scanner suggestions--Canon9900f or Epson4870/Pro

[Raymond Bleesz]

Perhaps some of you have had a hands on experience with either the Canon9900f or the Epson4870/Pro scanners------please share them with me.

I have to replace my Epson Expression 800Pro. I am undecided upon the above. I am also undecided if the Epson 4870 basic is satisfactory or if the Pro version is worth the extra money.

My needs are to scan prints, negatives/trannies from 35mm, 2 1/4, 6x7, 6x9 & 4x5.

For those of you who have not had a hands on experience but have an opinion or info worth sharing, I would appreciate your input.

[Ralph Barker]

I use an Epson 3200, the 4870's predecessor, for scanning prints and 4x5 negs and trannies. It does an excellent job on prints, and a decent-to-good job on 4x5 (depending on how critical one is). For smaller film formats, however, I prefer to use a dedicated film scanner - in my case a Polaroid Sprintscan 120. With the higher magnification ratios needed for the smaller formats, the 3200 isn't quite sharp enough for my tastes. I suspect the same would hold true for the 4870 or the Canon 9900f.

The difference on the 3200 "Pro" model was additional color calibration software, nothing hardware-wise. Potentially worth the additional cost if one does a fair amount of color work, but perhaps not with just B&W. I assume the same difference holds true with the 4870 models.

If your "old" Epson Expression 800pro is still working, you might want to leave it connected, too. I still use mine for scanning full PrintFile sheets (35mm, 120, and 4x5) as "contact prints", and for scanning 8x10 negs.