Epson V370 x Epson V550, is it worth the price difference ? (film scan)

[ViniciusGPCruz]

Hey guys, I'll try to make the question as short and clear as possible.

I've been looking into buying a scanner for scanning 35mm b&w and colour negative in special.

Where I live, and considering the money I`ve got available it boils down to two scanner: Epson V370 x Epson V550.
At least here in Brazil, there's a significant price difference between those two (the epson V550 is almost double the price of the V370).

My intented uses is mainly for sharing with friends and family the pictures, and perhaps printing small 10x15cm prints. I've also been wanting to buy a scanner to finally be free from the really bad minilabs and photo-stores scanner we have available here. If I ever want anything printed at higher resolution theres a professional service here that does really nice scans, but it just to expensive to have every single roll of film scanned there.

Now I'm not sure how much anyone here is familiar with those scanner, but is it really worth the price difference between the V370 x V550? From what I can tell resolution and the Dmax is higher on V550, also it has DigitalICE but I've heard that dosen't work on b&w film which is the main type of film I'll be scanning.

Bottom line: I want something that will let me get decent quality scans without going overbudget. I'm an amateur and it's just a hobby after all.

p.s : most topic I've heard regarding similar questions the generally accepted answer seems to be something like "get a dedicated film scanner". While I know in the US/UK at least you can find old dedicated film scanner for a reasonable price, that's not the case where I live. Those are hard to find and expensive. Besided, a flatbed scanner has other uses that are handy for me (you know, stuff that actually has to do with my work).

From what I've looked around such a question has not been asked yet, I apologize in the case I've made a repeted topic.

Best regards

 

[Les Sarile]

I am certain any film capable scanner would be able to provide very good 10x15cm prints. The least capable scanner I've owned and tested was the Epson V500 and it can certainly provide much more detail then can be printed on 10x15cm super glossy.
Digital ICE can be very useful - even if it does in fact degrade detail and sharpness. But if you are only going to scan true b&w film, then you will have to disable this function. If you didn't already know, there is no scanner digital ICE - by any company, that works with true b&w film. I say true b&w film as digital ICE will work on b&w chromogenic films.

I have never used either so I would say that if the price difference is significant between the V370 and V550 for you then buy the V370. I would suggest to be on the lookout for used scanners from a reliable source.

 

[jtk]

Digital Ice does NOT "degrade detail and sharpness"...that's one of the old-time-ignorant notions.

As well, Digital Ice does fine with all B&W films (except for Kodalith)...see my Media for examples.

The only optical system that rivals Nikon V (the common, final version) for "detail and sharpness" is point-light-source enlargement (which I did with my Durst, back when it was trendy). But point light is cruel to dust and scratches that Digital Ice easily eliminates while it sharply records grain and dye cloud dots. To do better than Nikon V you'd have to resort to a top price drum scanner (tho the final Minoltas were theoretically fine..those that actually ran).

The only printing I do now is via Canon Pro10 (previously Epson)...I print on 8.5X11" for proofs and B&W print exchanges...for wall-hanging I standardize on 13X19" which makes the excellence of Nikon scans with Digital Ice from 35mm very obvious.

 

[ViniciusGPCruz]

Les, thanks for the reply. Might end-up going with the cheaper one if it fits my needs. If anyone has tested any of those scanner and can give a opinion I would aprecciate.

Now, the whole Digital-ICE thing. Honestly, if I end up getting a model that has digital-ICE I will probably give it a try myself and see what I think. Otherwise I'll just be speculating.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Les Sarile]

Digital Ice does NOT "degrade detail and sharpness"...that's one of the old-time-ignorant notions.

As well, Digital Ice does fine with all B&W films (except for Kodalith)...see my Media for examples.

Just to be sure, are you using a Nikon Coolscan model and software?

Are you stating that Digital ICE does not degrade detail and sharpness? Do you have examples that show this or is this just casual observations?

Also, are you saying that Digital ICE works with true b&w film? Again do you have examples of this?

 

[jtk]

Just to be sure, are you using a Nikon Coolscan model and software?

Are you stating that Digital ICE does not degrade detail and sharpness? Do you have examples that show this or is this just casual observations?

Also, are you saying that Digital ICE works with true b&w film? Again do you have examples of this?

Yes, Digital Ice does work perfectly with "true b&w film" . Dust-free, grain sharp (e.g. with old 2475 negs processed with DK50) .

That's been well known for a long time, tho some early "reviewers" babbled falsely until they mostly vanished. I've scanned all sorts of Kodak, Fuji, and Dupont (!) 35mm with Nikon V 50ED: no dust.

I've totally avoided tabular b&w films since forever...don't like its looks, prefer digital.

 

[MattKing]

My Canon scanning software disables the Canon version of ICE (aka FARE) when you choose black and white negative film.

 

[jtk]

My Canon scanning software disables the Canon version of ICE (aka FARE) when you choose black and white negative film.

FARE is better than nothing but it's not Digital Ice. Canon would have provided Digital Ice if it wanted to add that to Canon's price. Not equal.

I don't see any point in a flatbed for 35mm but my ancient Epson 3200 is fine for 6X7 up to around 16X20 (thanks to Betterscanning.com film holders).

If I have to replace my Nikon sometime, perhaps a new Plustek with Infared would be a good choice....experience with Plustek would be more interesting than dealing with folklore about Nikon.. NEW Plustek, not used.