Pacific Image Film Scanner. Any good?

[ClaremontPhoto]

I have the chance to buy a Pacific Image film scanner model PrimeFilm 1800i at a very good price.

But I've never heard of this company or this scanner.

Does anybody have any experience with their products? Especially Mac OS X users.

The scanner is 'discontinued' and only 1800dpi but the low low price makes up for that.

Scanner site is here.

 

[Socke]

A friend of mine has one, it is useless.

 

[daveozzz]

I used to have a PI 3600 Pro... which is way better than the 1800.. and it was pants.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

What exactly is wrong with them?

 

[Socke]

First of all, the 1800dpi is somewhat exaggerated, my stoneage Agfa 1236 gives better resolution at 1200dpi.
The density is too low, again compared to the Agfa with a claimed Dmax of 2.8.

The scans show lots of "grain", blown out highlights, no shaddow detail and the colours are off.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Thank you.

I'm glad I didn't pay €45 to find that out for myself.

 

[Mark Wood]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, I have a "PrimeFilm" 1800 scanner and I wouldn't be too hasty in dismissing it out of hand. The original Mac software (for OS9) was utterly useless. It wouldn't scan anywhere near the edge of a frame, the colour correction was hopeless and black areas from transparencies were full of noise. The software updates only ever solved the first issue. It certainly couldn't handle colour negative film at all. In desperation (it was the only USB film scanner available at the time), I bought the cut down version of "Silverfast" instead and that was a revalation. There is actually a half-decent scanner in there waiting for the right software! I've tried the PIE OSX software (very briefly, before buying a Nikon scanner for higher resolution) and it is a huge improvement on the original. "Vuescan" however now supports the 1800 and although I've yet to try it, it might just be the answer...

 

[ZorkiKat]

I have the chance to buy a Pacific Image film scanner model PrimeFilm 1800i at a very good price.

But I've never heard of this company or this scanner.

Does anybody have any experience with their products? Especially Mac OS X users.

The scanner is 'discontinued' and only 1800dpi but the low low price makes up for that.

Scanner site is here.

I have, and still use on occasion such a scanner. It doesn't see much action now because I use an Epson 4180 currently. The PI 1800U is a good scanner for its price and will produce excellent results for simple applications. I've use it for a couple of years and have produced files good enough for 8x12 inch prints.

Most of the faults of the scanner can be traced to the original software provided for it. If the newer "Cyber-X" software (downloadable from the pacific image site) or "VueScan" are used instead, the scans show dramatic improvement. BWs come out better with these software. The Cyber-X has colour profiles for the more popular colour negatives. VueScan offers flexibility and control.

I thought that using the more expensive Epson would automatically deliver good results ( it does), but the setup and scan times can sometimes be troublesome.
I sometimes find myself going back to the PI 1800 to do routine scans-used with Vuescan, BW and colour neg scans can look splendid.


The scanner is very light and very simple to use. The lid opens and the negative is snapped into the carrier- it's almost like using an enlarger. It is small and light, it can qualify as a 'portable' scanner. It can be carried along with a laptop computer.

The only thing I didn't like about it is the scanning area of 35x24mm- can't do 'full frame' scans with it.

For the price, the 1800U is hard to beat. Its no dimage nor nikon, but it delivers.

Jay

Jay