Epson today announced the Perfection 4990 PHOTO and Epson Perfection 4990 PRO scanners, both featuring a built-in 8″ x 10″ transparency unit with a moving carriage and lamp optimized for film scans. The TPU is almost 50% larger than the predecessor models and includes film holders that support eight 35mm mounted slides, four 35mm film strips up to 24 frames, three to six medium format frames or two 4″ x 5″ frames. It also has an 8″ x 10″ guide for transparencies and proof sheets without film holders, allowing for a larger volume of negative scanning. Both scanners include a new scan progress indicator, as well as USB 2.0 and FireWire connectivity. The Perfection 4990 PHOTO and 4990 PRO will be available in early March for estimated street prices of US$449 and $599, respectively
