Any news on the new Plustek 120 scanner?

Harry Lime · 01-02-2012

Any news? Anyone? Bueller?

digitalintrigue · 01-02-2012

March product launch, no price yet...

bwcolor · 01-02-2012

Any specs, or feature set available for release?

Is this a 9000ED replacement, or a larger format 7600?

Matus · 01-02-2012

I hope it will be a robust and well made machine rather than a cheap one. Otherwise there will soon be no decent low priced scans for 120 films soon (I can get scans at a lab made with the 9000 for about 1 Euro per 6x6 image and the quality is incomparable to flatbed scanners). We really need a good quality replacement for the 9000 even if the price will not allow each 120 shooter to get one. Of course - automatic film transport is a must if this scanner should be used by labs.

I am indeed curios ...

stompyq · 01-02-2012

^ Are the epson flatbeds that bad? I can imagine for 35mm but 120 film?

Photon42 · 01-02-2012

Is it going to be like this one?

benlees · 01-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by stompyq

^ Are the epson flatbeds that bad? I can imagine for 35mm but 120 film?

The Epsons are quite good. For versatility. From 35mm to 8x10- can't go wrong. I've had mine for years and it doesn't miss a beat but I don't use it for prints.

mdruziak · 01-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photon42

Is it going to be like this one?

Nope. That is a Pacific Image scanner.

mdruziak · 01-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalintrigue

March product launch, no price yet...

Hey... How did you find that out?

mdruziak · 01-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matus

I hope it will be a robust and well made machine rather than a cheap one. Otherwise there will soon be no decent low priced scans for 120 films soon (I can get scans at a lab made with the 9000 for about 1 Euro per 6x6 image and the quality is incomparable to flatbed scanners). We really need a good quality replacement for the 9000 even if the price will not allow each 120 shooter to get one. Of course - automatic film transport is a must if this scanner should be used by labs.

I am indeed curios ...

Here is what I can tell you at this point:

A lot of the input from members of this forum and the Leica form was taken into consideration by our product management team during the final stages of development. The product manager for the scanner is an avid photographer... FILM photographer that is. So I'm confident that the product is in good hands.

It is a scanner that is targeted to the pro and serious amateur. It is not a scanner targeted to the casual photographer. Cheap it won't be!

Stay tuned for more info!

JeffL · 01-02-2012

Mark, It's nice to have you contributing.
A quality medium format scanner on the market will be a good thing for us film shooters (and I hope for Plustek). I, like others, have a Nikon 8000 and cross my fingers every time I start it.

gavinlg · 01-02-2012

I'm holding out on buying a scanner till I see this one...

J. Borger · 01-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdruziak

Here is what I can tell you at this point:

A lot of the input from members of this forum and the Leica form was taken into consideration by our product management team during the final stages of development. The product manager for the scanner is an avid photographer... FILM photographer that is. So I'm confident that the product is in good hands.

It is a scanner that is targeted to the pro and serious amateur. It is not a scanner targeted to the casual photographer. Cheap it won't be!

Stay tuned for more info!

Sounds very promising!

Jani_from_Finland · 01-02-2012

Any idea on what the pricerange will be ( 500-1000-1500-2000 $ / € / £ ) and will it be released in Europe also after the US release?

Matus · 01-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jani_from_Finland

Any idea on what the pricerange will be ( 500-1000-1500-2000 $ / € / £ ) and will it be released in Europe also after the US release?

I am sure Mark can not answer the first part of your question, but I do hope that Plustek will take the European market seriously (sellers/service centers)

Mark - we are looking forward.

Jockos · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdruziak

It is a scanner that is targeted to the pro and serious amateur. It is not a scanner targeted to the casual photographer. Cheap it won't be!

Personally I think you're to late for that segment as the PI/Reflecta is already out, and appears to be working just fine. Unless you're planning to release a MF scanner with significantly higher resolution/dMax.

What I think the market want/need, is a non-flatbed MF scanner at a reasonable price.

thegman · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by stompyq

^ Are the epson flatbeds that bad? I can imagine for 35mm but 120 film?

Personally, I think if the V700 with 6x6 film is not good enough for you, then a full-frame professional DSLR won't be either. You've got to get the right kit though, the BetterScanning kit transforms the quality in my opinion. And whilst I've never used a Nikon 9000, and I'm sure it's great, some examples on the net don't seem too much different to a V700 used correctly.

Also, I think scanning at 6400dpi and downsampling to 3200dpi can make a difference. There is certainly a knack to it.

mdruziak · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jani_from_Finland

Any idea on what the pricerange will be ( 500-1000-1500-2000 $ / € / £ ) and will it be released in Europe also after the US release?

Pricing has not been set (at least in the US) but it will probably be similar to the Pacific Image and Reflecta. I'm not sure if the US or Europe will launch the scanner first.

Also, we DO NOT have a launch date set. So my comment "Hey who told you..." Should have been "How come YOU know and I don't?" Because at this point I just don't exactly know when the scanners will be available.

mdruziak · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matus

I am sure Mark can not answer the first part of your question, but I do hope that Plustek will take the European market seriously (sellers/service centers)

Mark - we are looking forward.

While I am not directly involved with the European market, I know that Plustek Europe takes the film scanner market VERY seriously.

mdruziak · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jockos

Personally I think you're to late for that segment as the PI/Reflecta is already out, and appears to be working just fine. Unless you're planning to release a MF scanner with significantly higher resolution/dMax.

What I think the market want/need, is a non-flatbed MF scanner at a reasonable price.

Can anyone point me to some tests or images of the Pacific Image/Reflecta? There are some reviews on the B&H site, but some of the reviews are a little suspect.

brbo · 01-03-2012

It's been posted on RFF before. Reflecta MF5000 test (german):

http://www.filmscanner.info/ReflectaMF5000.html

In short, a 'Nikon Coolscan 9000 killer' it is not. Fast, 3000dpi effective resolution, manual transport.

I'll bet many $$$ that Plustek will be VERY similar to Reflecta MF5000 (it's the same with Reflecta vs Plustek small format scanners).

EdwardKaraa · 01-03-2012

http://www.filmscanner.info/ReflectaMF5000.html

mdruziak · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by brbo

It's been posted on RFF before. Reflecta MF5000 test (german):

http://www.filmscanner.info/ReflectaMF5000.html

In short, a 'Nikon Coolscan 9000 killer' it is not. Fast, 3000dpi effective resolution, manual transport.

I'll bet many $$$ that Plustek will be VERY similar to Reflecta MF5000 (it's the same with Reflecta vs Plustek small format scanners).

I'm not sure what you mean by that. Plustek doesn't relabel other manufacturers scanners. On the other hand, we do manufacture scanners for other vendors.

bigeye · 01-03-2012

I would imagine that asian markets would be the among the most important. MF film appears to be very strong there.

It's great to hear that a new scanner is coming to market. Definitely watching.
.

JRG · 01-03-2012

I'll join the chorus: I'm very glad to hear that Plustek intends to launch a new MF scanner. That's excellent news, and I'm anxious to learn more. Well done, Plustek!