Dependable scanners for film? Certainly not image capture.

Question

Dependable scanners for film? Certainly not image capture.

Epson scanner 4870 with Tahoe

When I use the scanner for documents, it's fine.

I loved it. The scanner was a workhorse and gave me crystalline images for many (many) years. I was so happy to be scanning my film work.

I've been to Epson senior support and Apple senior support; they both want me to go imagecapture (an apple based software according to my sources which seems to be supported by Tahoe. However, I've tried relentlessly. Sometimes the image is a white blank. Other times I see an image (a 2 and a 1/4 positive transparency) and the image is out of focus using the image capture. Would 3rd party software help? Everyone says

I actually bought another Epson 4870 scanner and all of the same problems have occurred.

I am stumped. This is for a job and I'm discouraged. I've been at this for 2 days. I loved the scanner because I could always depend on it, and I used it faithfully.

If anyone has info on a new scanner that does 4x5, 35mm and 2 and a quarter film, let me know. Any ideas? Thank you.

Isabella Britain

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 26.1

Posted on Nov 18, 2025 2:36 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,150 points

Nov 19, 2025 3:21 AM in response to Isabella Britain Hill

Why not download the free trial of VueScan Professional which supports the Epson Perfection 4870 scanner without any Epson drivers or software. Review the VueScan documentation so you can fine tweak the image scanning settings. VueScan Professional is likely less expensive than the cost of wasted time using other unsatisfactory efforts, or that of a new higher end scanner.

I have owned VueScan Professional since 2010 without ever having to pay any upgrade fee. I also receive no benefit from the VueScan vendor for mentioning their product here, or elsewhere.

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Answer 2

Nov 19, 2025 10:49 AM in response to VikingOSX

For some reason, a couple of my posts aren't showing up.

A million thanks for your suggestion of Vue Scan, which is now a yearly subscription. Around 35-40 a year. Well worth what it can do. Powerful software. You have saved me, Big Time.

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