Epson Perfection 4990 PHOTO

I have used this scanner for about six months now. I have scanned pictures (3x5 to 8x10), color and black & white 35mm negatives, 6x6 negs, 35mm slides, and 6x6 slides -- most 35mm, though. So far, I've scanned well over 2,000 images.

The scanner came with Photoshop Elements 2.0. It's a decent program, especially since it didn't cost extra. I typically scan my 35mm slides at 400 dpi, which results in jpeg files about 3 or 4 megabytes in size. For the really special slides, I scan at 600 or 800 dpi. These jpeg files range from about 6 to 18 megabytes.

Color negatives scan at 1,200 dpi, resulting in jpeg files about 1.5 megabytes. I have tried scanning at a higher resolution, but the software locks up and the scanning stops. Grrr . . .

Small color prints are usually scanned at 300 dpi (1.5 megabyte file), and black & white 8x10s are scanned usually at 200 dpi (1.5 megabyte file).

Overall, this is a very good scanner, but only if 70 or 80 percent of what you're scanning is pictures or slides. (See my comments below about scanning 35mm negatives.)

This scanner is really made to scan 35mm slides. All scans come out sharp and crisp. The scanner does a good job with prints, too. Overall, the scanner and software are pretty easy to learn -- and I'm a photographer, not a computer whiz.

If you need to scan lots of 35mm negatives, you may want to look into a different flatbed scanner. The 35mm negative holder is pretty cheesy, and will absolutely not flatten curled negatives -- meaning fuzzy, out-of-focus scans. It is quite frustrating. It helps a bit to load the curled negatives emulsion side up, instead of emulsion side down (as you would normally do). This flattens the negative strip (only a bit), but you must remember to horizontally flop the image after the scan is done.

The scanner will only do eight 35mm slides at a time, not the 12 that some of the other brands will do. At 400 dpi, it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to scan eight 35mm slides. Not bad, but it would be nice to be able to scan an extra four slides each time.

If you have more than three or four high-contrast or monochromatic slides, the scanner will be fooled and think you're scanning color negative film. Ugh! There is a way around this. Intersperse three normal-contrast images (like a green hill and blue sky at midday) among your high-contrast or monochrome slides. This will get the scanner to "read" the images correctly.

None.

Not needed.

This is one good scanner. I have used other customer level dedicated film scanners such as the Minolta Dimage IV, but I find that the 4990 does better job overall. With this, I can scan medium format film or images. I could scan 4x5 or even 8x10 If I so choose. It also scans transparencies and slides without the need for an adapter. The lid on the top actually projects light down through the transparancies onto the sensor. No buyers remorse here!

Can scan all formats including 4x5 and 8x10 without the need for adapter Scans are as sharp as dedicated film scanners dynamic range rivals dedicated film scanners

There is provision for 35mm scanning and 645 scanning, where no cropping is required after scanning these formats. 6x6 and up, there is a need to crop or selectively scan, which takes more time (about 30sec more per image)

Minolta Dimage IV