Learning the Epson v750 - Tips?

[gtownby]

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Just got the Epson v750 last week. I'll probably stick with the SilverFast Ai that came with it. Very excited at the prospect of putting Tri-X, Plus-X, and Portra into my digital workflow (while also using my lab guy for gelatin silver heroes).

 

First question, about the most basic one can get: How do you clean the glass?!

 

I've much to learn about scanning and I'm hoping to find a helpful discussion forum. Is this it, or is the digital post processing forum the place to post?

 

Thanks, all. And yes, I love my MP (and 500 C/M).

[nhabedi]

Just got the Epson v750 last week. I'll probably stick with the SilverFast Ai that came with it.

 

I realize this is not what you asked for, but my experience with the v750 (which I otherwise like very much) so far has been that the Silverfast software doesn't cut it for Tri-X. I've used Silverfast before, with other (Nikon) scanners, and there I usually found it to better than the vendor's own software (albeit their user interface is a joke IMHO), but in the case of the Epson I wasn't impressed. The Epson software gives me better results with less effort.

 

I'd be interested in hearing if others had similar experiences. Maybe I'm simply doing something wrong. (Note that this is only about black-and-white and mostly about Tri-X.)

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[Guest maddoc2003jp]

I have the Epson V700 and use it with the original Epson software. This way I get better results than with Vuescan (which I had bought for a Nikon Coolscan V ED, long time sold).

 

Since recently, I used the ANR glass inserts from betterscanning (for 135 film) to hold the film flat (which is essential with these scanners). Now the trick is to roll self-developed film opposite to its natural curling (emulsion side outside) and store it over night this way. The result are perfect flat negs, which scan very easily.

 

One more tip, make sure that the 135 film holder is set to the correct height.

 

Cheers,

 

Gabor

[semrich]

Like Gabor I've used the Silverfast that came with it and was also less than impressed, now I only use the Epson software with good results in 135 &120 formats.

 

I also use the ANR glass from Better Scanning and like the results.

[cocker]

I use the v750 pro for Medium and Large Format and find Silverfast Studio best! (I've tried Epson software and Vuescan) But with my Nikon 5000 for 35mm I find the Nikon software better than the two others. I just wasn't happy with the 750 for 35mm. I use the Betterscanning Carrier with the 750 and agree, time spent calibrating the height is time well spent.

[nhabedi]

I use the v750 pro for Medium and Large Format and find Silverfast Studio best! (I've tried Epson software and Vuescan) But with my Nikon 5000 for 35mm I find the Nikon software better than the two others.

 

What types of film? Note that I was talking about black-and-white and specifically Tri-X. I have no idea how well Silverfast works for color slides or negatives - I don't even have any.

[cocker]

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What types of film? Note that I was talking about black-and-white and specifically Tri-X. I have no idea how well Silverfast works for color slides or negatives - I don't even have any.

 

B&W - Tri-X, HP5, FP4, primarily.

[nhabedi]

B&W - Tri-X, HP5, FP4, primarily.

 

Interesting. In my case, I had some shots which admittedly were a bit problematic and Silverfast's default result was completely unusable - too much contrast and details lost both in the highlights as well as the shadows. With a lot of tweaking I was able to get better results, but the default result from the Epson software was even better and I didn't have to do anything.

[Shootist]

I had a V750 Pro and like it with the Epson software, never got on with the Silverfast.

I sold that scanner when I decided to get out of film and then I decided to get back into film and bought a V700.

I didn't seem to get good scans from it and wondered why. The other night I was going to do some scans and took a long look at the glass on the scanner.

What I noticed was that the glass was dirty on the INSIDE.

I popped off the little buttons on the four corners of the cover and took that off and cleaned the inside of the glass. Now the scans are much better.

So take a good look at the glass, I used a flashlight at a angle, and see if it's dirty on the inside.

[drums1977]

I have a V700 and recently I was wondering the same thing. Going back to the original question, how do you guys clean the glass?

[Shootist]

I have a V700 and recently I was wondering the same thing. Going back to the original question, how do you guys clean the glass?

 

I just use a good glass cleaner most of the time and then every now and then use denatured or 90% isopropyl alcohol.

A glass guy I know says the glass cleaners can leave a slight film on the glass over repeated cleanings and the alcohol will remove that film.

[Tim B]

Hi, I've been using the 750 for quite while, about 10 months, for MF mostly, but also for a quick "contact sheet" scan of 35mm before high res scans on my Minolta 5400.

 

Don't forget Vuescan - currently my favourite although with a steep learning curve and unintuitive interface. It fully implements all the hardware functions of the 750.

 

Cleaning the glass. I use a soft microfibre cloth and if I need something a little more fluid I might use a little proprietary lens fluid (Eclipse) or even something for cleaning screens. I try very hard to keep my fingers off it! I cover the scanner when not in use to keep at least some dust out.

 

Happy scanning.

 

Tim

[MPerson]

I use my 750 Pro for medim format only and quite happy with the Epson software.

 

Cleaning: isopropyl alcohol on a soft cloth.

 

When not in use I have a large yellow duster covering the glass with the lid holding it in place. A tip I got from a pro graphic artist is once the scanner has cooled down I cover it in a sheet of large size cling film/food wrap. No dust problems and it works on my Coolscan too.

[leica dream]

I have been using a V700 for digitising some very old 35mm colour transparencies, and like most people above, I have found the Epson software gives much better results than Silverfast. Microfibre cloth usually solves any cleaning problems for me.

Richard

[dritz]

Has anyone figured out how to do batch scanning of slides or filmstrips without Epson software cropping off 20% of the image? I haven't. I understand that for "easy" mode they might crop to secure clean edges, but in the "expert" mode they should oversize the scan area and let the photographer crop. The widest adjustment in the Epson software still loses nearly 20% of the image.

 

Thanks.

[nhabedi]

Has anyone figured out how to do batch scanning of slides or filmstrips without Epson software cropping off 20% of the image? I haven't. I understand that for "easy" mode they might crop to secure clean edges, but in the "expert" mode they should oversize the scan area and let the photographer crop. The widest adjustment in the Epson software still loses nearly 20% of the image.

 

Works for me. You have to work in "Professional Mode" and uncheck the "Thumbnails" checkbox.

[gtownby]

You guys are awesome. Thanks for the tips. I'll definitely try out the Epson software.

 

If I get stuck on something, I'll definitely look to this forum for help . . . .

[Guest maddoc2003jp]

What I noticed was that the glass was dirty on the INSIDE.

I popped off the little buttons on the four corners of the cover and took that off and cleaned the inside of the glass. Now the scans are much better.

So take a good look at the glass, I used a flashlight at a angle, and see if it's dirty on the inside.

 

Very good and helpful tip !! I am using my V700 for nearly two years on a daily basis and recently wondered why the contrast of my scanned films went down ... Before every scan I clean the outer surface with a microfiber cloth but totally overlooked possibly dirt on the inner side.

[dritz]

Works for me. You have to work in "Professional Mode" and uncheck the "Thumbnails" checkbox.

 

Bingo! It was that "thumbnail" checkbox. Many thanks.

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[leica dream]

Not sure how you get to the inside of the glass on a V700, the instructions don't cover that.

Richard