Epson V800-worth upgrading Silverfast 8 to Silverfast Studio?

[Smorton]

This is probably a very premature question but I thought I would ask anyway.

I received my Epson V800 a few days ago. As you know, it comes with Epson scanning software and SilverFast 8 SE. When you use the SilverFast, it becomes apparent you can upgrade to SilverFast Ai Studio 8 at a lowered price.

I am wondering if this is an upgrade that is worth $77.00 which it appears to cost. I was interested in the Multi-Exposure which it claims improves the dynamic range of the scanner and possibly other features such as the iSRD dust and scratch and SRD dust and scratch removal.

I will be scanning in 5 x 7 inch black and white negatives, 120 color and black and white negatives and I may try 35 mm color and black and white negatives.

Any input appreciated.

Thank you.

Smorton

[Oren Grad]

You have ample range for B&W negatives (or color negatives, for that matter) with any decent scan software; you don't need the Multi-Exposure feature to get good scans of B&W or color negatives.

Second, you should look for Epson's "Digital ICE" dust-removal feature in Epson Scan; it's Epson's counterpart to iSRD. You don't need to buy SilverFast Ai to get this feature, though one might split hairs about which does a better job.

Finally, you can't use hardware-based (infrared) dust/scratch removal (like Digital ICE or iSRD) with B&W silver negatives anyway, as the device "sees" the image silver as dirt to be cleaned and does nasty things to the scan.

So the story is the same as with the film holders: best to gain some experience and understand the hardware and software you already have before you decide whether you need to invest in any upgrades and, if so, which ones.

[Smorton]

Thanks for the response. One thing is that I only have the 5 x 7 black and white negatives for a short period of time. I have to learn on the fly. They are very valuable to me and I want the best possible scans I can get.

You basically defer my question rather than answer it and indicate that I need more experience to ask the question. How long do I have to be on the forum to get a direct answer to this question: I am wondering if this is an upgrade that is worth $77.00 which it appears to cost. I was interested in the Multi-Exposure which it claims improves the dynamic range of the scanner and possibly other features such as the iSRD dust and scratch and SRD dust and scratch removal.

Any input highly appreciated.

Smorton

[Oren Grad]

You basically defer my question rather than answer it and indicate that I need more experience to ask the question. How long do I have to be on the forum to get a direct answer to this question: I am wondering if this is an upgrade that is worth $77.00 which it appears to cost. I was interested in the Multi-Exposure which it claims improves the dynamic range of the scanner and possibly other features such as the iSRD dust and scratch and SRD dust and scratch removal.

Sorry if I wasn't clear. In short: my view is that you don't need enhanced dynamic range for scanning negatives, and you don't need to buy SilverFast Ai to get either hardware- or software-based dust/scratch removal - you already have them in Epson Scan.

If $77 is not a lot of money for you and you are concerned that you might be missing something, no harm in buying it and judging for yourself. If budget is tight, my advice is that you can live without it.

FWIW, I have SilverFast Ai for scanning 35mm and medium format film with my Nikon 9000. I have not upgraded from Epson Scan for my V700 - I see no need.

Hope that helps.

[Smorton]

That does help.

Thanks.

Smorton

[williaty]

I just got the V850 and it was only a matter of a couple of hours before I realized I needed to upgrade to Ai Studio 8.8.

I've used EpsonScan, VueScan, and SilverFast for many, many years but I've been out of the film business for the last 5-8 years or so and had to buy a new scanner as I started shooting film again. So I had experience with the various programs and knew what I wanted them to do for me. I know from long practice that it's easier and faster for me to get satisfactory results from Silverfast than from EpsonScan. When I started working with Silverfast SE 8 to try to produce files that Lightroom would handle, it quickly became apparent that SE 8 has a serious limitation with exporting. LaserSoft have chosen not to allow SilverFast SE to export 16bit/ch images from negatives in which the image has been inverted to a positive. My downstream software (Lightroom, ACR, PS) also lacked the ability to invert the image before applying corrections (yes, with a sufficiently detailed workflow I can do it in PS of course) so I HAD to get a positive image out of SilverFast. The only way to do that was to upgrade to SilverFast Ai Studio 8.8 which has the needed export option built right in. Additionally (though it hasn't yet affected me), you must upgrade to Ai Studio to be allowed to create custom film profiles for the NegaFix function, which can be very important if you're shooting color.

In my opinion, if you're scanning negatives, the upgrade to Ai Studio is mandatory and if you're scanning positives it's probably a good idea as well. That's before you even start considering any of the fancy modes that I've never even turned on!

[Peter Gomena]

Multi-exposure is a great concept but unless the scanner's registration is perfect for each pass, you will end up with a soft image. The newer scanners may do better than the older one I tried this with a few years ago, but I was not impressed by the quality of the image. I do like Ai Studio 8, however. I find it to be very versatile. I do wish they would update their negative profiles for "Nega-Fix", however. No Fuji Acros profile! C'mon, guys!

[Jim Andrada]

Another vote in favor of working with what you've got absent some specific issue. I use VueScan and I'm happy with it. But I'll happily use Epson Scan or Silverfast or whatever is handy. I find that even after profiling everything, getting a print to come close enough to what I see on screen is the toughest part of the workflow and a bigger concern than the pluses/minuses of any scanning software.

[Smorton]

My experience so far:

1. SilverFast's ISRD is much better then Epson's Digital Ice when scanning 35 mm color slides. ISRD may work on black and white, Digital Ice does not. This is based on limited testing.
2. The results from the Epson V800 are better than from the Plustek 35 mm scanner (Plustek 8200i).
3. Color scans from VueScan aren't bad.
4. Based on limited use, I would chose SilverFast over Epson scanning if it were for color. Not certain about black and white.
5. I wish I would have asked if the SilverFast upgrade was worthwhile in the context of 5 x 7 inch black and white scans.
6. I have these negatives for a very short period of time. Days, maybe weeks, not months. I got them because I was on the board of a Historical Society. Once gone I will never have them back. I sent them to a lab and my scans are far superior to the labs and it would cost about $1,500 or more to have them all done at this lab.

The Epson scans of the 5 x 7 in black and white produces a very flat scan. Washed out look. I apparently can't use it like many suggest on You Tube, etc. without any change to the settings.

A forum is a marketplace of ideas. If you don't like the question, why not ignore it.

Thank you.

Smorton

[Tin Can]

Don't be mad at us, we can be difficult.

If you like your scans much better than the outside source, go ahead and If somebody will pay for SF great, but many nobodies use Epson or Vuescan and are happy.

The important thing is do the best you can, and return the negs. 20 years hence somebody may try again and do better, but your scans will also exist and be used!

A lot of us chase the impossible, do what is possible. Now, before the negatives are lost to time for whatever reason.

Good luck, as you have already self-selected your mission.