any word on this scanner

[amade1974]

Hi all,
I saw this product at costco, and I am interested in purchasing it (I just recently rediscovered the joy of b/w photography, and rffs), so I am generating negatives and positives, with no chance of 'digitizing' them after development. Has anyone used this, and if so, would the recommend or say no to it?

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...Email_JuneMVM-_-Focus-_-11-_-PrimeFilmScanner

thanks

Kurt

 

[venchka]

I don't see any mention of 16 bit grayscale scanning. If the scanner won't output 16 bit grayscale, stay away.

Look for a nice low mileage used Epson 4990. Great scanner for any format you may want now or in the future.

 

[Papa Smurf]

incomplete description?

incomplete description?

I don't see any mention of 16 bit grayscale scanning. If the scanner won't output 16 bit grayscale, stay away.....
.

I looked at the Plustek scanners real hard and I do not remember this one? Try finding another retailer that sells Plustek and see if they have this model. It apprears to me that the description has been edited by someone that knows nothing about scanners to conserve space and has left out parts of the specifications. After reviewing other's comments about the Plustek products, I went with a used Minolta Scan Dual III in good condition. It was just me and I am not saying anything against the Plustek products. Some of the reviews were very favorable. It seems to me that in today's world where consumer products are designed with the Average mean failure rate as the driving force, one is taking a chance irrespective of the brand name on the product.🙁

 

[sevo]

It rather looks like the bottom line models currently sold by Reflecta - strictly speaking none of their own products, but Chinese OEM ware for basic consumer requirements. It will do to webify the old family shots done a decade ago on a cheap camera, as intended - but it certainly is no scanner for the "film can still be better than digital" crowd...

Sevo

 

[Papa Smurf]

.... It will do to webify the old family shots done a decade ago on a cheap camera, as intended - but it certainly is no scanner for the "film can still be better than digital" crowd...

Sevo

I was being polite and talked around this, but his comment is in line with the majority of the user's reports on Plustek's products. They are good enough for the non-descriminating crowd, but if you want the very best that you can afford, look elsewhere. They produce some very good examples, but the quality range seems to be quiet large. Let me qualify my comments with I did not try any of their scanners. I just took the reviewers at their word.😕

If this scanner fits your needs, then by all means, jump on it; however, if you are looking for something that you can be confident in to give the best results possible for your money, there are many used scanners available form people that have "moved up" to a higher level. That is the route that I took with the Minolta. It is by no means a top line scanner, but it is so much better that my old and tired Canon FS2720 that I am happy, for now! 😉

 

[amade1974]

thanks!

thanks!

I did the plunge, I will try it out and if it doesn't perform the way I like return it. Thanks for the heads up on the color depth, it says something about 8-bit, which doesn't seem tremendously high....don't want to make a fool out of myself.

THanks, I will keep an eye out on that Epson, I have a large format camera that I want to start using and digitizing negs if possible

 

[kuzano]

Also... a much better option for the same price...

Also... a much better option for the same price...

The epson V500 can often be found new for $150 from various sources and from discounts direct from Epson...

It's a full flatbed, and on film (negative and transparency) it scans both 35mm and 120mm format.

 

[amade1974]

got the scanner, used it to scan 3 images, back its going...
the files are 'huge' (180 mb) and there is really bad separation in the graytones...I had initially hoped in maybe just digitizing and getting digital b/w images, but the scanned images don't compare well to the actual prints...

 

[-doomed-]

I have the pf1800 , its ok for what i paid($30) but its still not that great, ill be getting an epson when funds allow.