Medium format on Epson Perfection 4990

[steven]

Hi,
I understand the medium format negative holder will do only two 6x6
negatives on a strip. I was wondering if longer strips (3 times 6x6) won't
get damaged this way? Also, if it doesn't do 3 negatives, I guess it won't
do 6x17 either.
Are there solutions for this, either from Epson, or from third parties?
TIA

Steven

 

[CSM1]

Hi,
I understand the medium format negative holder will do only two 6x6
negatives on a strip. I was wondering if longer strips (3 times 6x6) won't
get damaged this way? Also, if it doesn't do 3 negatives, I guess it won't
do 6x17 either.
Are there solutions for this, either from Epson, or from third parties?
TIA

Steven

I believe you are mis-understanding the specs.
The following is the specs on the Epson 4990 Photo:
Transparency Unit

8" x 10" Transparency Adapter built-in lid with four film holders: 35mm
slides (8 frames), 35mm film strips (24 frames), medium format strips
2-1/4", 120/220mm, 6x12cm (3-6 frames) and 4" x 5" film (2 frames); 8" x 10"
film area guide

Is says that you can do 3 to 6 frames of 120 film strips. I interpret that
to mean two 2 1/4" strips of three frames each in a holder side by side.
After all the scanning width on that scanner is 8".

 

[-]

Is says that you can do 3 to 6 frames of 120 film strips. I interpret that

to mean two 2 1/4" strips of three frames each in a holder side by side.
After all the scanning width on that scanner is 8".

The OEM Epson holder has three windows and each one is approx. 122 mm long
if I remember right. Measure your actual film frame sizes as well as the
length of spacing between each frame to see how many frames from a single
strip will fit into theis 122 mm spacing.

Doug

 

[steven]

I believe you are mis-understanding the specs.
The following is the specs on the Epson 4990 Photo:
Transparency Unit

8" x 10" Transparency Adapter built-in lid with four film holders: 35mm
slides (8 frames), 35mm film strips (24 frames), medium format strips
2-1/4", 120/220mm, 6x12cm (3-6 frames) and 4" x 5" film (2 frames); 8" x 10"
film area guide

Is says that you can do 3 to 6 frames of 120 film strips. I interpret that
to mean two 2 1/4" strips of three frames each in a holder side by side.
After all the scanning width on that scanner is 8".

Found the manual at
http://files.support.epson.com/htmldocs/pr49ph/pr49phrf/set_1.htm.
It seems Doug is right: it does only two 6x6 negatives per strip, to a
maximum of three. I don't understand why they didn't design the holder to
take a wider strip, because, as you say, the scanning width is 216mm. This
means the negative holder won't scan two 6x7s on one strip, let alone a
6x17.
The MF Film Holder Doug linked to may be a solution, but I can't say I find
it cheap (if I count shipping and VAT). Does anyone have any experience with
this dingus, or other alternatives?

 

[CSM1]

Found the manual at
http://files.support.epson.com/htmldocs/pr49ph/pr49phrf/set_1.htm.
It seems Doug is right: it does only two 6x6 negatives per strip, to a
maximum of three. I don't understand why they didn't design the holder to
take a wider strip, because, as you say, the scanning width is 216mm. This
means the negative holder won't scan two 6x7s on one strip, let alone a
6x17.
The MF Film Holder Doug linked to may be a solution, but I can't say I
find
it cheap (if I count shipping and VAT). Does anyone have any experience
with
this dingus, or other alternatives?

I do not want to gloat, buy my Canon Canoscan 8400F 120 film holder will do
three frames. However it is only one strip.

 

[steven]

I do not want to gloat, buy my Canon Canoscan 8400F 120 film holder will do
three frames. However it is only one strip.

Seems it will, and a lot cheaper than the Epson too. Major drawback for me:
DMax of 3.3 where the Epson has a DMax of 4. Not all that important for
negatives, but it is for slide film.

 

[Wilfred]

Seems it will, and a lot cheaper than the Epson too. Major drawback for me:
DMax of 3.3 where the Epson has a DMax of 4. Not all that important for
negatives, but it is for slide film.

My Canon 9950F does two strips of roll film. For the 6x4.5 I usually
scan it does 4 frames per strip, so I guess that will be 3 per strip for
the square format. According to a recent test in a German photo
magazine, the measured Dmax of the 9950F is (IIRC) 3.8, whereas that of
the Epson 4990 was 3.3 - even though Epson claims more.
The 9950F is also cheaper than the 4990.

 

[steven]

My Canon 9950F does two strips of roll film. For the 6x4.5 I usually
scan it does 4 frames per strip, so I guess that will be 3 per strip for
the square format. According to a recent test in a German photo
magazine, the measured Dmax of the 9950F is (IIRC) 3.8, whereas that of
the Epson 4990 was 3.3 - even though Epson claims more.
The 9950F is also cheaper than the 4990.

3.8 is also the value Canon claims, though the small print says "Canon
internal measurement".
Epson doesn't mention any measurement details at all, but I guess it will be
"internal measurement" as well. Which should be read as "we invented a way
to make the figures look good, but we can't tell you, 'cause otherwise you'd
know it's a fraud".

I'm a bit surprised by the differences: 3.8/3.8 for the Canon, 4.0/3.3 for
the Epson. Can anyone confirm these numbers?
I'm prepared to have a look at the Canon (with some reluctance, though. We
have a small Canon scanner at work at I think the software sucks).

 

[Wilfred]

some reluctance, though. We
have a small Canon scanner at work at I think the software sucks).

The software isn't perfect but the scanner also works well with VueScan.

 

[steven]

My Canon 9950F does two strips of roll film. For the 6x4.5 I usually
scan it does 4 frames per strip, so I guess that will be 3 per strip for
the square format. According to a recent test in a German photo
magazine, the measured Dmax of the 9950F is (IIRC) 3.8, whereas that of
the Epson 4990 was 3.3 - even though Epson claims more.
The 9950F is also cheaper than the 4990.

OK, I fell for the 4990. It does 3 strips of two 6x6 frames, where I'd liked
2 strips of 3 frames better. The current arrangement of the negative holder
allows for uncut film, but I'll have to look for another film holder if I
ever will go to 6x17 :-(
As for DMax, I'm quite happy with the first results, whatever the numbers
may be. I can see details in both blacks and hilights which I missed when
printing in the darkroom.

 

[Robert Feinman]

OK, I fell for the 4990. It does 3 strips of two 6x6 frames, where I'd liked
2 strips of 3 frames better. The current arrangement of the negative holder
allows for uncut film, but I'll have to look for another film holder if I
ever will go to 6x17 :-(
As for DMax, I'm quite happy with the first results, whatever the numbers
may be. I can see details in both blacks and hilights which I missed when
printing in the darkroom.

Doug Fisher makes a holder for the Epson and roll film that holds
the film the the long dimension. Do a search on his name to find the
site.

 

[steven]

Doug Fisher makes a holder for the Epson and roll film that holds
the film the the long dimension. Do a search on his name to find the
site.

I'm aware of this product. It's not exactly what I want either (why can't it
handle 2 strips?) and I'd also need the ANR insert to do 6x17s. And as I
would be ordering from Europe, which means import tax and VAT, it ain't
cheap either.
I made the suggestion to Epson to make a 2 x 3 holder as an alternative for
the 3 x 2 holder. If you don't ask...
Thanks for the reply anyway.
Steven