Epson 3200

[Ben Calwell]

Anyone here still using an Epson 3200 scanner for 4x5 black-and-white negs? They're plentiful on the auction site at cheap prices. Looking to finally start scanning, but don't have a lot of money to spend.

[Louis Pacilla]

I'm not familiar w/ the Epson 3200 scanner but I do know the Epson Perfection 4990 has a good reputation for an older generation flatbed scanner and can be found on Craigslist and eBay priced well below 100 bucks. Here's a review from way back in 2001-05 from old Ken Rockwell http://www.kenrockwell.com/epson/4990.htm .Make sure you get all the negative holders for the different size negs your wanting to scan because to find them on the used open marketplace can be a bitch.

[Jim Jones]

I used an Epson 2400 for years. It came fairly close to my present V700 for 4x5 negatives. Neither was good enough for 35mm except for cataloging purposes. For that, transparent negative files can be laid directly on the glass and all scanned together in one pass. A sheet of glass holds them flat. That's much quicker than using film guides. Before buying an older scanner, make sure that drivers appropriate for your computer are available.

[David Lobato]

The Epson 3200 is 15 years old. Back then I had a 2450 and a friend had the 3200. We did comparison tests and one thing common was grain aliasing, otherwise known as noise. Smooth skies were rife with large grain like artifacts. That was the weak point in my view. Find a 4990 or V700 for better results.

[Molli]

Ben, if you're using Windows 8 or 10 and you purchase the 3200, you're going to have to "trick" your computer into thinking you're running a 4490 or higher as Epson no longer supports the 3200 or supplies updated drivers for newer operating systems. If you're using a Mac, I'm sorry, but I've no idea what the compatibility status is there. Had the option been available, I'd have bought a 4990 (not a 4490 - it only goes up to 4x5). The 4990 scans up to 8x10 negatives. To me, Epson have been charging more for less every time they bring out a new scanner.

[Ben Calwell]

Thanks for the advice -- I'll look for a 4990 or V700, for sure.

[mdarnton]

I was looking to get into LF on a budget, and ended up with a HP G4050. It takes film up to 8x10, and used ones are dirt cheap. No, it's not the latest whiz-bang, but scanning large film is about the easiest job a scanner can do, and I work nowhere near the resolution limit of this or any film scanner for large film. I just drop the film on the glass and use Vuescan (the HP software is junk). If you scan 4x5 at 2000dpi, that's 8000x10000--certainly big enough for anything I will ever do. In fact, since my printer is 13x19", I scan at much lower res than that. Cheap on Ebay--Like $50 or so.

[Gary Beasley]

I’ve had a 3200 for quite a few years lately having to run it with Vuescan. It’s held up pretty good and does a respectable job for what I want. I’ve never noticed those clear sky artifacts unless I try to use too much unsharp mask but then I dont scan to print very often either.

[Allan B]

I know it's been a while since you posted, but here is my opinion if you are considering a Epson 3200. I use mine with Vuescan. The scans on 4x5 black and white are "ok". Good enough for a nice 16x20. From 4x5 color negatives, the color is hard to get right. I am sure a newer Epson is probably better and if you need very large prints or are a perfectionist, a drum scan is much better.

I use it for 35mm slides to put on the web. The images are a little blurry. Don't use them to print big or for critical work.
Unfortunately, I don't own a medium format camera, so I cannot comment on the quality of a scan for that format.

I got my Epson 3200 for only $40 on Craigslist. Vuescan was $39 at the time. I think it's much more now for Vuescan, get the version that does film scans.

For large format, it is a good deal, if you get an older Epson scanner with all the film holders, at the right price.

Allan

I’ve had a 3200 for quite a few years lately having to run it with Vuescan. It’s held up pretty good and does a respectable job for what I want. I’ve never noticed those clear sky artifacts unless I try to use too much unsharp mask but then I dont scan to print very often either.

[Ben Calwell]

Thanks for the reply. I actually bought a V700 from a forum member a while back and am very happy with it.