Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "iceman15613" <
rwshearer@c...> wrote:
> In trying to decide on upgrades for the digital darkroom, I have 
> been looking at scanners. After talking to Epson regarding the 4870, 
> I am more confused than ever. I was interested in the version of 
> digital ice included with their scanner.

I just bought an Epson 4870 last week as an upgrade from my Epson 3200 
(Buy.com had the 4870 for $390 with free ship). I can't help with you 
Digital Ice question but have a few comments on the sanner in general.

I think the Epson 3200 and 4870 make great "budget" film scanners for 
2 1/4" negs and larger, but are a little lacking for 35mm unless you 
are mostly scanning for the web or relatively small prints (say 5x7 or 
a little bigger). Both of my Epsons max out at about 2400 dpi, and 
don't even match the sharpness of my ancient (in digital years) 
Minolta Scan Dual at that. I get no improvement above 2400dpi. That 
works out quite well for medium format and larger (I mostly scan 
Noblex panoramic negs with it). 8x prints at 300 dpi (2400 dpi at the 
original neg size) look quite good from 2 1/4", but these are large 
prints. 8x from 35mm is sort of okay, but seem a touch wooly.

Also note that the Epsons don't always focus exactly at the right 
point for the negative carriers. My 3200 is perfect, but the 4870 
needs to have the the carrier elevated the thickness of 6 ply mat 
board for best sharpness. That's not much of a problem with the neg 
carriers, but would be a nuisance for slides where the mount actually 
lays right on the glass and the carrier really just keeps them 
aligned.

It may not sound like it, but I really like the Epson. I bought the 
4870 for the larger transparency area (and the moving light source for 
transparencies). That was a worthwhile upgrade for me over the 3200. 
You just don't want to buy it thinking it is going to give the results 
of a 4800 dpi film scanner.

Mark