r> 4490 for print scanning?

In my opinion, no. I have the 4990, and it is more than sufficient for
scanning prints. I think the 4490 would be much the same.

 

[tomm42]

I hope to buy an Epson scanner soon to use mainly for scanning old photos.

Should I buy the expensive V750? It has two features which the cheaper
Epson scanners don't have. Is it worth paying the extra for these??

The features I refer to are:

1. Hi Pass Optical System
2. Dmax of 4 instead of 3.2

The hi pass optical system sounds a useful feature but I know that the
mirrors become dusty over time and was wondering if over a period of say
3 years, I'd get better results than the V750 by buying a cheaper model
(eg the 4490) and replacing it after say 18 months (to overcome the
problems of dust in the light path)

I suppose I'm asking, Does the V750 have noticable advantages over the
4490 for print scanning?

The V700 is very close to the V750, DMax of 3.6 or 3.8, and the same
HiPass Optical System. The main difference is the V750 has coated
optical glass while the V700 has regular glass, the V750 comes with a
full Silverfast scannning program. I have found this to be an
excellent scanner for paper images and does very good transparent
media scanning too. About $200 less than the V750.

Tom

 

[rumblings]

The V700 is very close to the V750, DMax of 3.6 or 3.8, and the same
HiPass Optical System. The main difference is the V750 has coated
optical glass while the V700 has regular glass, the V750 comes with a
full Silverfast scannning program. I have found this to be an
excellent scanner for paper images and does very good transparent
media scanning too. About $200 less than the V750.

Tom

Looking at http://www.epson.co.uk/scanners/epson_scanners.htm
only the V750 has the High pass optical system. The V700 does not but it
has the same Dmax (4.0). Perhaps they are differently specced in the
UK?? The V700 is about £113 cheaper here but still nearly £340. The 4490
(Dmax 3.4) is £130 - ie less than one third of the price of the V750.
Would the V750 (or V700) results be any better when scanning old photos??

 

[Robert Jasiek]

Can those of you with a V10, V100, V200, V350, V500, or 4490 please
report how well the scanner scans from printed media or books? Is it
only a rumour or a fact that an A4 scan is a bit unsharp and dark at
the edges? (Two reviewers of the V10 have said so elsewhere, but is it
the scanner's fault or does it suffice to darken the room?.) How
accurate (close to the original) are the colours after scanning?

 

[-]

If you are only going to be doing reflective scanning of printed pictures,
the 4490 will do as well as the 700/750.

Doug

 

[Robert Jasiek]

If you are only going to be doing reflective scanning of printed pictures,
the 4490 will do as well as the 700/750.

I wonder if the V10 will do as well instead of the 4490?

 

[rumblings]

If you are only going to be doing reflective scanning of printed pictures,
the 4490 will do as well as the 700/750.

Doug

Thanks for your reply. Looking at some of your past postings I get the
impression you know what you are talking about. There was a suggestion
in one thread that the V700 is cleaner on the underside of the glass and
also easier to clean there - Can you comment on this??

 

[Barry Watzman]

Re: "I know that the mirrors become dusty over time and was wondering if
over a period of say 3 years, I'd get better results than the V750 by
buying a cheaper model (eg the 4490) and replacing it after say 18
months (to overcome the problems of dust in the light path)"

Mirrors can be cleaned. It's not that difficult to do.

 

[rumblings]

Re: "I know that the mirrors become dusty over time and was wondering if
over a period of say 3 years, I'd get better results than the V750 by
buying a cheaper model (eg the 4490) and replacing it after say 18
months (to overcome the problems of dust in the light path)"

Mirrors can be cleaned. It's not that difficult to do.

I clean the glass regularly but have not been successful with the
mirrors. I've tried using compressed air but as the tin was tipped up,
fluid came out and has left a residue on the mirror. The other problem
is that as they are mirrors and facing each other it is extremely
difficult to distinguish reflections from what is real. I don't think I
could clean them properly without dismantling them and haven't had the
courage to try that. In any case, I doubt I could restore them to mint
condition. My current scanner is an Espon 3200. On which scanner do you
find the mirrors "not that difficult to do"???

 

[Barry Watzman]

Put some Windex on a Q-tip, clean the mirror, wipe gently with a dry
Q-tip, then blow dry with compressed air; you may need to repeat this on
a really dirty mirror. It works fine on the Nikon scanners that I am
servicing, and those are front-surface mirror (as are probably the
mirrors in your Epson scanner). Front surface mirrors can be easily
scratched, but Q-tips seem to be fine if used carefully.

 

[rumblings]

Interesting. I wouldn't have thought of using something as small as a
cotton bud for such a large area. Is Windex water based?? Is it better
than using methanol? I'll likely try out this technique next time.

Access to the mirrors on the 3200 is through a 4mm wide slot, with the
bulb right next to it and difficult to remove. Looking down through the
slot, it is very difficult to see what is what due to the reflections.
The unit doesn't look easy to open up and I suppose I've been afraid of
not re-seating components properly if I did. Another difficulty is that
as inside is an enclosed space, compressed air is likely to leave a
portion of the dust in there. Guess I should have a look at Epson forums.

Does this sound like the Nikons you service?? - and are they flatbeds or
do you service Coolscans??

 

[Leonard Evens]

I hope to buy an Epson scanner soon to use mainly for scanning old photos.

Should I buy the expensive V750? It has two features which the cheaper
Epson scanners don't have. Is it worth paying the extra for these??

The features I refer to are:

1. Hi Pass Optical System
2. Dmax of 4 instead of 3.2


The hi pass optical system sounds a useful feature but I know that the
mirrors become dusty over time and was wondering if over a period of say
3 years, I'd get better results than the V750 by buying a cheaper model
(eg the 4490) and replacing it after say 18 months (to overcome the
problems of dust in the light path)

I suppose I'm asking, Does the V750 have noticable advantages over the
4490 for print scanning?

If you already have a 3200, I'm not sure why you have to upgrade if you
are just going to be scanning prints. Print dynamic range is pretty
low so you don't need an increased dmax. Similarly you are unlikely to
need the higher resolution. Prints are unlikely to have enough fine
detail to enlarge enough where the extra resolution would make a difference.

 

[rumblings]

If you already have a 3200, I'm not sure why you have to upgrade if you
are just going to be scanning prints. Print dynamic range is pretty
low so you don't need an increased dmax. Similarly you are unlikely to
need the higher resolution. Prints are unlikely to have enough fine
detail to enlarge enough where the extra resolution would make a
difference.

dirty mirrors

 

[Barry Watzman]

I service the coolscans. I am presuming that you are going to
disassemble the unit enough to get good, total, unrestricted access. Is
it risky? Yes, but you are apparently at the point of giving up use of
the scanner anyway.

 

[rumblings]

I service the coolscans. I am presuming that you are going to
disassemble the unit enough to get good, total, unrestricted access. Is
it risky? Yes, but you are apparently at the point of giving up use of
the scanner anyway.

I'm glad you are retracting the statement that cleaning the mirrors is
"not that difficult to do". I don't know if dismantling the unit is
risky or not.

The scanner has had over four years of use but is still fine for
documents and general use and I intend to use it for that and save my
new scanner - when I get it - for photographic stuff. It is too easy to
accidentally scratch the glass with general use. I've had to replace it
once already. (Espon were very helpful and advised me of suitable
suppliers for a new top which was reasonably prices)

 

[Barry Watzman]

The difficulty varies from scanner to scanner. In some it's trivial, in
others it's nearly impossible. But most flatbed scanners are made so
that the top cover (including the glass) can be removed and everything
can be cleaned without too much difficult. MOST. Not all.

 

[Ole-Hjalmar Kristensen]

Interesting. Where did you get your new glass from?




r> I'm glad you are retracting the statement that cleaning the mirrors is
r> "not that difficult to do". I don't know if dismantling the unit is
r> risky or not.


r> The scanner has had over four years of use but is still fine for
r> documents and general use and I intend to use it for that and save my
r> new scanner - when I get it - for photographic stuff. It is too easy
r> to accidentally scratch the glass with general use. I've had to
r> replace it once already. (Espon were very helpful and advised me of
r> suitable suppliers for a new top which was reasonably prices)

 

[rumblings]

Interesting. Where did you get your new glass from?

Expressterminals 01765 694100 (UK)

I was fobbed of at first with the usual stuff about no user serviceable
parts and send it to an Espon agent etc but then they gave me a few
contacts and I bought it from the one above. If you are thinking about
doing the same do you have the pdf on opening the scanner up??

 

[Ole-Hjalmar Kristensen]

Thanks for the info.
No, I haven't got the pdf. It seems a bit difficult to get at the
screws. If you have documentatio of how to open the scanner, I'm
interested.