Epson Perfection 2580 Photo Scanner

Rating:
Summary: Auto feed is tricky
Review: I bought the 2580 because of the capability to automatically scan 35mm negatives. While it takes some time scanning each frame, loading the negatives in the auto feed is tricky. Sometimes several tries are necessary. However, the most disturbing problem is film jams. After about 50 negative scans a strip jammed in the feeder, requiring a manual removal using the feed knob (underneath the top lid). After removing the film, the auto feed no longer works. Everytime I try, a receive a red alert - Epson calls it a fatal error. I'm pursuing with customer service, but this doesn't sound good. Perhaps another brand would work better.

Rating:
Summary: Good but could be better
Review: I bought this scanner to scan in my old negatives. This scanner will do that with no cropping required, although it is a bit of a skill to get each strip to load properly at first. I do however have a problem with this scanner, and that is that is isn't as good as it should be in aligning the negative frames with its scans. The the process of scanning is itself quite tedious as it takes about a minute per frame (yes frame, not strip, and more if you want better quality), but to be expected. However, I find some of my scans come with black edges where the alignment is just not quite right. Is this the end of the world? No, but it is annoying to have to rescan perhaps several times to get the image to occupy the full frame with none of the border also captured. This is supposed to be all automatic and to spare users from having manually to align negative strips in little plastic holders, and it does that - but the process isn't as automatic as it should be.

Rating:
Summary: Has it all
Review: Though I'm a scanning veteran, having worked my way through a few generations of SCSI and USB devices, I must admit to being mightily impressed by the 2580 and at least parts of its software package. If a tad clumsy to use at times, the bundle offers an option to do some color correction of faded prints as they are scanned, and another nice one to easily scan multiple images at once, properly setting up separate files for each. One can choose default, home or professional settings to fine tune scans. Like most scanners in this price range the 2580 has buttons on its front which provide for instant scanning, e-mailing, etc.

The proof is in the pudding and I must say results are just fine. Although I've yet to try the film strip reader, results with old 35mm slides were easily equal, if not superior, to a far more expensive Olympus slide scanner I bought a couple of years ago. A couple of old 2x3' prints turned into beautiful 8x10's, and so on. The USB 2.0 connection is very fast (once the scanner warms up), and despite its features the scanner's footprint is pleasantly small.

Now for some precautionary information. The Epson's twain driver apparently doesn't like competing with those left over from previous scanners, particularly Canons. So if, after following directions to install the scanner very carefully (you MUST install the driver software with the 2580 disconnected) it does not fire up when called from the Epson supplied apps, or any other scanning ones you have, be sure to fully uninstall other scanner drivers and be sure to kill the older scanner in device manager as well. My main computers run Win98SE and I've yet to see what would happen were I to use it with my XP laptop which has portable scanner software on it. But keep my findings in mind and save yourself a call to customer service.

As for the application software's usability, the included ArcSoft program provides basic editing as well as a neat set of projects (make your own calendars, etc.) but serious users will want to scan into Photoshop or another more feature-laden program. The 2580 works well with both a Paperport program I've used for years (and has many good features) and Photoshop Elements, my editor of choice.

There is no printed manual or even a big pdf one. This said, the html-based help feature is easy to use and, in terms of software and general setup issues, quite good.

Finally, I had to call Epson support for some help on the driver issue, my initial concern being I had a hardware problem. Direct telephone help is a long distance charge, but I must say my call went through to a real live person almost instantly, and her support was friendly and fast. And, no, Epson has not outsourced its help desk to the other side of the world. It's right in the middle of America, in Colorado.

All in all a fine product.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointingly slow
Review: Unfortunately the very accurate review of 24th Oct was posted after I had ordered this scanner otherwise I would not have. Yes it does take 1 minute per frame so the product description of "digitize and restore stacks of negatives in a few simple steps" though correct, would take a lifetime to actually do. I am going to buy a high speed USB cable to see if that might increase the speed..otherwise can't see myself digitizing anything. Oh well, at least I have a nice document scanner!