What is currently the next level up from the Epsom flat bed scanners that will work with 4 x 5 film?
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What is currently the next level up from the Epsom flat bed scanners that will work with 4 x 5 film?
Any topline DSLR
High-end flatbeds such as the Eversmart, iQsmart, Cezanne, etc. .
Of course drum scanners, if you are okay with the workflow.
The Imacon/Hasselblad as well.
DSLR scanning if you can build a sufficient system - off-the-shelf stuff is available at a much higher cost.
Sadly, Epson now has near a monopoly.
https://www.largeformatphotography.i...-Drum-Scanners
Manufactured today, the Hasselblad X1/X5 is way better than the Epson for 35mm film, but for 4x5 is equal to the Epson if not counting ultra deep shadows in velvia.
A Epson V850 delivers around 130MPix effective from a 4x5" sheet, a drum will take some 350MPix effective if scanning at 4000dpi, but it will deliver an inferior result than the Epson if scanning at 2000dpi.
So, in practice, and if wanting a new scanner, next level up from the Epson is learning to use the Epson in proficient way.
A DIY DSLR scanner may also beat the Epson, but you should stitch around 9 (good) DSLR shots in PS for that (a 3x3 mosaic), this will be slightly better. A 2x2 mosaic won't beat the Epson, consider that a 50MPix sensor won't yield 50MPix effective, but a lot less.
Eversmart, iQsmart, Cezanne are not better in practice for 4x5", The V850 delivers a less optimized image that always admits some additional sharpening in Ps, but once you do that samples are pretty equal:
https://www.largeformatphotography.i...=1#post1479178
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4857/4...010da815_o.jpg
Those samples speak on their own, it has to be noted that Pali K, the guy that made that side by side, knows what an scanner is. You have the V700 sample at the side of an Eversmart sample. This ends any debate :)
Then the V850 has drivers for modern computers, official service and warranty. An old pre-press hi-end scanner can be a nightmare if having a problem, and with a Cezanne you have to stitch strips to "in theory" beat the Epson, but in practice the single way to beat the Epson in 4x5" is making a high dpi drum scan.
Of course this is how a 10-page debate starts between the usual suspects.
To the OP: those of use who use high-end flatbeds do it for a reason. Artificial sharpening isn't resolution. They can be a hassle to setup and use, that's true, but if you have the room and ability to run an older dedicated computer, it's not that bad.
The own a Cezanne and have used it for quite a while and have made massive exhibition prints that simply can't be done with scans from an Epson. No debate needed, I've used them both along with many other scanners and speak from experience, not hypotheticals. Good luck.
PS: There's a zillion threads on this already. No need to rehash all of it.
Perhaps this thread could be about scanners in production and for sale in most of the world.
New, not rebuilt, not nos, not not...
OMG, here we go again. Do a search. Everything that could be said has be said ad nauseam.
Fair.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tin Can
Flextight and camera-scan systems are about it I think?
Flextight is discontinued now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Corran
Oh! I Google'd it and saw info on the Hasselblad site so assumed it was still available. Oh well.