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thought's on Pacific Image Film Scanners - Like the PF3650U has anyone
Any thought's on Pacific Image Film Scanners - Like the PF3650U has anyone
used it yet? For the record I sure better film scanners maybe had like Nikon or Minolta but I don't have that kind of money this is my hobby not my career I look forward to your reply thanks Mike K |
#2
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thought's on Pacific Image Film Scanners - Like the PF3650Uhas anyone
I just bought the Primefilm 3650U from costco.com ($250 USD shipped.)
Let me say, it's exactly what I expected it to be ... cheap, serviceable, but not much more. I was mainly interested in the 'ICE' (infrared dust/scratch removal) feature, because the 3650U is the only 35mm film-scanner in its price class to offer this feature. It almost completely conceals small dust specs and scratches. For larger spots, scratches, the ICE'd output is noticeably 'disturbed' (but better than no ICE.) The color-quality is quite poor. The box claims '48-bit color', but really the hardware is closer to 36-bit. The driver software can send data in 48-bit format (with the lower bits padded to 0s.) This is noticeable when adjusting gamma or color/exposure in photo-software. In the digital-world, this scsanner has very little 'exposure latitude.' If you need to darken or lighten some negative/slide, the adjusted colors suffer from severe posterization and color-banding. Instead, you get better results by adjusting the 'exposure-level' and re-scanning the entire frame (a time consuming process.) PIE's previous film-scanners (1800U, 2700U) suffered the exact same problem, leading me to believe the 3650U uses the same basic A/D converter module -- it stinks. And mechanically, the 3650U is just like the 1800u/2700u. It's a 'clamshell' design with no auto-loading of any kind. The user must position each frame (of a strip) or slide in the scan-window, by hand. That's fine for scanning a few slides or negatives -- but if you need to batch convert several rolls, you'll waste a lot of time doing each frame one by one. The low-end Minolta (Dual Scan IV) probably has better color-quality, but it's only 3200dpi, and more importantly, it lacks ICE. For hobby-usage, either scanner would work fine. Just don't plan on selling any printed scans Mike Koperskinospam wrote: Any thought's on Pacific Image Film Scanners - Like the PF3650U has anyone used it yet? For the record I sure better film scanners maybe had like Nikon or Minolta but I don't have that kind of money this is my hobby not my career I look forward to your reply thanks Mike K |
#3
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thought's on Pacific Image Film Scanners - Like the PF3650Uhas anyone
I just bought the Primefilm 3650U from costco.com ($250 USD shipped.)
Let me say, it's exactly what I expected it to be ... cheap, serviceable, but not much more. I was mainly interested in the 'ICE' (infrared dust/scratch removal) feature, because the 3650U is the only 35mm film-scanner in its price class to offer this feature. It almost completely conceals small dust specs and scratches. For larger spots, scratches, the ICE'd output is noticeably 'disturbed' (but better than no ICE.) The color-quality is quite poor. The box claims '48-bit color', but really the hardware is closer to 36-bit. The driver software can send data in 48-bit format (with the lower bits padded to 0s.) This is noticeable when adjusting gamma or color/exposure in photo-software. In the digital-world, this scsanner has very little 'exposure latitude.' If you need to darken or lighten some negative/slide, the adjusted colors suffer from severe posterization and color-banding. Instead, you get better results by adjusting the 'exposure-level' and re-scanning the entire frame (a time consuming process.) PIE's previous film-scanners (1800U, 2700U) suffered the exact same problem, leading me to believe the 3650U uses the same basic A/D converter module -- it stinks. And mechanically, the 3650U is just like the 1800u/2700u. It's a 'clamshell' design with no auto-loading of any kind. The user must position each frame (of a strip) or slide in the scan-window, by hand. That's fine for scanning a few slides or negatives -- but if you need to batch convert several rolls, you'll waste a lot of time doing each frame one by one. The low-end Minolta (Dual Scan IV) probably has better color-quality, but it's only 3200dpi, and more importantly, it lacks ICE. For hobby-usage, either scanner would work fine. Just don't plan on selling any printed scans Mike Koperskinospam wrote: Any thought's on Pacific Image Film Scanners - Like the PF3650U has anyone used it yet? For the record I sure better film scanners maybe had like Nikon or Minolta but I don't have that kind of money this is my hobby not my career I look forward to your reply thanks Mike K |
#4
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thought's on Pacific Image Film Scanners - Like the PF3650U has anyone
In article ,
mwrew writes: I just bought the Primefilm 3650U from costco.com ($250 USD shipped.) Let me say, it's exactly what I expected it to be ... cheap, serviceable, but not much more. .... The color-quality is quite poor. The box claims '48-bit color', but really the hardware is closer to 36-bit. The driver software can send data in 48-bit format (with the lower bits padded to 0s.) I'm starting to look at scanners, myself, so I'm asking this out of curiosity, not to challenge you or suggest it would definitely improve matters: Have you tried any software other than what came with the scanner, such as VueScan (http://www.hamrick.com/vsm.html)? As far as I can tell, that completely replaces the Windows software. (Personally, I'd use it from Linux, but that's another matter....) There's a demo version, so you can try it out without buying it, if you're so inclined. -- Rod Smith, http://www.rodsbooks.com Author of books on Linux, FreeBSD, and networking |
#5
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thought's on Pacific Image Film Scanners - Like the PF3650U has anyone
In article ,
mwrew writes: I just bought the Primefilm 3650U from costco.com ($250 USD shipped.) Let me say, it's exactly what I expected it to be ... cheap, serviceable, but not much more. .... The color-quality is quite poor. The box claims '48-bit color', but really the hardware is closer to 36-bit. The driver software can send data in 48-bit format (with the lower bits padded to 0s.) I'm starting to look at scanners, myself, so I'm asking this out of curiosity, not to challenge you or suggest it would definitely improve matters: Have you tried any software other than what came with the scanner, such as VueScan (http://www.hamrick.com/vsm.html)? As far as I can tell, that completely replaces the Windows software. (Personally, I'd use it from Linux, but that's another matter....) There's a demo version, so you can try it out without buying it, if you're so inclined. -- Rod Smith, http://www.rodsbooks.com Author of books on Linux, FreeBSD, and networking |
#6
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In article ,
mwrew writes: I just bought the Primefilm 3650U from costco.com ($250 USD shipped.) Let me say, it's exactly what I expected it to be ... cheap, serviceable, but not much more. .... The color-quality is quite poor. The box claims '48-bit color', but really the hardware is closer to 36-bit. The driver software can send data in 48-bit format (with the lower bits padded to 0s.) I'm starting to look at scanners, myself, so I'm asking this out of curiosity, not to challenge you or suggest it would definitely improve matters: Have you tried any software other than what came with the scanner, such as VueScan (http://www.hamrick.com/vsm.html)? As far as I can tell, that completely replaces the Windows software. (Personally, I'd use it from Linux, but that's another matter....) There's a demo version, so you can try it out without buying it, if you're so inclined. -- Rod Smith, http://www.rodsbooks.com Author of books on Linux, FreeBSD, and networking |
#7
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thought's on Pacific Image Film Scanners - Like the PF3650Uhas anyone
mwrew wrote:
I just bought the Primefilm 3650U from costco.com ($250 USD shipped.) Let me say, it's exactly what I expected it to be ... cheap, serviceable, but not much more. I was mainly interested in the 'ICE' (infrared dust/scratch removal) feature, because the 3650U is the only 35mm film-scanner in its price class to offer this feature. It almost completely conceals small dust specs and scratches. For larger spots, scratches, the ICE'd output is noticeably 'disturbed' (but better than no ICE.) The color-quality is quite poor. The box claims '48-bit color', but really the hardware is closer to 36-bit. The driver software can send data in 48-bit format (with the lower bits padded to 0s.) This is noticeable when adjusting gamma or color/exposure in photo-software. In the digital-world, this scsanner has very little 'exposure latitude.' If you need to darken or lighten some negative/slide, the adjusted colors suffer from severe posterization and color-banding. Instead, you get better results by adjusting the 'exposure-level' and re-scanning the entire frame (a time consuming process.) PIE's previous film-scanners (1800U, 2700U) suffered the exact same problem, leading me to believe the 3650U uses the same basic A/D converter module -- it stinks. And mechanically, the 3650U is just like the 1800u/2700u. It's a 'clamshell' design with no auto-loading of any kind. The user must position each frame (of a strip) or slide in the scan-window, by hand. That's fine for scanning a few slides or negatives -- but if you need to batch convert several rolls, you'll waste a lot of time doing each frame one by one. The low-end Minolta (Dual Scan IV) probably has better color-quality, but it's only 3200dpi, and more importantly, it lacks ICE. For hobby-usage, either scanner would work fine. Just don't plan on selling any printed scans Most of the home scanners, like the PF ones and the older Minolta are good for basic scans, but then so are a lot of flatbeds, if your selling a big scan print, you need to do some math. 1200DPI is 1701x1134 (2MP) good for a 4x6 print with a print resolution of 283PPI. 2400DPI is 3401x2267 (7MP) good enough for an 8x10 print with again a print resolution of 283PPI. 3200DPI is 4535 x 3023 (13.71MP) good enough for an 11x14 with a print resolution of 275PPI. 4000DPI is 5669 x 3779.52 (21.43MP) good enough for a 16x20 with a print resolution of 236PPI. Some people will say, you can't go below 300PPI, without seeing some pixelation, with a loupe, but nobody goes up to prints with a loupe, as prints get larger the normal viewing distance gets further away. If you want more, get an 8000DPI drum scan done, use a bigger camera (a 6x7 negative scans to 9MP on 1200DPI and 37MP on 2400DPI), or use a fume room, with your manipulated scan as a guideline. Depending on the film, at some point your scanning grain rather then image, so it really doesn't matter. ICE is not perfect, most of my pix are B&W and it doesn't work well with those.... Paul |
#8
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mwrew wrote:
I just bought the Primefilm 3650U from costco.com ($250 USD shipped.) Let me say, it's exactly what I expected it to be ... cheap, serviceable, but not much more. I was mainly interested in the 'ICE' (infrared dust/scratch removal) feature, because the 3650U is the only 35mm film-scanner in its price class to offer this feature. It almost completely conceals small dust specs and scratches. For larger spots, scratches, the ICE'd output is noticeably 'disturbed' (but better than no ICE.) The color-quality is quite poor. The box claims '48-bit color', but really the hardware is closer to 36-bit. The driver software can send data in 48-bit format (with the lower bits padded to 0s.) This is noticeable when adjusting gamma or color/exposure in photo-software. In the digital-world, this scsanner has very little 'exposure latitude.' If you need to darken or lighten some negative/slide, the adjusted colors suffer from severe posterization and color-banding. Instead, you get better results by adjusting the 'exposure-level' and re-scanning the entire frame (a time consuming process.) PIE's previous film-scanners (1800U, 2700U) suffered the exact same problem, leading me to believe the 3650U uses the same basic A/D converter module -- it stinks. And mechanically, the 3650U is just like the 1800u/2700u. It's a 'clamshell' design with no auto-loading of any kind. The user must position each frame (of a strip) or slide in the scan-window, by hand. That's fine for scanning a few slides or negatives -- but if you need to batch convert several rolls, you'll waste a lot of time doing each frame one by one. The low-end Minolta (Dual Scan IV) probably has better color-quality, but it's only 3200dpi, and more importantly, it lacks ICE. For hobby-usage, either scanner would work fine. Just don't plan on selling any printed scans Most of the home scanners, like the PF ones and the older Minolta are good for basic scans, but then so are a lot of flatbeds, if your selling a big scan print, you need to do some math. 1200DPI is 1701x1134 (2MP) good for a 4x6 print with a print resolution of 283PPI. 2400DPI is 3401x2267 (7MP) good enough for an 8x10 print with again a print resolution of 283PPI. 3200DPI is 4535 x 3023 (13.71MP) good enough for an 11x14 with a print resolution of 275PPI. 4000DPI is 5669 x 3779.52 (21.43MP) good enough for a 16x20 with a print resolution of 236PPI. Some people will say, you can't go below 300PPI, without seeing some pixelation, with a loupe, but nobody goes up to prints with a loupe, as prints get larger the normal viewing distance gets further away. If you want more, get an 8000DPI drum scan done, use a bigger camera (a 6x7 negative scans to 9MP on 1200DPI and 37MP on 2400DPI), or use a fume room, with your manipulated scan as a guideline. Depending on the film, at some point your scanning grain rather then image, so it really doesn't matter. ICE is not perfect, most of my pix are B&W and it doesn't work well with those.... Paul |
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