By Ian Burley
1st September - 2001
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Today, Epson has added two new models to its Perfection scanner family; the 1250 and 1650 models. The 1250 is is a low profile 1200ppi (optical) design aimed at home users. It has a high level specification for a home scanner and has the option of a transparency scanner unit. The 1650 is a high-speed 1600dpi (optical) scanner that Epson claims is up to 6 times faster than some of its competitors.
Perfection 1250
Epson UK’s business manager for consumer products, Yasbir Shihan, explained that the Perfection 1250 is aimed at newcomers to flat bed scanning: “...who are seeking an affordable scanner but who don’t want to compromise reliability and quality.” Epson also says the 1250 is the slimmest CCD scanner (as opposed to CIS or contact image sensor) in the world.
The Perfection 1250 has a claimed 48-bit colour sensitivity, though as one of DPN’s readers correctly pointed out, this figure is a bit meaningless with out the related contrast/density dimensions.
Its convenience features include scan to Web (compatible with Epson’s new Photo Site service), an all-automatic mode, plus application software that work in conjunction with front-panel control buttons for scan to Web, scan to email, scan to OCR and scan for creativity/photo options. The 1250 has a bundled version of ArcSoft PhotoImpression 3 image editing software in the box.
The optional transparency unit has a maximum illluminated region of 65x80mm. Epson’s information only mentions up to 35mm slide capacity, but if the dimensions provided are correct, you should be able to scan medium format negs and slides up to 6x7cm.
Perfection 1650
The new Perfection 1650 is all about speed, but remains a consumer, albeit high end (or ‘prosumer’) offering. It shares much of the operational features 
of the 1250, but comes in a more conventional looking and sized package.
The Perfection 1650 uses a built in ‘ASIC Hyper Processor’ - custom chip with its own processor to you and me. This alleviates demand on the host computer’s own processor, thus lowering scanning times. Pictured here is the ‘Photo’ version of the 1650 that incorporates a transparency illuminator in the scanner lid. It can illuminate 35mm negs or slides and an optional 5x4 inch format upgrade is available.
True resolution is 1600x3200ppi. How can this be achieved if the optical resolution is just 1600ppi? Epson uses a Micro Step Drive motor to advance the scanning head up to 3,200 steps per inch. Colour sensitivity is rated at 48 bits and this time Epson quote an optical density rating of 3.2. It’s still difficult to interpret these figures without measuring signal to noise performance. Instead of ArcSoft Photo Impression 3 that is supplied with the standard version, the 1650 Photo comes with Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Epson has established an enviable reputation in from its scanner products and we can’t wait to test these new models for ourselves.
Prices:
All prices include VAT.
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