- Built-in transparency unit
- Comes with Adobe PhotoShop Elements software
- Energy Star-rated
- Scratch/dust correction software
- Large desktop footprint
- Slow with negatives, slides
- Instruction manual not much help
Bottom line
Reviewers say the Epson Perfection V500 photo is a fast, easy-to-use scanner that produces extremely good photo scans for amateurs on automatic mode, as well as document and 3D object scans. The LED light source requires no warm-up time and adds to the V500's energy efficiency. Most users like the photo editing software that comes with it, Adobe PhotoShop Elements, and reviewers say a real bonus is Epson's Digital ICE technology, which digitally removes dust and scratches from film images. The Perfection V500 is PC- and Mac-compatible. A few small glitches (some machines break down over time, slow scans on some operating systems, customer service snafus) mar an otherwise very positive report.
Scan quality
Terrific for high-level amateurs. Reviewers praise the Epson Perfection V500 scanner for its scans of both photos and documents, allowing for very good results even when used on automatic mode by amateurs. Scan resolution is high, and the scanner includes software to correct dust and scratches.
Ease of use
Easy to use, if a little slow on some operating systems. Users report that the Epson Perfection V500 scanner is very easy to hook up and use, and they like the included software. Some report slow scanning on a few operating systems, including at least one flavor of Mac OSX.
Durability
Most users say it's a workhorse; a few experience problems. Most users of the Epson Perfection V500 say it trundles along without a problem indefinitely. But a minority report that their V500 stopped working after a year or 18 months, when it was out of warranty.
Warranty
A good warranty with some customer service complaints. The one-year limited warranty on the Epson Perfection V500 scanner is standard among better-quality scanners, and most customers report never having to use it. Some of those who do need support express frustration with how Epson handles service.
| Epson B11B189011 Perfection V500 Photo Scanner | |
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Our Sources
1. ITReviews.com
Review Credibility: Excellent IT Reviews is a U.K.-based website offering reviews of computer hardware and software. Reviewer Martyn Clayden sums up his review of the Epson Perfection 500V by writing, "This is probably the photo scanner that a lot of serious amateur photographers have been waiting for, with a wider range of photo formats, beefed-up software photo enhancements, speedier operation and high quality image reproduction."
Review: Epson -- Perfection V500 Photo Review, Martyn Clayden, Jan. 3, 2008
2. PCMag.com
Review Credibility: Excellent PC Magazine picks the Epson Perfection V500 as an Editors' Choice, and in his review M. David Stone explains why: "The Epson Perfection V500 Photo is one of the most impressive scanners yet for the price, delivering high-quality, fast scans in fully automatic mode."
Review: Epson Perfection V500 Photo Review, M. David Stone, Nov. 7, 2007
3. About.com
Review Credibility: Very Good Peter Piazza is About.com's former guide to printers and scanners. He picks the Epson Perfection V500 as one of the top photo scanners, and in this review he describes it as "a good value for the money." Piazza says he likes the editing software that comes with this scanner, and he finds it easy to use. His only "cons" are that it has a "large footprint" and that the instruction manual doesn't give much information. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner, Peter Piazza, As of December 2012
4. Amazon.com
Review Credibility: Good About 430 owners of the Epson Perfection V500 post reviews and ratings on Amazon.com; they give it an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars. Most say they are quite pleased with the V500. We saw only a few complaints, and they were mainly that it is too slow when scanning 35 mm film, especially on a few operating systems. The Mac OSX 10.7 is among them.
Review: Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of December 2012
5. NewEgg.com
Review Credibility: Good More than 35 owners rate and review the Epson Perfection V500 on Newegg.com; they give it an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars and almost all of the comments are positive. A couple of people complain that it stopped working after a year or 18 months, and there are a few complaints about Epson's technical support.
Review: EPSON Perfection V500 Photo, Contributors to Newegg.com, As of December 2012
6. B&H Photo
Review Credibility: Good More than 490 people post ratings of and comments about the Epson Perfection V500 on this retail site. Their overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars. The consensus is that it is an excellent scanner for the price. One person says it is slow when you're scanning 35 mm negatives, but he expects that from a scanner in this price range.
Review: Epson Perfection V500 Flatbed Photo Scanner, Contributors to B&H Photo, As of December 2012
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