Review updates: Epson V850 scanner

Videos: A return to Epson’s top of the range photo scanner

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Epson V850 Scanner – what it does and how good is it?

The Epson V850 scanner was first announced in 2014, and was covered in my very detailed review at the time.

• Epson V850 Scanner – original review – (this is where all the real detail is)

I’ve had a chance to test it out again and am producing a series of videos, both as an updated review and looking at specific aspects of using the scanner.

Epson V850 scanner features (from Epson)

• Slides, film, medium format & prints
• Dual lens system
• Swaps between 6400 dpi for slides and film, and 4800 dpi for photos
• High productivity
• One second warm up time
• Two sets of film holders. Improved film holders provide a greater degree of control and accuracy, as the height at which the film sits above the scanner bed can be finely adjusted to achieve the sharpest focus possible. The holders’ rigid frames, combined with anti-Newton ring plates, also gives a flatter hold for further quality improvements. The V850 Pro comes with two sets of film holders, meaning you can prepare a second set of originals for scanning while the first is still scanning, increasing your productivity.
• Dynamic range accurately reproduce tonal range and gradation of the original
• Removes imperfections – Digital ICE Technologies cleans-up old film and photos

Software mentioned in the videos.

• Sharpen AI v3
• Sharpen AI examples
• Sharpen AI detailed review
• Focus Magic
• Silver Efex Pro
• i1 Scanner profiling

More information

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Review overview [19mins]

Making a print [30mins]

Creating a 17″ x 24″ black and white digital print from a scanned 35mm B&W negative, using the Epson V850 film scanner.

Scanning and image editing, including different types of sharpening and how editing differs from digital photos.

Timeline for the B&W print video

• 00:00 Start
• 00:38 Some old film
• 01:35 Scan software choices
• 02:17 Looking at the whole film
• 05:00 Preview and settings
• 06:55 The initial scan an 16 bit tiff file
• 07:30 Colour space choices
• 08:17 First levels adjustment
• 09:20 Photo location and history
• 10:58 Setting levels and gamma
• 12:00 Editing film vs digital images
• 14:17 Sharpening choices
• 15:15 Sharpen AI – not made for film
• 17:24 Using layers for fine control/adjustment
• 18:14 More sharpening options
• 19:35 Applying ‘print sharpening’
• 20:21 Digital B&W software – Silver Efex Pro
• 21:36 Why you might still need RGB
• 24:57 Printing – options and paper choices
• 25:28 The print
• 28:04 Other editing choices

Scanning old colour negatives with the V850 scanner