Epson Perfection 3200 Photo Flatbed Scanner

The Epson Perfection 3200 Photo offers premium quality scanning and the versatility to handle virtually any photography application. With image quality and features comparable to that of more expensive scanners, this high-value performer produces sharp, high-quality results at lightning-fast speeds. It's versatile, as well--it scans everything from negatives, photos, and slides to transparencies, graphics, and text.

Delivering fine 3,200 x 6,400 dpi resolution, the 3200 Photo offers phenomenal clarity and detail, whatever the task at hand. With Epson's ColorTrue II Imaging System and 48-bit scanning, it consistently delivers vivid, true-to-life colors. Combining advanced imaging technology and a powerful software bundle, it provides a complete digital imaging solution. It even includes Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connectivity for Windows and Macintosh systems, plus a convenient built-in 4-by-9-inch transparency adapter. Epson provides a one-year warranty covering parts and service.

What's in the Box
Epson Perfection 3200 Photo Scanner, 4-by-9-inch transparency adapter (built into the scanner lid), 3 film holders (35mm slides, 35mm film strips, and medium format), CD-ROM with Epson Scan scanning software, Productivity Software, Electronic Reference Guide, CD-ROM with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, CD-ROM with LaserSoft SilverFast SE 6, USB 2.0/1.1 cable, scanner setup poster

The EPSON Perfection 3200 brings high-quality film scanning with the flexibility of a flatbed scanner. Offering an optical resolution of 3200x6400 dpi, it also features a built-in 4"x9" Transparency Unit and a custom-developed ASIC for high-speed film scans.The 4"x9" Transparency Unit makes the Perfection 3200 ideal for medium and large format film, and it can also scan up to twelve 35mm originals at a time, making it the ideal solution for both photography enthusiasts and professionals. At home or in businesses it is a flexible high-quality scanner for general-purpose use.A high optical density and 48-bit color recognition means that excellent reproduction quality is guaranteed, and the subtlest variations are recognized.Boasting both USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and IEEE1394 (FireWire) interfaces the Perfection 3200 Photo is compatible with both PCs and Apple Macintosh computers. Combined with the custom ASIC chip for transparency scanning, the Perfection 3200 Photo is approximately three times the speed of its predecessor, the Perfection 2450 Photo.Different interface configurations are available to suit home, amateur and advanced users.

1 real photographer's tool
While Silverfast SE seems to serve no particular purpose, simply using Epson's "automatic" mode produces incredibly accurate duplicate colors of original transparencies (transparencies as seen on daylite box, scans seen on Synchmaster 192n, automatic default prints on Epson 2200 pigment printer.

In other words, used as a plug-and-play system, with absolutely no tinkering or adjustment, it's nearly perfect. Mix and match slides and negatives, the 3200 thinks for a moment and makes the right decisions.

Dust is the reason Jehovah gave you cans of pressurized air. But Photoshop still helps out sometimes.

I get ultra sharp enlargements that match colors perfectly. By "perfectly" I mean "well within 5cc"...in other words, more accurately than can be reliably expected from most photolabs.

A secret: buy your 3200 as a "refurb" directly from Epson. You'll save a bundle and get something that's enjoyed more quality control than if had as a virgin.

2 AVOID this scanner!!!
I'm glad that some people have had a good experience with this scanner, but I am not one. I own an Epson Perfection 2450 Photo scanner and have been very happy with it. I thought it's "big brother" would make a nice, economical additon to the office where I work.

Boy was I wrong.

Several people have mentioned dust issues. I haven't noticed that but I do have the problem others have mentioned in the professional photography forums on the internet. Some of these scanners come with glass that has not been treated properly and I got one of them. What happens is when you lay an image on the glass, especially a glossy photo, it "sticks" a bit and looks like there are watermarks on the image after it has scanned. It will do this every time and in slightly different spots and there is no way to keep it from happening. I've tried wipping the glass and photos and even cleaning them, but to no avail. I called Epson tech support and they said the glass was faulty and to return it for a replacement.

No thanks, I think I'll try another brand where it won't be a crapshoot as to wether I get a working one or not. I've always loved Epson products but this leaves me a bit disillusioned. They let quality control slide a lot on the production of this model.

There is a rebate on this scanner because it is being replaced by the newer, better and hopefully higher quality Perfection 4870. It has a Dmax of 3.8 over the 3.4 of the 3200, so it should be able to better capture image data from the dark areas of photos too. If you are interested in this scanner, I would try that or the 2450. I've also heard good things about the Canon CanoScan 9900F.

I was also not overly impressed with the color reproduction on this scanner. For some reason it is not as good as the older 2450. I'm a graphic designer and at work I have an 9 year old AGFA scanner that is A LOT slower than the 3200, but it's color reproduction was richer and more evenly balanced. Details in the shadow area were also more acurately reproduced. I tested both on the same photo to reach this conclusion.

Also, only get the "Pro" edition if you want the extra software, otherwise they are the same exact scanner.

Aside from this, I didn't test it's transparency capabilities. It is very fast and would be a good deal for the $ if you don't get a lemon. It's up to you if you want to take that chance. I know my time is more valuable than that.

3 Difficult to use Software
My objective in purchasing this scanner was to be able to place a scanned photo on the same page as some text. After several sessions,I have not found a solution. Scanning is not the problem; rather, sending a scanned image to another application such as word so that one can combine a word document with the image. The software gives no clue and reaching Epson's technical support is a joke. Consider another brand. I'm selling or giving this one away.

4 Scanning with perfection
This is an affordable professional scanner that rivals the quality of any negative scanner I have ever used. Its software is great, and is very straight forward. You will not go wrong with this scanner. I am a professional photographer, and have now made this the only scanner I use.

5 One excellent flatbed
I bought this scanner because I have a ton of 4x5 sheet film negatives; some I've not yet printed. It sure beats making contact prints. It does an excellent job with 4x5 and 120 format film, along with 35mm negatives and slides. It has been (so far) dependable and trouble-free with Windows XP Home Edition and a USB 2.0 port. I highly recommend it.

6 Great Scanner, But Keep a Can of Compressed Air Handy...
I bought this scanner as an upgrade to my old Epson Perfection 610 Scanner. There was nothing wrong with the old Epson, but I wanted a scanner that could do 35mm negative scans.

I've had this scanner for about 4 days now, and it's worked great. The setup was effortless and the scans are great, rich in color. As I said, I primarily use it for film scanning and the tools they've bundled with it are terrific. You can scan 12 35mm negatives, or 4 slides, or even 120 medium format film. I've tried scanning at 3200 dpi, and it produces files which are around 800k-1.5mb in size with a resolution of about 10-12 megapixels. 2400 dpi is acceptable, but I really wouldn't go lower than that.

Also, when scanning in your negatives, you can do up to 12 35mm negatives at a time. However, I'd suggest doing just 6 at a time when using the higher dpi settings. That's because the top lamp tends to "cook" the negatives if you leave them on the tray too long. Maybe cook is too strong a word, nothing happens to them - it's just something to be wary about.

I've tried out both the Silverfast scanning software as well as the standard Epson scan software. It works great if you're only interested in scanning the pictures/negatives. However, the only drawback to it is that the dust removal software that's bundled with both are pretty much useless. It adds twice the overhead/time to the scanning process and does nothing to remove dust or scratches. I'd say get familiar with the Photoshop Elements 2.0 software that comes bundled with it, or use Photoshop 7's Healing Tool.

Because of the software's inability to remove dust, I keep a can of compressed air handy and give the tray and film a quick burst of air right before I scan them in. BTW, the Silverfast software is ugly and very unintuitively designed - it reminds me of an old Windows 3.11 app.

I'd say, overall, I'm very happy with the scanner. However, because of the software's limited functionality, I give it 4 out of 5 instead of the 5 out of 5 it could've gotten.

7 Epson Perfection 3200 Photo Flatbed Scanner
I am so sorry that I did not look on Amazon.com first before I purchased this scanner last month. It is cheaper here then what I paid for it through another company. Besides that I also had to pay a 6% state sales tax.
Believe me it does what it says it can do. I have old negatives from the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's that were my dad's. Also 35 mm's. It did a great job on them. I have never done anything like them before. If I can do it anyone can. I am not computer savy. It just takes practice, practice, and more practice. And it is so much fun reliving the past and seeing relatives and friends that are no longer with us.

8 And the best got even better...$100 rebate until 12/31/03
I read all the reviews here and have nothing more of value to add. It is an awesome scanner, Amazon had one of the best prices around and they delivered it free! I had it unboxed and connected to my Macintosh via firewire in less than 20 minutes (including software installs).

I've spent an evening scanning photos, 3D objects, slides and negatives and give this scanner nothing, but high marks. My scanner did not have dust under the glass like some of the other reviewers stated. Whew!

However, as I said in the title, the deal got even sweeter! Yes, there is a $100 rebate on these beauties until 12/31/03. I just put my rebate form in the mail. You'll find the rebate form under PROMOTIONS at this link:

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/index.jsp

Enjoy!

9 Great scanner, but mine was also dusty inside!
Like several other people have reported, my scanner arrived with dust inside the sealed case. This is totally unacceptable for a high-resolution photo scanner (or any other scanner for that matter). I called Epson and they advised me to return the unit to Amazon. I love the scanner and the software, so I've asked Amazon for a replacement. Glad to hear that Amazon is committed to keeping their customers happy.

10 What A Surprise!
I'm flabergasted over this scanner!!!! What a versatile piece this is. I can scan pictures, negatives, slides, and most of all, shooting in 4X5 format a lot, I can scan the negatives and transparencies from my 4X5 as well.

The clarity from this scanner, in my opinion, rivals scanners that are twice the price. Another big plus for me is the speed. Since it's USB 2, I can scan into my Sony laptop which is also USB 2 and it's done before I can decide on the next picture I want to scan.

I'll even go so far as to say that the software that comes bundled with this scanner is actually useful. Photoshop Elements 2.0 is a great program. Since I bought the "pro" version of the scanner (which I got for the non-pro price) I also got Monaco EZ color and Silverfast. Good stuff!!! However, if you have Adobe gamma loader on your computer, (which will be on the Elements CD), you don't really need to load Monaco. It's basically the same thing from what I can see.

The only addition that would have been a nice touch would have been the inclusion of digital ICE. Other than that, this is one dynamite scanner!!!!

11 Great Scanner, Easy Setup, Kudos to Amazon for their Service
I bought this scanner after a lot of research into scanners within my price range (under $500). This scanner's predecessor, the Epson Perfection 2450, consistently came out on top in user reviews. So, I came to Amazon, and found they had the best price on this newly released model.

HOWEVER, when the scanner arrived, it had DUST UNDER THE GLASS. There was one VERY LARGE piece of debris under there that was particularly troubling. I knew that unless I could somehow remove it, I'd have to edit every picture to take out that spot. Now I love Photoshop's "healing brush," but I don't see why I should have to use it on my own scans from a BRAND NEW scanner!! That's what I call a self-inflicted wound!

After trying for considerable time to figure out how to get under the glass and clean it, and consulting with my wife and a friend, I decided that if I took the scanner apart I would probably void the warranty and possibly do some damage. I had read that Epson support was a little lacking, so I turned to Amazon. And I'm glad I did! Without any hesitation, Amazon agreed to send me a new scanner (which arrived before I sent the original back), and paid the return shipping on the original item. I have to say that Amazon's attitude restored my faith in customer service--in fact exceeded my expectations.

By the way, Amazon sent me the replacement scanner by 2nd Day Air! (the oriiginal came by super saver shipping, i.e. FREE!).

I now have the best scanner in it's class and price range, with no dust underneath the glass!

I'll add that I am a Macintosh user (fanatic might be a better word!), and this scanner works great with my 1 Ghz Dual Processor G4 running OS X 10.2.6. The software was a breeze to install and simple to use.

Thanks Epson for a great scanner (shame about the dust!), and thanks Amazon for the best in customer service.

12 Dust inside, but a good scanner
Recently, I purchased the 3200 Photo. Initial setup was fairly painless, but after the first attempted scan, there were some obvious issues. The first scan had white "flecks"(dust, when scanned at 600dpi or larger looks like flecks) that covered the scan. Despite the scanner being new, and some moderate cleaning by myself trying to remove the dust particles, alas, it was not to be. The dust was inside the scanner itself, not on its scanning surface. Despite the quality scans the unit appears capable of grabbing (the images scanned, excluding the dust flecks, were top notch. They were rich in color, the adjustments by the included software enhanced the already good scan to a superb level), the dust renders this unit non-viable. I am currently working with Amazon to get a replacement, as I still desire a unit with the capabilities of this scanner, but it must go back till I get one without the internal dust.

You must also be aware that SilverFast, one of the included software packages, while providing a very user friendly scanning interface, has some rather bad issues with not finding Adobe's "plugin.dll" file. After trying some things that Epson stated would fix the problem, launching the program crashed the system and forced a reboot. Uninstalling and reinstalling it several time (3+) finally got it to quit crashing the system, but the program itself still can not find plugin.dll, no matter how many times I point it to it or copy the file itself into the directory structure of the program.

Overall, the scanner appears to have a vast untapped potential, and if you can get one without dust, and one with a copy of SilverFast that works, you will be very pleased with this scanner. I have yet to try the film scan, but if its retains the quality of the general art book scans I have performed, it will provide you with an exquisite copy of your favorite pictures.

13 LOVE IT!! Great for transparencies
I had an unusual situation--a week before the 3200 was released, I bought the Epson Perfection 2450. I didn't know about the 3200. And I liked the 2450. It was fabulous. But when I discovered the 3200's release, I returned the 2450 and opted for the 3200. I'm glad I did. There is a difference. Even when I scanned the same transparency at the same setting, the 3200 usually was better--sometimes quite noticably better. It is also supposed to be faster than the 2450.

The big thing for me is the transparency scanning, so I'll focus on that. I've scanned both slides and negatives, and both are great. The color is good, I don't have to sweat bullets in Photoshop trying to salvage the scan, like I have done with previous scanners with so-called "transparency adapters". This scanner puts all the other transparency adapters I've encountered to shame. An awesome transparency adapter, indeed!

However, I have some underexposed Kodachrome slides, so they are always going to be a little more difficult. But, with some tweaking with the bundled Silverfast scanning software, my scans (even on dense, undexposed Kodachrome) have been fine.

I find scanning negatives to be quite nice as well. I get good color on them (especially when using Silverfast). However, this is not a professional level transparency scanner, and it should not be mistaken as such. (It may be surpisingly close to pro-level in some cases, however!)

The only complaint about the Silverfast software (which is a "lite" version) is that it won't scan in 48 bit. But 24 bit mode is OK for me. My file sizes (when scanning a 35 mm transparency) are about 35 to 40 MB at 3200 resolution, 24 bit. This translates to a 14" x 9 1/2" print, at 300 dpi (good resolution setting). It'll yield a much bigger print if set at 150 dpi, obviously. That's more than enough for most people using ink jet printers.

I have been frequenting a message board that has reviews on this scanner, and many professional photographers are also most pleased with this scanner. I'm not at the professional level yet ("serious hobbyist" is more like it) but I can get a bit picky with my photos. But these pro photographers were far pickier than me, and they liked this scanner. Those who were scanning large format negatives (larger than 35 mm) were very pleased with the quality of this scanner, especially for the price. They said that there wasn't that much of a huge difference (at least not several thousand dollars difference) between the 3200 and a high-end thousands-of-dollars professional scanner. Don't get me wrong--you'll still need and want a dedicated "pro" scanner for certain things, but for most people, (even some pros) this scanner more than fills the bill.

I installed it on a Macintosh G4 running OS X.2. Installation was seamless. My Mac loves this scanner! I have it attached to the Firewire port, but it comes with USB as well. I have a lot of RAM loaded on my Mac, and as usual, lots of RAM is recommended when dealing with large graphics files.

I tried the Epson "Scan" software (which will scan in 48 bit) but it's not quite as nice as the Silverfast software. (By the way, Silverfast is considered to be excellent scanning software, and sells for a tidy sum separately.) Epson's software tends to crop the negatives and slides too much when set in "thumbnail" mode. I highly recommend using Silverfast, or just avoiding Epson's "thumbnail" mode. Also, there are several plastic film holders, so your transparencies are kept in place. Very handy.

Also bundled with this scanner is Photoshop Elements 2. This "little brother" to Photoshop is an excellent software package and great if you don't yet have your own graphics software. (I had Photoshop 7 so used that most of the time.) Photoshop Elements will suit most users' needs more than well enough.

I highly recommend this scanner. And apparently, many other (far more experienced) photographers share my viewpoint. Most of the buzz about this scanner is very good.