Plustek???

Lew_B · Jan 15, 2023

Looking for this group’s collective wisdom….

I’d really prefer a dedicated film scanner. At this point, I really only need it for 35mm, mostly for old slides (lots of chromes of various types), but some negative film also. I do have an old Nikon LS-2000, and a G3 Mac with SCSI that I used to run it on…This setup produced very nice results “back in the day” but due to various moves, hasn’t been fired up in >10 years. I may be able to resurrect this setup, but I’m not sure that’s the greatest idea, just because of how old it is (can you say OS8…).

Please don’t respond by telling me to do camera scans; I know they can be done, but it is just not for me at this point in time! And I’m also not going the flatbed (Epson) route, either (I’d go to camera scans before that)…..

So, about the only “modern” thing available in a true film scanner seems to be the Plustek 8200. I read what few reviews I find, and I can’t tell if it is decent, or just “what’s available”…. Hard to tell if the reviewers know what they’re doing, or are just amateurs trying to scan in memories, like vacation photos…..(nothing wrong with that, but I’m trying to recover my early years of semi-pro photography, so am looking for opinions from people who truly understand image quality).

So, I’m just looking for opinions/guidance specifically on the Plustek 8200….. From what I can gather, it may not be able to pull as much shadow out of chromes as the LS-2000 used to (I’m a chronic underexposer of chromes…..I like that “look”). Resolution-wise, should be similar to the Nikon (I know Plustek’s 7200 ppi is BS, but 3600 is fine). Any real-world experiences with Plustek would be greatly appreciated!

Lew

albada · Jan 15, 2023

I suggest resurrecting the LS-2000 setup. That will cost nothing, and if everything works, you're all set. Just don't connect it to the internet.
I have a Coolscan IV-ED, and can testify that Nikon made superb scanners back then. My Coolscan is connected to an ancient Pentium-4 computer running Windows ME (from the year 2000). By comparison, your Mac is new.

Mark

aparat · Jan 15, 2023

I used to have it and loved it. The huge advantage for me was that it worked very well with VueScan on my Linux workstation. It was fast and very easy to use. I regret selling it. I believe it comes with Silverfast, but I never used it myself.

madNbad · Jan 16, 2023

Buy a used one. I bought a 7600i in the box for a hundred usd. They're fine but slow. You can use it with the bundled Silverfast or upgrade to VueScan. Use it for a while and see if it's something you want to contiiue with.

albireo · Jan 16, 2023

Nothing wrong with Plusteks, but they're not the only film scanners currently produced.

Reflecta scanners are readily available and are an excellent option to consider. For instance:

Proscan 10T

Nodda Duma · Jan 16, 2023

Pacific Imaging XAs is also a viable alternative. Considering it can scan an entire roll of 35mm without intervention, it has an edge over other scanners on the market. Scan quality is very good.

albireo · Jan 16, 2023

Nodda Duma said:
Pacific Imaging XAs is also a viable alternative. Considering it can scan an entire roll of 35mm without intervention, it has an edge over other scanners on the market. Scan quality is very good.

Interesting thanks. Seems to be a rebranding of this one:

Computer required

reflecta.de

Or perhaps the Reflecta is a rebranded Pacific Image.

Helge · Jan 16, 2023

Nodda Duma said:
Pacific Imaging XAs is also a viable alternative. Considering it can scan an entire roll of 35mm without intervention, it has an edge over other scanners on the market. Scan quality is very good.

Pitty it looks like something designed in the mid 90s and that it also only takes 36x24 frames.
Otherwise pretty good scanner as far as they go, although far from an endlösung and as such too expensive.
A universal film scanner (all 135 and 120 formats) for that price would be killer.

Nodda Duma · Jan 16, 2023

albireo said:
Interesting thanks. Seems to be a rebranding of this one:

Computer required

reflecta.de

Or perhaps the Reflecta is a rebranded Pacific Image.

I could never figure out who rebranded which of these, but the series has been around for a while. In any case, the scanner is a good one. I ended up using Silverfast AI with it (which is a whole other level of torture until you figure out Silverfast’s workflow)

Nodda Duma · Jan 16, 2023

Helge said:
….
A universal film scanner (all 135 and 120 formats) for that price would be killer.

That’s what we call a unicorn, outside of Epson flatbeds and DSLR setups.

Helge · Jan 16, 2023

Nodda Duma said:
That’s what we call a unicorn, outside of Epson flatbeds and DSLR setups.

But there is absolutely no good reason for it not existing.

Lew_B · Jan 16, 2023

I did look at the Pacific Image/Reflecta (I think Pacific Image in Taiwan is the original manufacturer for both https://www.scanace.com/contact ), and it looked better (on paper) than the Plustek, but I can't tell if they are still in business or not. Some of the resellers say "no longer available". I worry about a vendor that small....

I also saw in reviews that their software doesn't play well with Apple Silicon Macs (it is Intel only, no ARM64 driver); supposedly works with Rosetta 2 though, as long as Apple keeps supporting it. Also, It is apparently USB 2, not USB 3, which makes it seem dated as well...

It seems to me that given all the renewed interest in 35mm film photography, that some vendor should come out with something like the old Coolscans (hey Nikon, you interested )...

mcetic · Jan 16, 2023

Lew_B said:
Looking for this group’s collective wisdom….

I’d really prefer a dedicated film scanner. At this point, I really only need it for 35mm, mostly for old slides (lots of chromes of various types), but some negative film also. I do have an old Nikon LS-2000, and a G3 Mac with SCSI that I used to run it on…This setup produced very nice results “back in the day” but due to various moves, hasn’t been fired up in >10 years. I may be able to resurrect this setup, but I’m not sure that’s the greatest idea, just because of how old it is (can you say OS8…).

Please don’t respond by telling me to do camera scans; I know they can be done, but it is just not for me at this point in time! And I’m also not going the flatbed (Epson) route, either (I’d go to camera scans before that)…..

So, about the only “modern” thing available in a true film scanner seems to be the Plustek 8200. I read what few reviews I find, and I can’t tell if it is decent, or just “what’s available”…. Hard to tell if the reviewers know what they’re doing, or are just amateurs trying to scan in memories, like vacation photos…..(nothing wrong with that, but I’m trying to recover my early years of semi-pro photography, so am looking for opinions from people who truly understand image quality).

So, I’m just looking for opinions/guidance specifically on the Plustek 8200….. From what I can gather, it may not be able to pull as much shadow out of chromes as the LS-2000 used to (I’m a chronic underexposer of chromes…..I like that “look”). Resolution-wise, should be similar to the Nikon (I know Plustek’s 7200 ppi is BS, but 3600 is fine). Any real-world experiences with Plustek would be greatly appreciated!

Lew

From my experience, the #1 issue when scanning 35mm films is that they tend to warp and get out of focus. Plustek scanners don't have auto focus of manual focusing.
As for pulling details from shadows, I suggest to go with Pacific Imaging PrimeFilm XAs or PrimeFilm XA Plus. XAs has dynamic range of 4.2 compared to 3/6 of Plustec 8200 andithas autofocus plus 10000dpi resolution. I think it's the best 35mm scanner on the market. Also, it can scan entire roll before you cut it in strips and put in the folder. The only question is can you handle the price.

PrimeFilm XAs super edition

www.scanace.com

juan · Jan 16, 2023

When I bought my Plustek several years ago, there were several versions. I learned the scanner was the same in all and the only difference was the bundled software. As I planned to use Vuescan, I got the cheapest version at a considerable savings. You might research before buying.

The Photo Outfitters · Jan 16, 2023

Lew
We bought a Plustek 8200i thinking it would be a good introduction to film scanning for our boutique-y photography store. TBH aside from speed and efficiency in running a large quantity through it we had no real issues. We have since upgraded to a different system. All the software, cables, calibration slide and extra film carriers are sitting in the closet.

Lew_B · Jan 16, 2023

The Photo Outfitters said:
Lew
We bought a Plustek 8200i thinking it would be a good introduction to film scanning for our boutique-y photography store. TBH aside from speed and efficiency in running a large quantity through it we had no real issues. We have since upgraded to a different system. All the software, cables, calibration slide and extra film carriers are sitting in the closet.

HI, thanks for the info; I know the Plustek is a manual feed operation, which wouldn't be ideal for an operation like yours. That said, what did you upgrade to (out of interest)?

Also, if you have an 8200i and accessories gathering dust, maybe we should talk about me taking it off your hands? Please PM me if that might be a possibility.... I generally wouldn't buy something like this used, but from an outfit like yours I would feel comfortable..... Just a thought... Lew

Lew_B · Jan 16, 2023

mcetic said:
From my experience, the #1 issue when scanning 35mm films is that they tend to warp and get out of focus. Plustek scanners don't have auto focus of manual focusing.
As for pulling details from shadows, I suggest to go with Pacific Imaging PrimeFilm XAs or PrimeFilm XA Plus. XAs has dynamic range of 4.2 compared to 3/6 of Plustec 8200 andithas autofocus plus 10000dpi resolution. I think it's the best 35mm scanner on the market. Also, it can scan entire roll before you cut it in strips and put in the folder. The only question is can you handle the price.

PrimeFilm XAs super edition

PrimeFilm XAs super edition

www.scanace.com

Good point on the focus issue... the LS-2000 has both auto-focus and manual focus, which I would really like to have for the reasons you cited. Big point in favor of Pacific Image (or going back to the LS-2000 ) over Plustek! Thanks!

However, reviews not so great from what I can find (there aren't many, which is also why it feels like these are uncommon, therefore chancy....) : https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1731752-REG/plustek_primefilm_xa_plus_scanner.html/reviews

dabsond · Jan 17, 2023

I have the pacific image XEs. I get really good results with it.

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 17, 2023

Beein using 8200 for a bit and is a great scanner.

albireo said:
Nothing wrong with Plusteks, but they're not the only film scanners currently produced.

Reflecta scanners are readily available and are an excellent option to consider. For instance:

Proscan 10T

Seems a good option but more expensive. It depends on what you need.

Marcelo

brose · Jan 17, 2023

I bought a Plustek 8300i a few months ago. My understanding is that this model scans faster than the 8200i and works better with Macs. I use it with Silverfast, which I’ve used for years with my Epson V700. It scans plenty fast for me and suits my workflow of scanning just a few negs per roll. I use the flatbed for contacts and the Plustek for frames. No issues with focus.

I tried digital camera scanning first, using a Leica CL and an adapted Olympus macro, mounted in a new negative supply lab system. Couldn’t get the edges sharp despite my best efforts at alignment. I found the whole setup awkward and unpleasant. Faced with buying a modern macro to try to make it work, I decided to try the Plustek first. I make prints in my Darkroom, so I use scanning to preview images I may want to print, and for display/posting Jpegs. I guess I don’t see the benefit of camera scanning, unless you are making digital prints at large size, and even then I think a Plustek/Topaz/Lightroom workflow would suffice.

Also, FWIW, the 8300i was not available through B&H, only through Amazon.

madNbad · Jan 18, 2023

brose said:
I bought a Plustek 8300i a few months ago. My understanding is that this model scans faster than the 8200i and works better with Macs. I use it with Silverfast, which I’ve used for years with my Epson V700. It scans plenty fast for me and suits my workflow of scanning just a few negs per roll. I use the flatbed for contacts and the Plustek for frames. No issues with focus.

I tried digital camera scanning first, using a Leica CL and an adapted Olympus macro, mounted in a new negative supply lab system. Couldn’t get the edges sharp despite my best efforts at alignment. I found the whole setup awkward and unpleasant. Faced with buying a modern macro to try to make it work, I decided to try the Plustek first. I make prints in my Darkroom, so I use scanning to preview images I may want to print, and for display/posting Jpegs. I guess I don’t see the benefit of camera scanning, unless you are making digital prints at large size, and even then I think a Plustek/Topaz/Lightroom workflow would suffice.

Also, FWIW, the 8300i was not available through B&H, only through Amazon.

Camera scanning works best for if you have limited space and no practical way to install or modify a room to be a traditional darkroom. You are working in the optimum conditions: you have a darkroom, space for flatbed scanners and are using the Plustek to scan a few frames per roll. I liked the 7600i I had and even the Silverfast was fine, I wanted to be able to scan an entire roll and not spend hours doing it. Everyone involved in photography has their own acceptance level. If your a pro or display your work in an organized setting, your results will be judged at a different level than someone who simply enjoys photography and is happy with decent results. Any one who makes the effort to properly expose and develop film always wants to put their best efforts on display, printed or scanned.

Helge · Jan 18, 2023

Camera scanning done right is currently the ultimate way to scan film. No two ways about it.
You need to nail flatness and focus though. Many ways to do that.

Lew_B · Jan 18, 2023

brose said:
I bought a Plustek 8300i a few months ago. My understanding is that this model scans faster than the 8200i and works better with Macs. I use it with Silverfast, which I’ve used for years with my Epson V700. It scans plenty fast for me and suits my workflow of scanning just a few negs per roll. I use the flatbed for contacts and the Plustek for frames. No issues with focus.....

.....Also, FWIW, the 8300i was not available through B&H, only through Amazon.

Thanks, brose, I was curious about the 8300i; as you point out, it is only available via their Amazon store, not through any of the resellers (why?). The claim is that it is 38% faster than the 8200i because it is "equipped with new generation of chip" (marketing hype?); other than that it has 3 calibration targets instead of 1 for the 8200i. Interesting that it is supposed to work better with Macs, but not sure why. Still USB2, which feels old, but I doubt the interface speed makes a huge difference.... Like you, I'm not looking to do bulk scanning on it, so speed isn't going to be a big issue anyhow! Thanks!

brose · Jan 19, 2023

Lew, I think you’d find the scanning speed of the 8300i sufficiently fast. It’s much, much faster than my Espon V700. My only mild complaint about it is the film holder. Aligning the negative strip properly could be easier to accomplish. It takes a bit of fiddling, so I use those thin, cotton gloves for handling film, so I don’t smudge the negatives while aligning. Once aligned and snapped closed, the negatives are kept flat.

If you’re planning on doing a lot of larger size digital printing, camera scanning may be a better process. I have an Epson P900, which I’m still dialing in for color printing. It’s quite good, I think. At some point I’ll mess with B&W printing from Plustek-scanned negatives, and see how the results compare to darkroom prints. In my initial efforts, I’ve been more successful/satisfied with the P900’s color output, but I still have a lot learn about B&W digital printing.

brose · Jan 19, 2023

I‘d like to add that I once contacted Plustek tech support to ask a question about a very slight skew in some scanned images. I was having trouble adjusting/cropping the scan in Silverfast to remove the skew. I think the skew is a result of the could-be-better film holder. I’ve had to make a similar adjustment to some negatives scanned on the V700. Anyway, the Plustek test support guy was very helpful and walked me through the solution in Silverfast. Probably one of the better tech support experiences I’ve had.

This is something that camera scanning would likely avoid. I haven’t seen any resulting sharpness or scan quality issues, other than a need to adjust the prescan frame in Silverfast before the final scan.

Plustek???

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