GPoyner Loc: North Dakota

So in my quest to find hidden treasures at the thrift store, (mainly to do some crafting projects I found on Pintrest) I stumbled upon the printer/scanner section of the store, what I found was an Epson Perfection 3170 Photo scanner. With the scanner was all necessary cords and only the slide holder. It was priced at $7.99 (with a No Exchanges tag on it), so the debat went inside my head....do I buy it and risk the chance it does not work and pass on it or do I buy it and take a chance? So I took it up to the counter with a few other finds and asked does it work and what happens if I bring it home and it doesn't work....the lady; who I've seen before said bring it back within 7 days with the receipt and tag and I'll work something out for you. Now mind you, the price was low and they support the YWCA....so I most likely would never bring it back. But I took the chance, I downloaded the driver from Epson (works with my Windows 7) and turned the baby on; lucky for me I had a handful of slides that my old neighbor took years ago for Halloween of us. I still need to read through the manual and tweak this and that, but to my surprise it at least worked! How good, well that is yet to be said as I will need to order a replacement negative holder (which when I called Epson they provided me with a dealer and the cost would only be $8.14). So I'm quite happy with my little find and am eager to play with it, if anything I can at least archive my negatives and quench my thirst for having a new toy to play with. Remember some of those thrift stores can have hidden gems...now just to find a laser printer for some of my photo crafts I want to tackle.......

I'm open to any opinons on this scanner, good and bad. If anything, I have no problem with giving the YWCA $7.99 of my hard earn money as I play and see if this scanner will work for me. Thanks....GP

CJartist Loc: Ormond Beach

Sounds like a steel to me and the scan doesn't look bad at all.

joe west Loc: Taylor, Michigan

great find, thats elvis & dolly..?

ioptfm Loc: Isle of Palms, SC

Looks like you hit the jackpot!

GPoyner Loc: North Dakota

Thanks....I have to read the manual and see how good I can get the photos...

GPoyner Loc: North Dakota

Well it's suppose to be be Elvis and Marilyn but I did make the costumes a long time ago whith out a pattern....thanks

GPoyner Loc: North Dakota

I hope so....but if all else fails I supported a good cause....

chrome98 Loc: Hannibal, MO

I'm always on the lookout for lenses, books, etc that I can pickup and resell. Just yesterday I sold a book on large format photography for $45 on Ebay. I bought the book for 50 cents. I use my phone at the moment I find something unique or potentially valuable to review value. Most folks perusing thrift stores have no idea about lenses or of the value of lenses, so they are hard to sell. Knowing this I often make lowball offers and they are almost always accepted

Here's the closed book auction on ebay lest you think I'm telling Storage War stories

http://www.ebay.com/itm/140910222902?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1559.l2649

and a Canon lens I paid a buck for...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/140906292275?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1559.l2649

Happy Hunting!

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Check out this review:
http://reviews.cnet.com/scanners/epson-perfection-3170/4505-3136_7-30527152.html

Remember this is a 9-year old scanner.

hj Loc: Florida

Unfortunately, that's not an f1.4 - 5.6mm lens as you listed.... it is an f4-5.6mm. Hope the buyer wasn't expecting a bright f1.4 lens. Still, a good $1 find for you.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

I've been using that scanner for over 10 years. Never had a bit of problem. Have used it for slides and it did quite well, in my opinion. Used it thru Window 3 up to and including Windows 7, 64 Bit. I'd say you got a good buy!

GPoyner Loc: North Dakota

Thanks, I did read that review right after I picked it up and estimated it to be from 2004.....

GPoyner Loc: North Dakota

Good to know....thanks

miamithom Loc: Cutler Bay, Florida, USA

:thumbup:

Likewise, I too found a bargain in a thrift store. An Epson 2450 about 5 years ago was my find. I have using it to make digital contact proof sheets. This was the final link in my digital workflow. I still have and use my wet darkroom. My find did cost a little more . . . $19.95. It had no attachments. I downloaded the software from Epson and WOW it worked. So instead of my bartender getting the $20 the Salvation Army got the money. I am very happy with the results.
Here is my web site: http://www.tom-elliott-photography.com/

And here is my Facebook page of the digital contact proofs:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.416461738404998.111857.167574993293675&type=3

There are always finds if one takes the time.

This is from a negative taken in 1958 with my Rolleicord Va. I recently profiled my inkjet 1400 and got a ciss ink attachment. I am in heaven.

chrome98 Loc: Hannibal, MO

Yes I caught the typo and advised the buyer, gave them an out, and they still wanted the lens @20.

Like you said. Still a deal at $20