Scanning 645 Format Film.

[winger]

I have the 4870. To do MF, it has to be in Pro mode (at the top of the Epson saftware). Then, you have an arrow on the right edge of the preview button. Click it and you have a choice - make sure "normal" is checked off instead of "thumbnail". Once it goes through warming up and creating the preview, you'll see everything on the scanbed. You'll have to select each frame one at a time, but you'll still have just as much control over each. You just can't set it to scan a whole bunch at once. PM me if this doesn't make sense. I do it a lot and have had good enough results that I've had some printed at 11x14 from my scan (and they did look good).

PS - I haven't scanned anything using Silverfast, yet, just from the Epson software.

[nc5p]

I do mine in a 4990, just preview and draw frame lines around the frames I want to scan, then scan them all at once. It works great and I'm thrilled with the results. My only complaint is I can only do six at a time, but that's not that big a deal.

Doug

[George Collier]

I have a 4990 also, and sometimes don't use the plastic holder, but lay the film on the glass, with a piece of 8x10 clean picture frame glass on top of the film, then lower the top platten. I have pieces of tape on the top side of the glass at two corners (stuck to the glass with a pulled up section to make "handles") I place it down, after taping the film to the scanner glass - all verrrry carefully.
The top piece holds the film flat, and I find that the scans are sharper (the scanner seems to be able to find the plane of the emulsion.
Yes, there's more to clean, but it matters not the shape of the neg. I also used this method to scan some 100 year old negs from my family - many and odd film sizes.
One other thing - I find it easier to optimize the scanner settings for each neg (whether using the plastic holder or not) if the cropping marquee in the scanning software cuts out all of the border area, leaving only true highlights for reference for the high values. I never scan a whole strip in one scan, the unexposed borders throw off the scanner settings. As Doug mentions, I also set up several, then multiple scan while I refill the mug.

[Lotus M50]

Nikon 8000. Should be used ones in good shape since the Nikon 9000 came out.

The Nikon 8000 is pretty good, except for the film holder. The 120 film film holder supplied with the scanner is really pretty bad. it doesn'thold the film flat enough. If you get a Nikon 8000 or 9000, make sure you spend the extra $250 (or so) for the optional glass 120 film holder (or $400 for one of the third party wet mount 120 film holders).

[Willie Jan]

i use silverfast with my epson 3200.

I am thinking about buying from epson the neg. holders for the next model, which are vertical and not horizontal so that a 120 format can be scanned in one cycle in stead of moving the neg each time.....