Scanner decision

[sunnyroller]

I need to buy a scanner. I am not taking any classes this semester so I don't have access to the ones at school right now. For my budget I have narrowed it down to the HP 4890 and the Epson 4490. They are essentially the same price: $199 for the HP and 249 for the Epson with a 50 rebate taking the epson to $199 as well. The Epson only does negs up to 2 1/4, but the HP goes up to 4 x 5. Right now I shoot 90% MF and 10% 35mm, but hope to someday have a 4 x5.

At school we used the Epson 4990 Pro and they were nice. Though I always had a problem with MF adapters not holding the film taut enough and I would invariably end up with Newton's Rings. I ended up making my own holders out of matboard to work around the problem. I was wondering if I did the same thing to make 4 x 5 holders out of matboard would it work with the 4490? Is there something other than the holder that keeps it from doing larger than MF negs/trannys.

I am a little sheepish about asking this question on this forum, but I really value the opinions and perspectives held by this community. I know you won't steer me wrong!

Thanks,
Sunny

[roteague]

I'm sorry, I don't have a good answer for you. I just got the Epson 4990 a couple of weeks ago, and love it. However, I would go with the 4490 if possible. By the time you get ready to go to LF, there may be better scanners available. Buy what works for you now, the way technology evolves, don't buy for the furture, unless it is the near future.

[GerryG]

The Epson 4990 scanner will scan negatives up to 8x10. You probably just don't have the templates for the 4x5 and 8x10 negatives.

[mgb74]

RE: 4x5 holders, I've heard good comments on these film holders but have not used them myself:

http://home.earthlink.net/~dougfishe.../mfholder.html

[donbga]

[QUOTE=mgb74]RE: 4x5 holders, I've heard good comments on these film holders but have not used them myself:

http://home.earthlink.net/~dougfishe.../mfholder.html[/QUOTE

Currently, Doug only produces a medium format holder.

Don Bryant

[sunnyroller]

Thanks for all the input! I just saw that holder on ebay and will definately get one when I get a scanner. I would have killed to have on like that last semester--I fought with scanning my negatives the whole time.

Sunny