Epson Perfection 4870 Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

Heinz Anderle
( Expert)

Review Date
February 4, 2006

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
4 votes

Review 1 of 3

Price Paid: $400.00 from tech store in Vienna

Summary:

Highly recommendable for amateur medium format photography and professional large-format photography, the Epson 4870 delivers publishing-quality transparency scans with good shadow detail.

Strengths:

A measured D max of 3,9 and an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio of 2,88 at 1/700 transmission (Color Foto 3/2004) enable scanning of transparencies. The scanner is hardware-controllable from the third-party software VueScan which allows to adjust the CCD sensor exposure to compensate for under- or overexposed slides.

Weaknesses:

In laboratory tests for computer and photo magazines, a physical resolution of 1600 x 1700 dpi was measured using test charts (Color Foto, c't). To achieve an image resolution of at most half the specified value, unsharp masking in Adobe Photoshop is necessary. For 35 mm film, a dedicated film scanner delivers the better results. The Epson 4870 is definitely not an all-purpose flatbed scanner since the scanner glass must not be scratched. Dust removal is also a never ending work as for Sisyphos...

Similar Products Used:

Dedicated 35 mm film scanners

Customer Service:

not used

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Rating
Reviewed by:

RainerKal
( Intermediate)

Review Date
April 15, 2005

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 2 of 3

Price Paid: $499.00 from Photo Dealer in Germ

Summary:

Great results for medium format colour and B&W negatives! Highly recommended if you own a medium format camera. Good resultion, dynamics and sharpness (for the price), nice colour rendition (however, colour negatives usually need some cast correction in Photoshop which I consider just normal). Also fine results for B&W negatives.

Strengths:

Excellent scan quality. Device is very solidly built. Has better negative holders than others (but they are not perfect). ICE dust reduction saves time for retouching.

Weaknesses:

The scanner is slow if you use ICE (but scans batches of negatives unattended) - about 18min for each 6x6 MF colour negative with ICE at 2400 dpi with my computer. After hours of operation, scanner glass ets rather hot. For 35mm results are ok but my Nikon Coolscan IV is clearly better. Supplied software could be more straightforward to operate - more calibration and manual operation options would be welcome.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon Coolscan IV (great), two different Canon flatbed scanners (less satisfying for MF).

Customer Service:

not needed so far

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Rating
Reviewed by:

agp
( Expert)

Review Date
September 21, 2004

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
21+ years

Visitors rate this review
4.78 of 5,
9 votes

Review 3 of 3

Price Paid: $350.00 from PC World (UK Pounds)

Summary:

It is stunning for film scans of medium-large format. My Minolta 5400 film scanner is (obviously) better for 35mm, but the Epson does a great job for medium/large format, which are the only films I've put through it. THe quality is great, full of both highlight and shadow detail. Don't scan MF at too high a resolution - my first attempt was 1.25 GB (yes, GB!), and wouldn't even open!

Strengths:

Very well made. The film holders are great, they just click into place.

Weaknesses:

None whatsoever.

Similar Products Used:

Epson 2450. The 4870 is infinitely better. It's kept me from selling my MF/LF equipment.

Customer Service:

No experience

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