Amazing how this machine can scan and produce excellent for the price. Slides,negatives and prints all turn out very close to the original document. I am very pleased with this scanner. Would certainly recommend to others needing one.

Overall, it's a good scanner if you use Professional Mode and adjust the image visuals manually. I do have two major problems with it though. First, a big issue with the software - the most logical option would be to allow people to adjust the marquee / image selection SEPARATELY from the image...

For the average photographer, this scanner does just about everything right. It gives great results, quickly and quietly. I particularly like the color restoration feature, which rescued a lot of my old, badly processed slides.

The scanner seems versatile and easy to use. The digital Ice program seems mostly useless hype -- why bother to offer. I'm not convinced this Epson scanner produces as high quality scans as my old Canon 9550F. I have a feeling I should have bought the Canon 8400F instead of this Epson.

Easy Installation/Good Instructions; easy to use

scan quality

I originally had an HP scanner and thought it was amazing until I jumped ship and went with an Epson. This model is perfect for basic scanning but also awesome for pictures and items that require more detail. For around $200, I would high recommend this scanner to everyone.

no warm-up time; great resolution/output; great features/bottons on the front; easy to use

the bed fits a 8.5 x 11 piece of paper comfortably but I wish it was bigger (really not a weakness tho

Not having to adjust the color of the lamp is a major advantage, and I'd assume LEDs last longer than fluorescents, though it doesn't matter because with scanners, the software usually fails to keep up with operating systems more than the hardware itself fails.

Easy To Setup; Good Bit Depth; Good Resolution; Widely Compatible

Poor Software

I bought this scanner two years ago to digitize all of my old 35mm pictures & negatives. I had to let it sit until last month when I finally started using it. Installation was a snap and the software was well thought out. The scans were high quality - especially on my 35mm negatives.

I have used the Epson V500 for several years, but also have experience with both the Nikon Coolscan V and 8000 ED. The Epson is a tremendous value and comes very close to what the Nikons can do at a fraction of the price.

-Scans of certain MF films can rival that of top-end scanners; Results will vary with native film contrast, development, and lens used; Recommended films: Acros 100, Plus-X, Tmax 100/400 II, -Quiet and reasonably fast, --Very inexpensive

-Don't have big expectation for any 35mm; Close examination will reveal lots of artifacts, poor shadow detail, lack of finest details; Don't use this scanner to show off you latest Summicron aspherical baby, -Scans almost always (except with high-contrast negatives) come out very flat, necessitating...

I've had one of these for a couple of months now and it's getting a steady workout. My primary reason for buying it was to scan old medium format negs, (and to write it off against my tax liability).

I bought the V500 because I had a collection of "medium format" slides (2.75" square) and this was the only scanner in my price bracket that advertised it could cope with that size.