using epson 3200. Good scans for prints up to 24 x 30

I've been using an Epson 3200 successfully with negative film, color and
b/w.   It has been replaced by the Epson 4870, which, according to
reports, may be a bit better.   The main problem with the 3200 is that
its dmax is a little low.  If your transparencies are properly exposred
or even slightly underexposed, that won't be a problem, but if they are
slightly overexposed, it could be.  The 4870 has a slightly higher dmax,
so whould work better with transparencies.   The only problem I've seen
reported with the 4870 is that if you try to scan at 48 bit color depth
at higher than 2400 ppi, then you can't scan the whole 4 inch width.
You have to do it in two sections and merge them in a photoeditor.  You
can scan the whole 4 inch width in 24 bit color depth up to 4800 ppi.
But you probably lose little or no actual resolution if you scan at 2400
ppi anyway.

At its price, the 4870 is a very good buy and should produce quite good
4 x 5 scans.   Of course you would do better with a $13,000 Imacon or
similar scanner, but within the same price range as the 4870, you aren't
going to do much better.  If you can find a 3200, that also should suffice.

See www.math.northwestern.edu/~len/photos/pages/e2450.html.   The last
example is a 4 x 5 scan done with an Epson 2450.  The 3200 and 4870
would resolve somewhat more fine detail.