lcpr
Well-known
The only reason I haven't bought a 7600 yet is because I'm holding out for their multi format scanner. It'll free up a lot of room on my desk.
Any reason not to get a plustek 7600i?
- Thread starter ChrisP
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Norkusa
Established
Yeah, I'm waiting on it too. I just wish we had some idea of how much it'll cost so I can make up my mind now.
brbo
Well-known
If it's any good it will be $2k or more. If it's $1k or less it won't be any good.
🙂
🙂
mdruziak
Established
The price just went up! It will be over $2000 so it will be good.🙂
Just a joke! Pricing is still TBD.
mdruziak
Established
This is correct.
Now is a good time to buy a 7600i Ai. Some of the retailers are running a $45 instant rebate!
amyukie
Member
I just got my Plustek 7400 scanner. I love it so much because it is easy to use and fast. I use VueScan and haven't tried Silverfast 8 that came with it, should I try?
These are some pictures I scanned yesterday. Arista Prem 400 + 1:100 Rodinal in 1-hour stand development (1st attempt ever).
Link to my website
These are some pictures I scanned yesterday. Arista Prem 400 + 1:100 Rodinal in 1-hour stand development (1st attempt ever).
Link to my website
MSUSpartan
Member
The Plustek 7600i is making scanning a chore.... although the results are good. The scan speed is very inconsistent... and when the speed is slow (not normal), it will result in lines through the image w/ vuescan or different color cast/exposure w/ silverfast.
Some other users are reporting the same issue here... I do iSRD(color)/SRD(b/w), Multiexposure, 3600 dpi, and I can get about 10 frames done in an hour...
http://forum.silverfast.com/silverfast-8-mac-os-x-drivers-t8818-60.html
Some other users are reporting the same issue here... I do iSRD(color)/SRD(b/w), Multiexposure, 3600 dpi, and I can get about 10 frames done in an hour...
http://forum.silverfast.com/silverfast-8-mac-os-x-drivers-t8818-60.html
goo0h
Well-known
That's odd. Mine has been working consistently smoothly without any issues. This is with latest VueScan and SilverFast, though I was using it more wi†h VueScan lately. Perhaps contact the vendor?
vitaly66
slightly tilted
I lost interest in the Plustek products when I discovered there is no support for Linux whatsoever, not even with Vuescan.
Pity.
Pity.
jtm6
Well-known
(Note: I found some helpful info and I added it to the end, but I'm leaving this up in case anyone else runs into this.)
I'm rapidly losing interest just trying to find out if Macs are really, truly, honestly supported. I'm actually very disappointed. Here's what I've found:
1. hamrick.com says VueScan will work on a Mac with plustek's drivers. Even though the whole point of going with an alternative is the result of issues that drove me to an alternative, I wouldn't mind downloading the driver if that is what it takes. But when you follow the link on hamrick.com to plustek.com...
2. There are no Mac drivers/updates listed on Plustek's drivers and downloads page (from the link on hamrick.com's page) for the 7400, 7600i SE, and 7600i AI. The only "MAC" related file is a "patch to solve the problem" with devices that fall within a certain range of serial numbers.
3. According to the Plustek FAQ:
"Do Plustek scanners support Mac OS?"
"No, Apple Macintosh is not supported."
Edit: I found a magic link to get official scanner hardware drivers from LaserSoft, the makers of the scanner software, not the scanner hardware.
The information on plustek's site about the "Apple Macintosh is not supported" is somewhat confusing since it is possible to get "support" from someone else, just not plustek apparently.
No drivers, not even a note about where to get Mac drivers, in the drivers section is confusing too.
Edit 2:
The introduction on the 7600i SE page is about the 7400i not the 7600i SE.
Wait a sec... there is a 7400i?
The main OpticFilm page says they the 7600i SE and 7600i AI come with SilverFast SE Plus! Doesn't the AI version come with SilverFast AI Studio?
:bang:
grantb
Established
I've just bought a 7600i SE+ from B&H and it works great on my MBP with SL. Installing Silverfast installs the drivers. Installing SF (or the demo) is the only way to install the drivers. It was an annoying process to install and upgrade SF to version 8, but it wasn't difficult and only took a few minutes. It's just annoying because of their obsessive and repetitive mandatory software registration. As if that's going to keep anybody from cracking it, lol.
After reading all the threads here on RFF I thought for sure I would be more of a Vuescan guy, but I tried both and it turns out I like SF better. VS demo only works after you install SF.
I understand wanting to know if your platform has "official support" from the hardware vendor, but film scanners are a little different. In this case, device specific support from the software vendor is where the rubber meets the road.
jtm6
Well-known
I appreciate the reply. I'm just frustrated after being repeatedly ready to buy and then confused by conflicting information as I was researching.
I've used Silverfast, VueScan, and other software in the past for scanning slides and negatives. I've been developing software and dealing with device drivers for longer than I care to admit to myself. I read several threads in their entirety and I'm familiar with all the hoops people have to go through to get their plustek scanner to work. I know the scanner world is screwy in general.
The bigger issue here is that there is conflicting and/or incorrect information on every page I visited on their site. Even though people on a thread on an Internet forum got it to work by installing a demo, I think an official statement of "No, Apple Macintosh is not supported" by the company that makes it should be heeded.
Anyone know where I can get a 7400i? 😉
MSUSpartan
Member
I like Silverfast better as well, especially w/ color negatives.
The 7600i is great when it scans at the speed it supposed to, but the issue is that it is inconsistent. I've gotten it down where I can tell if a scan will be successful or not by touch. Before it scans, the scanner will "vibrate". If it is fast like your phone getting an email, that means the scan will be a fast one, but if it is more like a rattle, then it will scan slow. Sometimes it takes up to 15 slow vibrates before you get the good one.
Scanning slow is not even the main issue. The issue is that when the scanner is slow, the exposure and color will be completely wrong. It tends to be a few stops underexposed and have a blue cast.
I really hope this is fixed for the Plustek 120. I need a MF scanner and that's the one I'm waiting for right now.
The 7600i is great when it scans at the speed it supposed to, but the issue is that it is inconsistent. I've gotten it down where I can tell if a scan will be successful or not by touch. Before it scans, the scanner will "vibrate". If it is fast like your phone getting an email, that means the scan will be a fast one, but if it is more like a rattle, then it will scan slow. Sometimes it takes up to 15 slow vibrates before you get the good one.
Scanning slow is not even the main issue. The issue is that when the scanner is slow, the exposure and color will be completely wrong. It tends to be a few stops underexposed and have a blue cast.
I really hope this is fixed for the Plustek 120. I need a MF scanner and that's the one I'm waiting for right now.
anerjee
Well-known
You may have a problematic 7600.
I scan at 3600dpi, and get fairly consistent scan speeds. I use Vuescan, and dont use multi-exposure or anything like that.
I scan at 3600dpi, and get fairly consistent scan speeds. I use Vuescan, and dont use multi-exposure or anything like that.
gavinlg
Veteran
Mine has done this a few times when I first got it. I think the little scanning unit somehow goes 'off the rails' and doesn't track properly. I actually thought 'what the hell' and picked up my unit and gave it a gentle shake. There was some rattling and after experimenting a few times with it it seems to be fixed.
It's annoying that I had to do that really, but the slow/vibrating scanning thing hasn't come back.
Also I found that using vuecan about 3600dpi is a sweet spot for speed/resolution. 4000dpi seems to slow it down without very much res improvement. Going up to (say) 7200dpi isn't much slower than 4000dpi. In fact it may even be slightly quicker. It's an odd little machine, but it does give good scans.
MSUSpartan
Member
Do you use Windows? Looks like it's an OSX drivers issue. Apparently they figured out the issue and Plustek updated the drivers and will be fixed w/ the next Silverfast release per the link I posted above.
anerjee
Well-known
Murchu
Well-known
Any more info on what the exact issue is? I'm an OSX user (Snow Leopard), and about to pull the trigger on either a 8200SE or 7600SE, depending on which the best deal I can find is on
MSUSpartan
Member
Here's the link. Hopefully the new release come out soon.
http://forum.silverfast.com/silverfast-8-mac-os-x-drivers-t8818-60.html
Murchu
Well-known
Cheers, had a look at the above already, and was just wondering about the issue in general. I'm about to buy either an 8200SE or 7600SE, and while I don't intend to use Silverfast, as I already have a Vuescan lifetime license, Vuescan would seem to depend on the Plustek drivers which you have to install Silverfast to get them onto your machine.
Mark Druziak mentioned earlier in this thread, about how Plustek were working more closely with Vuescan from 2012, but am not sure what (if anything) has come out of this collaboration, as from what I can see, you still have to install Silverfast to get the scanner drivers onto your machine. I am open to correction on this. Also Plustek still as yet offers no downloadable drivers for mac from its website.
To be honest, as a Vuescan user, my plan will be to avoid Silverfast altogether, so my real issue is whether these issues with slow scanning are related to SIlverfast, or the actual Plustek driver. Reading the forum link you sent above, Silverfast seem to be blaming any issues on the Plustek driver, thus my concern as a Plustek Vuescan user.
If anyone could shed any further light on the above, it would be great. Mark from Plustek has been great chiming in and responding to queries here and on other forums, but have not seen him post on a while, but perhaps he is on holidays.