The Epson Perfection 3200 scanner

Page 13.

Conclusion

I have deliberately avoided getting bogged down with technical details and specifications in this review. Not that I thought you wouldn't be interested in them, but because this scanner is so easy to set up and use. In my opinion the actual scans speak for themselves, without having to tell you that the CCD is 6 line alternated with 81,600 pixels and will scan at 3.8 msec/line in monochrome. (The full scanner specifications are on page 12).

Throughout the review I have endeavoured to explain how each part works and have demonstrated it in use, for my conclusion I am taking an overview of the complete package.

The scanner is constructed to a high standard, access to all parts including the rear connections are easy. The Transparency Unit (TPU) is a solid, well engineered item which inspires confidence from the outset, although if I could change anything, then I would have changed the placing of the document mat clip (see page 9). The film holders are made of sturdy material and do a great job of holding film flat. I am sure that many professional photographers buying this scanner would like to see a 120 film strip holder included or be able to buy one as an optional extra.

The scanner is supplied with two excellent software items, SilverFast 6 SE scanning software and Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0. SilverFast is a vast improvement on the Epson Scan software, although Epson Scan is an easier option for those who may not be familiar with scanning practices. Adobe Photoshop Elements 1.0 is a terrific imaging application, but since writing this review Epson went the extra mile and included the latest version 2.0. Elements 2.0 has a lot of the features of its big brother Photoshop and is a fine application in its own right.

I have covered most of the hardware points within the review, with the exception of the two buttons on the front, the power switch and the Scan Button. The scan button is a quick way to start a scan, or launch your favourite application. The button will also launch the Epson Smart Panel software. The smart panel is a quick way to perform mundane scanning tasks such as copy, scan to web, scan to file, scan to application etc. If you don't like the sound of that, then define the button to launch Photoshop or any other application, useful but not something that I couldn't live without. The button is flush to the scanner body, which means it can't be accidentally pressed when you open the document lid.

The Epson Smart Panel	The Quick Scan Button

The Epson Perfection 3200 is a one stop solution to all your scanning needs, whether film or document. A couple of years from now a lot of you will be capturing most of your pictures on a digital camera, which will leave your negatives gathering dust. I doubt very much that they will see the light again. But as I have found during the course of this review, digging out old pictures brings back so many fond memories; days out, children’s parties, family pets, holidays, friends and relatives etc. I know I wouldn't have set up the darkroom to print them, but this scanner has given me quick access to my pictures again. I have scanned and printed several pictures which otherwise would probably have stayed in the negative files. The high quality of the scans has made this exercise a joy.

Verdict.

Flatbed scanners have matured, they have become a viable alternative to the dedicated film scanner and at a fraction of the cost. Many photographers are moving into digital capture, but there are a lot of people out there still shooting film. These people also want the ability to scan and manipulate their pictures without breaking the bank. This flatbed scanner with its high quality film scanning capability might just be the answer.

Pros:
Excellent scan quality
Speed
Adobe Photoshop Elements version 2.0
Price (£349)

Cons:
None unless you recently purchased a film scanner.

© Vincent Oliver 2003 www.photo-i.co.uk
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