Pakon Scanner

Balto said:
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
Click to expand...

Looking in my iPhone those images look great!
Which summicron version are you using?
 
Hi all,

Impressed by the glowing comments on the Pakon F135+ film scanner and looking for a way to have fast access to digital images from my b/w rolls, I decided to order a scanner from AAA Imaging.
My Minolta Dimage IV does a good scanning job, but the process is very slow and the post treatment in PSE doesn't encourage much film shooting.
The Pakon arrived two days ago and since then I have been trying to scan some images, without succes.
I reinstalled the Pakon software three times and that finally seems to work now : the scanner starts grabbing the film and moves it forward. However, just when the front of the film strip comes peeping at the other side of the scanner, the unit stops advancing and I get an 'Error 1003' pop-up on the screen. I already tried blowing some compressed air in the film entry slot and I tried with a 4-frame color film as well as an uncut roll of Agfa APX100 b/w film : same issue.

I have a Medion PC with i7 processor and Win8, but I installed VMware Player with WinXP professional SP3.
Did anyone else here encounter the same issue and what do I need to do next please? Thanks a lot in advance! I would really like to get this thing working...

Best regards,
Benny
 
f16sunshine said:
Looking in my iPhone those images look great!
Which summicron version are you using?
Click to expand...

Thank you, it's an ASPH. The pakon has become a huge invaluable part of my shooting, the speed and ease of use gets me grabbing my film M far more then my M9 most days which I love. It's not the highest quality scanner in the world there is no doubt about that, but for the price I think anyone who shoots 35mm and has even thought about processing them self should invest in one (and then a jobo processor, they go hand in hand :) )
 
camerawrecker said:
Hi all,

Impressed by the glowing comments on the Pakon F135+ film scanner and looking for a way to have fast access to digital images from my b/w rolls, I decided to order a scanner from AAA Imaging.
My Minolta Dimage IV does a good scanning job, but the process is very slow and the post treatment in PSE doesn't encourage much film shooting.
The Pakon arrived two days ago and since then I have been trying to scan some images, without succes.
I reinstalled the Pakon software three times and that finally seems to work now : the scanner starts grabbing the film and moves it forward. However, just when the front of the film strip comes peeping at the other side of the scanner, the unit stops advancing and I get an 'Error 1003' pop-up on the screen. I already tried blowing some compressed air in the film entry slot and I tried with a 4-frame color film as well as an uncut roll of Agfa APX100 b/w film : same issue.

I have a Medion PC with i7 processor and Win8, but I installed VMware Player with WinXP professional SP3.
Did anyone else here encounter the same issue and what do I need to do next please? Thanks a lot in advance! I would really like to get this thing working...

Best regards,
Benny
Click to expand...

Another member had started a thread about some issues. AAA had him return the machine and they sent him another which was working great.
That thread is one reason I'm in the water now. It's nice having at least that 90day warranty to start with!
 
Balto said:
Thank you, it's an ASPH. The pakon has become a huge invaluable part of my shooting, the speed and ease of use gets me grabbing my film M far more then my M9 most days which I love. It's not the highest quality scanner in the world there is no doubt about that, but for the price I think anyone who shoots 35mm and has even thought about processing them self should invest in one (and then a jobo processor, they go hand in hand :) )
Click to expand...

Cool!
I've been feeling the same with my M gear lately. Tons of frozen film to shoot through before I allow myself a Digital M so... Pakon it is:)

Cheers!
 
What's the footprint of the Pakon? How much working space does it need? Just checking if I have space to put one next to my printer.
 
there's USB port on the back and plug to the AC Adapter, you don't need to worry about the sides as you feed the scanner from the front and usually will curl the film with its container.

here's a youtube video of the Pakon scanner in action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llthINnRSYA

also, regarding the candid bride shot that I shared yesterday, as suspected the flash was too hot for the situation, the V600 scan was no where usable as the Pakon scanner, highlights was pretty much gone.
 
From what I've seen it does alright with them, I haven't heard any complaining and the samples I've seen look fine to me. It does the consumer films from kodak and fuji well, loves ektar, mine doesnt seem to do 400h well but I will run a calibration next time I have that film to scan.
 
Pakon Scan of a 20 year old Kodak Gold negative

14911292090_daf24bc59b_b_d.jpg
 
Byteside said:
Nice scan Charles S.!

Does someone also know more about software updates or hacks to support 126 film? I'm not sure the Pakon is even physically capable of scanning 126, but I got so many old 126 film I want to scan. :)

I haven't heard something from this yet: https://twitter.com/kodakCB/status/496321153401896961
Click to expand...

Thanks,
Just made a print of the same image on A4 (roughly 8"x11") and it looks great. Bigger won't work I would think.

No idea about 126 hacks.
 
I'm wondering what the secret sauce is, to be able to scan rolls or 4-frame cut negatives that are true b&w?

My Pakon scans color and chromogenic with codes on the edge of the strip, but chokes on Tri-X. Is there a menu setting I'm missing?
 
David_Manning said:
I'm wondering what the secret sauce is, to be able to scan rolls or 4-frame cut negatives that are true b&w? My Pakon scans color and chromogenic with codes on the edge of the strip, but chokes on Tri-X. Is there a menu setting I'm missing?
Click to expand...

I'm still waiting for mine to arrive, but I read b&w requires software 3.2 - do you have that? Like I said, I have no actual experience yet, but worth mentioning anyway I guess.
 
I have a Windows XP laptop however I'd much rather use my new F135+ scanner with my desktop computer.
Can the Pakon software work properly in Windows 7 Professional XP mode?

Chris
 
Hello there,

I am about to jump on the wagon and purchase the scanner, but wanted to run one thing by you guys to see what you thought.

I live in Japan and there are quite a few easy and cheap film scanners on the shelves of these large camera stores like Yodobashi and Bic Camera.

See this for an example:
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/flaner/item/10003009/

My Japanese is only average and that's only spoken too which limits my research abilities in Japanese. When I search for these in English, there's very limited information, when I ask my wife to translate, she'll end the sentence with "Are you telling me you need yet one new gadget?"

These are cheap, 100USD and I wouldn't even have to pay for shipping.
The obvious worry is that it would underperform which I'd hate. I have a V750 which scans perfect if I don't mind the time it takes but to be honest I do! I need a faster solution like you guys do!

The pakon has a smaller resolution than a pro scanner but having just reviewed the JPEG's I produce once I finish editing my TIFFs coming from the Epson, I do use the same exact resolution, ex: 3000x2000 or in the neighborhood.

So my question is the following. What can these cheap scanners do? Will they perform some joke-like scan jobs with "enhanced" colors etc?

I only need it for BnW and I need decent scans. Again, I don't mind going for the Pakon but it's $250USD plus $80 shipping here in Japan. The Pakon is over 10 years old so I wonder if that technology could now be available in these smaller packages on the cheap, or these are two entirely different products?

Thanks,
Ben
 
Last edited:
ChrisPlatt said:
I have a Windows XP laptop however I'd much rather use my new F135+ scanner with my desktop computer. Can the Pakon software work properly in Windows 7 Professional XP mode? Chris
Click to expand...

There is a FB group that has multiple threads on this topic and the members are quite helpful troubleshooting
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom