Just purchased imacon precision ii - what do I need to work with mac

Paris

A
Paris

  • 1
  • 0
  • 89
Seeing right through you

Seeing right through you

  • 3
  • 1
  • 135
I'll drink to that

D
I'll drink to that

  • 0
  • 0
  • 108
Touch

D
Touch

  • 1
  • 2
  • 104
Pride 2025

A
Pride 2025

  • 1
  • 1
  • 135

Forum statistics

Threads
198,375
Messages
2,773,824
Members
99,602
Latest member
RockvilleMMF
Recent bookmarks
1

Shortpballer

Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2017
Messages
7
Location
Los Angeles
Format
Medium Format
Hello,
I just purchased a used imacon precision. Doesn't come with anything besides an ac adapter.

What do I need to get it to work with my 2009 Mac Pro? I've seen some scsi to USB 2.0 adapters. Would this work? Or do I need to buy an older Mac to work the scanner? Any help would be awesome! I'm excited about scanning myself!
 

samcomet

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
378
Location
Sydney, Australia
Format
35mm RF
Hello,
I just purchased a used imacon precision. Doesn't come with anything besides an ac adapter.

What do I need to get it to work with my 2009 Mac Pro? I've seen some scsi to USB 2.0 adapters. Would this work? Or do I need to buy an older Mac to work the scanner? Any help would be awesome! I'm excited about scanning myself!

I've had success with the same Mac and a SCSI card when using a Polaroid film scanner. This may work for you too. Good luck!
cheers,
Sam
 

samcomet

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
378
Location
Sydney, Australia
Format
35mm RF
It's a SCSI card that fits into the internal bay of the computer. If you look at the rear of the box you'll see several cutouts that serve as access points for cables attached to the internally mounted expansion cards............check this out:

Dead Link Removed

cheers,
sam
 
OP
OP

Shortpballer

Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2017
Messages
7
Location
Los Angeles
Format
Medium Format
So it is a card that will mount to pci-e? I don't think I have any 16-pin pci left.

It's a SCSI card that fits into the internal bay of the computer. If you look at the rear of the box you'll see several cutouts that serve as access points for cables attached to the internally mounted expansion cards............check this out:

Dead Link Removed

cheers,
sam
 

samcomet

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
378
Location
Sydney, Australia
Format
35mm RF
To be honest with you I do not know, but I would suggest a search on the net to find a manufacturer/seller of SCSI cards and check with the specs to see if you can't find a compatible one ............sorry I cannot be more specific.

Best,
Sam
 
OP
OP

Shortpballer

Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2017
Messages
7
Location
Los Angeles
Format
Medium Format
Is there anyone out there that has a precision ii and is using it with Mac OS? Even if I need to buy a G4 G5 or an older laptop, I don't mind, just want to know the best way to get this thing working!
 
Joined
Jul 31, 2012
Messages
3,321
Format
35mm RF
I would start with a SCSI card that will work with your scanner then find a computer that will run it, which if you are in luck might be the one you already have. RATOC made a SCSI-Firewire converter, but those are rare now and the price has climbed accordingly.

There is a Yahoo group called high end scan or something like that. You can get an answer for sure there.
 
OP
OP

Shortpballer

Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2017
Messages
7
Location
Los Angeles
Format
Medium Format
So I've been trying to do research for the past 6 hours or so. It seems that the most efficient way is with the SCSI-FIrewire converter. As you said they are quite expensive. If I were to just use a SCSI card, I would be stuck with a G4 or a very old computer.

My other option is to buy a Mac mini or a MacBook Pro that supports snow leopard (the newest OS I can have that supports SCSI). So these basically means that I can't use my Mac Pro tower since I run Sierra.

Do you think it is better to just get an older Mac computer and run a SCSI card over buying the adapter and a Mac mini or a MacBook Pro?


I would start with a SCSI card that will work with your scanner then find a computer that will run it, which if you are in luck might be the one you already have. RATOC made a SCSI-Firewire converter, but those are rare now and the price has climbed accordingly.

There is a Yahoo group called high end scan or something like that. You can get an answer for sure there.
 
Joined
Jul 31, 2012
Messages
3,321
Format
35mm RF
Like I said, if you can find a SCSI card that will work with your scanner, that would be the place to start. It will be much easier to find a computer that will work with the SCSI card. I keep an old 2004 Powerbook around just in case I ever get an old scanner like a Creo. I hope I do. I know the Powerbook will run the software needed although the interface might be a problem. From what I can remember you will need a Motorola processor to run a SCSI card. I may be wrong on that, but it would be a safe bet.

Since you are basically starting from scratch, don't rule out a Windows machine. Again, like I said, finding a SCSI card or converter will be the issue. If you can find the firewire converter, that opens up a lot of options you won't have with a SCSI card. I have also seen a PCMCIA/Firewire converter. That would work with an old laptop, but those are probably far rarer than a RATOC converter.

Kinda s*cks that all the good old scanners are such a pain to use these days! You would think all the advancements in technology would have given us something better by now.

Good luck to you.
 
OP
OP

Shortpballer

Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2017
Messages
7
Location
Los Angeles
Format
Medium Format
Yea it is really crazy there are no simpler options!


Like I said, if you can find a SCSI card that will work with your scanner, that would be the place to start. It will be much easier to find a computer that will work with the SCSI card. I keep an old 2004 Powerbook around just in case I ever get an old scanner like a Creo. I hope I do. I know the Powerbook will run the software needed although the interface might be a problem. From what I can remember you will need a Motorola processor to run a SCSI card. I may be wrong on that, but it would be a safe bet.

Since you are basically starting from scratch, don't rule out a Windows machine. Again, like I said, finding a SCSI card or converter will be the issue. If you can find the firewire converter, that opens up a lot of options you won't have with a SCSI card. I have also seen a PCMCIA/Firewire converter. That would work with an old laptop, but those are probably far rarer than a RATOC converter.

Kinda s*cks that all the good old scanners are such a pain to use these days! You would think all the advancements in technology would have given us something better by now.

Good luck to you.
 

samcomet

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
378
Location
Sydney, Australia
Format
35mm RF
Yea it is really crazy there are no simpler options!

Had a look at my SCSI card. It's an Acard 67162 and I've seen a few on eBay although I cannot say for sure it'll work in your situ but good luck.
Sam
 

Frank53

Member
Joined
May 18, 2013
Messages
660
Location
Reuver, Netherlands
Format
Multi Format
Hello,
I just purchased a used imacon precision. Doesn't come with anything besides an ac adapter.

What do I need to get it to work with my 2009 Mac Pro? I've seen some scsi to USB 2.0 adapters. Would this work? Or do I need to buy an older Mac to work the scanner? Any help would be awesome! I'm excited about scanning myself!

Maybe a bit late, but I did not see this thread before.
A few years ago I bought the same scanner.
Long story short, I tried everything you can think of and the only thing that works for me is using the scanner with a Ratoc scsi to firewire converter on an older mac, in my case a G5 iMac. Be sure to switch on the scanner first and switch it off after the computer, otherwise you may have configure the whole thing all over again.
There is a manual about this on the internet, which is very helpfull. I can send you the link if you’re still interested.

Forget about scsi cards on a newer Mac. Apple stopped supporting scsi years ago and the Imacon software only works on 10.4 or earlier, which you cannot install on a newer Mac. If you have a G3 or G4 lying around, you could try that with the older 9.1 and scsi. Thats what it was originally made for.

Great scanner by the way.


Regards,
Frank
 

Lysander

Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2018
Messages
11
Location
Florida
Format
Digital

Attachments

  • s-l1600.jpg
    s-l1600.jpg
    272.9 KB · Views: 180

Bob Carnie

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 18, 2004
Messages
7,735
Location
toronto
Format
Med. Format RF
I switched to a PC for my Imacon Precision 11 old one.
it works much better now than it ever did working with the Mac..{ I had a lot of issues with the old mac setups}

but for detailed info I am the wrong person- I hire a tech who was really good on both systems and to date have been very happy.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom