Any news on the new Plustek 120 scanner? - Page 3

mdruziak · 02-06-2012

Last week I met with our CTO. The product direction was changed about a year ago based on customer feedback and feedback from members this forum and a few others.

One thing you will notice if you see some of the older photos of this scanner (see Plustek's Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pluste...69691449783876) is the new design features a completely different loading strategy than the original design. Yes an autofeeder.

The CTO was clear that he has very high design goals for this scanner. There was a lot of emphasis on image quality, lens and sensor design. Unfortunately, the sensor we were going to use was recently discontinued after a large photographic company sold off its sensor division. A suitable replacement was found but the delay cost us about 5 months. I'm not sure about the resolution stated in the CeBIT press release, but my colleagues in Germany are usually quite accurate!

Keep watching our Twitter, Google + and Facebook pages. I'll be posting info as I get it.

useless generation · 02-06-2012

Great news can't wait

XFer · 02-07-2012

I am very concerned about focusing.
A high resolution scanner for 120 film does need some kind of focus adjustment. Automatic if possible, manual if not; but it absolutely needs to be there.
A nice plus would be special carriers for wet mounting (as accessories to be purchased separately).

I'd also love to see 6x12 support (Nikon 8000 and 9000 stop at 6x9).

The best of luck with your new product, Plustek!

Fernando

gavinlg · 02-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdruziak

Last week I met with our CTO. The product direction was changed about a year ago based on customer feedback and feedback from members this forum and a few others.

One thing you will notice if you see some of the older photos of this scanner (see Plustek's Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pluste...69691449783876) is the new design features a completely different loading strategy than the original design. Yes an autofeeder.

The CTO was clear that he has very high design goals for this scanner. There was a lot of emphasis on image quality, lens and sensor design. Unfortunately, the sensor we were going to use was recently discontinued after a large photographic company sold off its sensor division. A suitable replacement was found but the delay cost us about 5 months. I'm not sure about the resolution stated in the CeBIT press release, but my colleagues in Germany are usually quite accurate!

Keep watching our Twitter, Google + and Facebook pages. I'll be posting info as I get it.

I literally can't wait. Would love to know when it's going to be available though!

dazedgonebye · 02-07-2012

At risk of asking a silly question... Would this scanner also do 35mm?

gavinlg · 02-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazedgonebye

At risk of asking a silly question... Would this scanner also do 35mm?

yep

It's a 35/120 unit.

mdruziak · 02-08-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazedgonebye

At risk of asking a silly question... Would this scanner also do 35mm?

Yup! 35mm, 120, up to 6x12.

rawhead · 02-08-2012

I'd just like to chime in; I, too, just CANNOT wait. After my 8000ED croaked (after only 50 rolls or so of 120), and Nikon told me they couldn't fix it due to lack of parts––yes, 8000ED is now officially EOL/unsupported––I've been looking for something to replace it with. 8000ED is out of the question, and 9000ED, esp. with recent hikes in the used prices, is likewise. Consider me a customer if this thing come in with specs that at least compete with 9000ED at a sub-2K price range.

sleepyhead · 02-09-2012

Count me too as a strong potential customer.

mfunnell · 02-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepyhead

Count me too as a strong potential customer.

I expect quite a few of us are.

...Mike

Aristophanes · 02-09-2012

If you want info about the Pacific Image 120 scanner through real world tests:

http://www.dpug.org/forums/f6/pacifi...g-review-2660/

I had a conversation with theOP and his comments about the scanner were mostly negative.

So, awaiting what Plustek has done.

Aristophanes · 02-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by XFer

A nice plus would be special carriers for wet mounting (as accessories to be purchased separately).

If it is an auto feed system where the film retracts internally, I doubt wet mounting is possible, and maybe not necessary for any marginal difference in IQ. I'm just speculating.

Although it is apparently automated, I suspect labs are still more likely to rely on the Fuji Frontier and Noritsu scanners with their service and lease agreements as well as workflow ruggedness. I have had stellar MF scans off both Frontiers and Noritsus.

I just hope the driver for the Plustek is not linked to Silverfast. This is a big issue for many potential customers.

whitecat · 02-09-2012

Doesn't sound too good for batch scanning.

Matus · 02-09-2012

Lot of hopes and wishes here - but I guess that at this stage the product development is probably over and we just have to wait for the final product (and hope for the best).

It is all quite simple: we just ask for good resolution (absolute and effective), large dynamic range, reasonable speed, robustness, low noise, software stability and flexibility, easy batch processing, excellent service and customer care and, of course (goes without saying, really) - reasonable price. I do not see a problem there

Aristophanes · 02-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitecat

Doesn't sound too good for batch scanning.

No consumer-grade scanners ever did nor could they do so economically.

For that you need a Fuji Frontier or Noritsu.

bwcolor · 02-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aristophanes

I just hope the driver for the Plustek is not linked to Silverfast. This is a big issue for many potential customers.

I'm not sure what problem you are referring to. I had to load Silverfast and then update it to the latest version. After this, the drivers were installed correctly and Vuescan worked like a charm. It would have been nice to have had a simple posting with the driver, but given that I only needed to do this once and hard drive space is cheap.. not such a bad experience.

brbo · 02-09-2012

Quote:

I'm not sure what problem you are referring to. I had to load Silverfast and then update it to the latest version.

Please, post back when you upgrade your OS and your Silverfast based driver no longer works. We'll be happy to explain Silverfast's pricing model and responsiveness to you then...

Aristophanes · 02-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwcolor

I'm not sure what problem you are referring to. I had to load Silverfast and then update it to the latest version. After this, the drivers were installed correctly and Vuescan worked like a charm. It would have been nice to have had a simple posting with the driver, but given that I only needed to do this once and hard drive space is cheap.. not such a bad experience.

The driver should reside in the OS and not be intrinsic to the scanning software. This would increase sales.

If the Plustek 120 requires Silverfast, I will not purchase the scanner. I think a considerable % of the potential market think likewise.

mafoofan · 02-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aristophanes

No consumer-grade scanners ever did nor could they do so economically.

For that you need a Fuji Frontier or Noritsu.

The Nikon 5000ED could take a whole 35mm roll with an adaptor. If Plustek incorporates such a feature, I'm a guaranteed buyer.

Any chances?

XFer · 02-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aristophanes

I doubt wet mounting is possible, and maybe not necessary for any marginal difference in IQ. I'm just speculating.

I regularly use wet mounting with most of my scanners, once in a while on the Nikon 8000 as well.
Is does wonders for IQ because it allows for perfect film flatness without requiring focus-stacking.
If you think you never had film flatness issues, then you simply didn't check thoroughly.

Fernando

Chriscrawfordphoto · 02-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by mafoofan

The Nikon 5000ED could take a whole 35mm roll with an adaptor. If Plustek incorporates such a feature, I'm a guaranteed buyer.

Any chances?

None. No medium format scanner, none, not even the $12,000 imacons, can batch scan 120 film, and no 120/35 scanner can batch 35 either.

Harry Lime · 02-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by XFer

I regularly use wet mounting with most of my scanners, once in a while on the Nikon 8000 as well.
Is does wonders for IQ because it allows for perfect film flatness without requiring focus-stacking.
If you think you never had film flatness issues, then you simply didn't check thoroughly.

Fernando

Scanners with a feed system usually use a glass carrier to keep the film flat...