Pakon Scanner

Paul Jonathan said:
Another question I had is how the scanner handles overlapping frames? As I understand it the scanner only does one aspect ratio.
Click to expand...

Allegedly, you can scan overlapping frames (you certainly have control over frame positioning) and then merge later. I've never done it personally.
 
Is anyone offering them in Europe? The shipping and import tax makes it too expensive to buy it from american vendors.
 
mrak said:
Is anyone offering them in Europe? The shipping and import tax makes it too expensive to buy it from american vendors.
Click to expand...

AAAimaging.com will ship them anywhere in the world. I don't think shipping is too onerous...
 
I also bought the Pakon F135 from AAAImaging (ebay) and it works amazing. It's way faster than my Epson V370 and it has nicer colour and contrast. The shipping for me (to the Netherlands) was 60 dollar. Setting up gave some problems (USB cable was also crappy), but I got it working with Windows Virtual PC.

I would also like to scan 126 film, but the scanner does a bit strange with the colours (too red, but can be fixed), the framing goes wrong and most importantly the scanner doesn't get the whole image! Now I know that it probably cannot get the whole image because of the 'wheels' to move the film, but I was hoping if you guys know a way to get more image and better framing. I already took a closer look at the program. One thing I noticed is that the Setup>Scanner>Custom Framing option is turned off for me. I don't know what it can do, but perhaps this can help. Somebody perhaps know more about this?

Another idea I got was perhaps to physically move the lens so more gets scanned, but I first want to try with the software and get the framing turned off (or better settings).

The code of the program (analysed with IDA) does also mention "EnableSpliceModeOption" and "SpliceAdvance", but I do not see a way to activate these and what they do is unclear.
 
Really dense negatives aren't great in the Pakon. I've been developing Acros in Xtol 1+1 recently, just trying to use up the Xtol before it goes bad, and I get really dense negatives if I expose my normal way. I have to basically underexpose to get scannable negs in this developer on the Pakon.

It's been said on the FB Pakon group that the blue light of the 135+ is what makes it unsuitable for slide film. Apparently, its bigger brothers, the 235 and 335, have a light source with a switchable color that uses a white light in slide mode.

Finally, it appears that Kodak is interested in feedback on how they might (emphasis on ”might”) improve the Pakon. Please weigh in, so they know you're out there:

https://twitter.com/kodakCB/status/496321153401896961
 
That is amazing news. Really cool that they might improve the Pakon Software. I'm gonna make a Twitter account right away. Thanks for the heads up.
 
Got my Pakon up and running - thanks for the advice from everyone here.

Now, I scanned a lot of B/W this weekend, but taking them into Photoshop I am a little confused (or maybe just new to this whole scanning business - until this spring I would only do printing). The tiff files I export from the Pakon software are RGB files, i.e. there is some color info embedded. Indeed when I set them to gray scale in Ps the picture changes visibly.

So why is the scanner recording color where there is none? I set the scanner to B/W when scanning - is there some other setting I missed?
 
Paul Jonathan said:
Got my Pakon up and running - thanks for the advice from everyone here.

Now, I scanned a lot of B/W this weekend, but taking them into Photoshop I am a little confused (or maybe just new to this whole scanning business - until this spring I would only do printing). The tiff files I export from the Pakon software are RGB files, i.e. there is some color info embedded. Indeed when I set them to gray scale in Ps the picture changes visibly.

So why is the scanner recording color where there is none? I set the scanner to B/W when scanning - is there some other setting I missed?
Click to expand...

I believe the B/W option are meant for chromogenic C-41. Which is probably why it was saved as colour.. (?)
 
Hi All

I've been on the fence with this scanner and need a final nudge from you all.
To Recap:
I would be suing it strictly to scan Traditional B+W Negatives that I develop.
I need a whole roll scanner to quickly preview my tools before scanning with a Nikon CS50 or wet developing.
I also would use these files to share on the web under 3000pix is that correct?

My Computers are all Macs. I have one running old 10.8.5 in order to keep Nikon Scan on a native machine.
I understand I will need to use some sort of virtual set up to use this scanner with it's Version 3 software.
I know there is a FB group but I won't be going back to FB so I rely on you folks here.

Can you see me headed towards any trouble with what I just outlined?
Are the files really good enough to get a true representation of Development and focus (sharpness)?
Any other comments I greatly appreciate. I've scanned this entire thread. Sorry to be codependent :p
Looking for a reason to jump or jump back. Thanks!!!
 
You need to run Parallels, VMWare, or VirtualBox on the Mac, as I'm sure you know. You also need to run XP in the virfual machine -- not Windows 7 or 8, or any other permutation. You will need a real XP install disk with activation code. IMHO, Parallels is the simplest to set up. I would just check their website to make sure that the current version runs under 10.8.5 -- I'm sure it does, but I would doublecheck. The files are beautiful, easily good enough for 8x12 and probably 11x14.
 
f16sunshine said:
Hi All

I've been on the fence with this scanner and need a final nudge from you all.
To Recap:
I would be suing it strictly to scan Traditional B+W Negatives that I develop.
Click to expand...

v3 software handles this just fine.

f16sunshine said:
I need a whole roll scanner to quickly preview my tools before scanning with a Nikon CS50 or wet developing.
Click to expand...

This is an IDEAL use of the Pakon (and precisely how I use mine).

f16sunshine said:
I also would use these files to share on the web under 3000pix is that correct?
Click to expand...

Yup; roughly 3000 x 2000 (6MP).

f16sunshine said:
My Computers are all Macs. I have one running old 10.8.5 in order to keep Nikon Scan on a native machine.
I understand I will need to use some sort of virtual set up to use this scanner with it's Version 3 software.
Click to expand...

Correct. I use Parallels, and once the software was installed, it works flawlessly.

f16sunshine said:
Can you see me headed towards any trouble with what I just outlined?
Click to expand...

Nope. What you describe is precisely how I use my Pakon.

f16sunshine said:
Are the files really good enough to get a true representation of Development and focus (sharpness)?
Click to expand...

In my experience, yes. On very high contrast negatives, the Pakon software tends to blow out the highlights in an effort to bring out the shadows. However, this is easily rectified before export; in fact, I generally apply a negative contrast and brightness adjustment to all of my Pakon B&W images, for just this reason, and then edit in LR.

I *highly* recommend the Pakon, if only for use as a digital proofing solution.
 
I didn't like the performance of Windows XP on a virtual environment, fortunately I had a spare laptop running Windows XP and have assigned it specifically for the Pakon scanner, now I'm not suffering any performance issue anymore.


f16sunshine, if you're curious here are 3 full-res scans from the Pakon.
The BW were converted to BW in LR
Yashica 35 CCN w/ Gold 200
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3911/14903068125_1600c71128_o.jpg

M6 + CV 35mm Skopar w/ TMAX 400 @ 800
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3854/14880075976_e9be80b963_o.jpg

M6 + CV 35mm Skopar w/ Neopan 400 @ 1600 and Yellow filter
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5557/14662087627_d6ba1151c5_o.jpg
 
taemo said:
I didn't like the performance of Windows XP on a virtual environment, fortunately I had a spare laptop running Windows XP and have assigned it specifically for the Pakon scanner, now I'm not suffering any performance issue anymore.


f16sunshine, if you're curious here are 3 full-res scans from the Pakon.
The BW were converted to BW in LR
Yashica 35 CCN w/ Gold 200
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3911/14903068125_1600c71128_o.jpg

M6 + CV 35mm Skopar w/ TMAX 400 @ 800
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3854/14880075976_e9be80b963_o.jpg

M6 + CV 35mm Skopar w/ Neopan 400 @ 1600 and Yellow filter
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5557/14662087627_d6ba1151c5_o.jpg
Click to expand...


Great thank you! That Tmax image is very cute!
I'm sure I have an XP laptop somewhere in the mix I can dedicate.
Can probably get one for Under $50 anyway.
Great idea!
 
Taemo-

Thanks for the samples. On the second shot, do you see detail on the negative that's missed by the scan? Specifically, I'm looking at the blown out detail on the white dress.

Great shot, by the way!
 
I have no problems running XP in virtualbox (free open source) on my 2009 iMac and then saving the files to a shared folder which I then transfer into Lightroom 4 in OSX. I use it to scan 95% b&w as that is what I shoot, then the occasional roll for a friend. If you know how to work the file you can easily get a nice quality image. Lowering the contrast while scanning helps a lot I've found. Everything on my site's blog is trix scanned with the pakon. I would like to get either a nikon or plustek scanner to use for higher res individual scans, but for web use (most of where my images end up) and proofing the speed and quality is hard to beat.

http://www.taoconnell.com/blog
 
thanks all, I just quickly developed and scanned the frame last night but I'll run it on a loupe and V600 tonight to check for details

the shot was taken at f/2.5, 1/45s and flash power set to 1/8 so it might have been to hot as well
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom