Scan-tastik!--Epson Perfection 1200U Photo
Written: Jul 07 '00 (Updated Sep 23 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Only scanner in it's price range with 1200 x 2400 hardware resolution
Cons: Transparency adapter could be a bit larger
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| caines's Full Review: Epson Perfection 1200U Flatbed Scanner |
I hate wasting money and I'm very particular about my gadget purchases. This is why my hair began to grey as I attempted to decide which scanner I would purchase. My life became a little easier when I discovered the Epson Perfection 1200U Photo.
The 1200U Photo is more scanner than the average user may need. It not only scans at higher than average resolution, but it has a transparency adapter for scanning film and negatives. However, at a list price of $312 (I found it for $245) you may decide it's worth the extra dollars. There is currently nothing on the market in this price range that compares.
"So, What's Makes You So Special That You Need The Fancy Scanner?"
Okay, you have to understand that part of my anal attitude about my scanner purchase is because I am a professional photographer. The range of media I need to scan, and the quality of the output, whether a digital file or hard copy was very important in the decision making process. If I were just scanning images for my website, I would have bought one of the numerous "decent" scanners on the market for around $100. Combined with good imaging software, many of them would do just fine for 72 dpi maximum resolution you need for the web. But much of my work I am outputting directly from my printer. So I need a scanner that will scan at high resolution not only for high quality output of a raw file, but so I can manipulate it in Photoshop™ and maybe shrink the file with minimal loss of information.
The 1200 scanners will run on Mac or Windows platforms and comes in three flavors:
** 1200U Uses the very nice USB port found on most current machines. This offers "plug-and-play" compatibility so you don't spend hours configuring the system to recognize and work with your scanner. The 1200U works with Win98, it will not run on Win 95!
** 1200S Uses a SCSI card connection to your computer. This will run with Win95, 98 and NT. The SCSI version is faster than the USB version. I can't imagine needing the scanner to operate faster than it does unless I was always scanning at super high resolutions. The S version is more expensive than the plain U version.
** 1200U Photo Has the same features of the standard USB model but includes the transparency adapter. The adapter can be purchased as an optional accessory but it will run you an additional $100 if you get it separately. You save lots of $$$ getting it as a package.
Up And Running
Had I not done my usual "guy thing" of just setting it up and turning it on without fully reading the instructions, I would have had my scanner working a lot faster. Any problem with the set-up was my own Tim Allen fault. Once I read the instructions everything was fine, the plug-and-play features kicked right in. It was set up in about three minutes.
The scanner is very easy to use in both the advanced and minimal TWAIN setup, but I prefer the advanced set up. The simple version leaves way too many variables to chance for me.
The "PHOTO" Thing
The transparency adapter is where it's at. Swapping out the adapter for the regular top for reflective documents takes all of one minute.
The adapter for the 1200U Photo is a true photographic quality adapter. Once you switch scanner lids you can scan negatives or transparencies up to 4"x5" format. Film holders are included in different formats to make things easier for you but you can also lay them down directly on the glass. I do this with my 4x5 negs because I use Polaroid Type 55 which produces a negative which is slightly larger than than 4"x5". The TWAIN has a setting to eliminate moray and Newton rings from film touching glass.
One thing to note: many scanners say they come with or can have an optional transparency adapter added. Be very careful here! Most transparency adapters on low end machines (under $200) are for big low res, acetate overhead transparencies, not for film or negatives. You will not be able to get the sharp, good resolution, evenly illuminated images you need when working with the small negs and transparencies/slides.
The hardware resolution is 1200 x 2400. Unlike most scanners in this price range this is not interpolated resolution where the software takes a lower res scan and makes it appear to be scanned at a higher resolution.
Make Me A Picture! Make Me A Picture!
The unit comes with great TWAIN software which allows you to run the scanner and send the scan to whatever application will accept it. You can set it to the "Duh!" setting (my term for it, not Epson's) which allows you minimal adjustments and will get you a decent scan quickly with little fuss. The Advanced settings allows you to make many adjustments in the scan before it ever reaches your computer. A very nice feature. You prescan the image to preview it. You can crop it and make other adjustments before you make a final scan. Scans are fast even at high resolution. The more memory your computer has, the faster the scans can be....within reason!
There is also one-button scanning which will allow you to simply put in your art/document, push a button on the top of the machine and it does the rest. the 1200U Photo comes bundled with several imaging applications. I didn't load them because I have what I need already. You can also order 2 more software titles and only pay the shipping. You will need to install the Presto!Page Manager if you want to use the one touch feature of the scanner.
Color rendering is accurate and highlight to shadow ratio is excellent. Even without tweaking the default settings, I obtained very nice scans. Once I made adjustments to create my own defaults I was even more impressed. Image sharpness is impressive. I'm still doing a few tests to find the scanner's "sweet spot".
The power switch is right in front, big and easily operated. A nice feature—if you forget to turn the scanner off, it turns off the bulb after about 10 minutes. Saves energy, saves the bulb.
I like that unit doesn't feel cheesy and light like many scanners under $500. I expect it will far longer than a a year before I find myself cursing it for falling apart.
The only flaw that I have found with the scanner is that the transparency adapter could be just a bit larger. It would be nice if gave you a little breathing room around your 4x5s. But that is a non-issue in the scheme of things and more my own thing. It would also be nice if you didn't have to close the TWAIN software to have access to the image(s) scanned in Photoshop. I'm not sure if this is a Photoshop thing or a TWAIN thing yet. I'll have to try it in other applications.
This is an impressive unit and an incredible bargain. If it's time to blow money on a toy (work related or otherwise), this is that toy!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
caines
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Member: Bruce Caines
Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 41 members
About Me:
Emmy nominated director, photographer, dad, vegetarian, music junkie, long distance cyclist. Not necessarily in order.
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