Microtek ScanMaker 8700

[Per Berntsen]

I have been offered this scanner, and wonder if someone could tell me if it's any sharper than the current Epsons. I scan 4 x 5 film.

[James E Galvin]

I gave up on the 8700 because of noise, especially in skys. Looks like lots of grain. It seems that there was a tradeoff of noise for speed, in its day it was a very fast scanner. Don't know about the sharpness vs newer Epsons, but a Polaroid Sprintscan 45 Ultra is quite a bit sharper.

[Ted Harris]

The simple answer is no. Stay with one of the current generation scanners from Microtek or Epson.

[Per Berntsen]

That's what I suspected, since there's hardly any mention of it on this forum.
Thanks anyway.