It looks like the only new (to the market) dedicated film scanner in 2011 that can handle both 35mm and 120 film is now shipping (with a rebate, actually). It's half the price of a used Coolscan 9000 and looks like they more or less tried to copy the legendary Nikon version. It doesn't quite meet the same specs, but 3200 dpi (real, not imputed) should be enough for me and its Dmax looks pretty serviceable too.
I am curious if anybody has considered it or, dare I say, actually ordered it and started using it. It's a shame that it's not bundled with software like Vuescan or Silverfast, but since it's not supported by either yet I guess that's understandable.
The problem is Reflecta doesn't have a good track record of quality and consistency. I wouldn't trust them with such a somewhat expensive item until I see what others have to say about it.
edwardkaraa wrote:
The problem is Reflecta doesn't have a good track record of quality and consistency. I wouldn't trust them with such a somewhat expensive item until I see what others have to say about it.
I agree - I am not willing to be an early adopter at $2,000 or so including software. However it's exactly what I want and I can live with the price if it can work even 80% as well as a Coolscan.
I have seen some repair bills from Nikon for their scanners - it's incredibly expensive if a used one has a hiccup.
I am a little surprised that they don't/didn't have a pre-production model out there for review purposes. I guess I can always return it but that's such a PITA.
I might also get one if reviews are ok, but in the meanwhile, I'm getting the el cheapo plustek 7600. Too bad that I sold my coolscan 5000 a couple of years ago. I thought I would never shoot film again, and I had no idea the prices will soar as they did
edwardkaraa wrote:
I might also get one if reviews are ok, but in the meanwhile, I'm getting the el cheapo plustek 7600. Too bad that I sold my coolscan 5000 a couple of years ago. I thought I would never shoot film again, and I had no idea the prices will soar as they did
I was actually going to buy that last night, until I got the email this morning that the Reflecta was now in stock. It's not that easy, really. The Plustek is $450, the Epson is $729, plus the Betterscanning holders - you're into both for $1300, and the Reflecta is $1800 (with no software).
A couple of Imacon Flextight Precision scanners have gone on eB*y.co.uk for about £1000 recently. They go for "only" a grand because they need a SCSI port. As anyone who used scuzzy knows, it didn't work very well even in its heyday. Trying to get it to work today, with FireWire adaptors, Intel processors, and cats like Leopard, would try the patience of a saint.
However, if you do have patience, I think a SCSI-based Imacon might make a lot of sense for the budget-minded, quality-orientated photographer.
Drum scanners also exist in the nether regions of eB*y, though those require a relatively high degree of operator skill.
Drum scanners were partially replaced in prepress by high-end flatbed scanners such as the Lanovia, Creo and Cezanne models. If these run on consumer operating systems they might also be worth looking for today?
The MF5000 sounds definitely like a sensible purchase, if it performs as claimed. I see that you use a Mamiya 7, may I ask your opinion about it (and the lenses)?
This scanner by Pacific Image (?) seems to be identical to the MF5000. If we discover who makes the scanner, we could possibly find other sources for it too.
It does look pretty good on specs, but 1500 euros still strikes me as expensive.
I have lots of film I need to scan within a few years, but I can't seem to find the energy to navigate today's scanner market. What a mess.
Specularist wrote: This scanner by Pacific Image (?) seems to be identical to the MF5000. If we discover who makes the scanner, we could possibly find other sources for it too.
It does look pretty good on specs, but 1500 euros still strikes me as expensive.
I have lots of film I need to scan within a few years, but I can't seem to find the energy to navigate today's scanner market. What a mess.
I think the original manufacturer is Reflecta in Germany, but who knows where is it really made, probably China or Taiwan.
Well to (sort of) close the loop here, I just heard back from PacImaging's sales representative.
I guess these scanners cannot be produced en masse, so they are currently awaiting stock here in California to send out to reviewers and magazines who have requested them. I just noticed that Adorama is now out of stock, so I guess somebody must be buying them. I was told to expect some reviews within the next 1-2 months by major publications.
Well, since Nikon officially discontinued the Coolscan 9000 scanner their price has approached $4000, and the last MSRP for it was around $2300. This Primefilm/Reflecta scanner pales, spec-wise, to the 9000 or even the older 8000 scanner. The only reason they can get away charging $1940 for this scanner is that it is now the only game in town. I should probably sell my Nikon 8000 scanner because I don't use it anymore and it will outperform this overpriced scanner for those that need one.
Lotusm50 wrote:
Well, since Nikon officially discontinued the Coolscan 9000 scanner their price has approached $4000, and the last MSRP for it was around $2300. This Primefilm/Reflecta scanner pales, spec-wise, to the 9000 or even the older 8000 scanner. The only reason they can get away charging $1940 for this scanner is that it is now the only game in town. I should probably sell my Nikon 8000 scanner because I don't use it anymore and it will outperform this overpriced scanner for those that need one.
Since I am not going to pay $4000 for something that costs $500 to fix and isn't supported on OS 10.7, I'd say reflecta priced this one pretty well!
corposant wrote:
Since I am not going to pay $4000 for something that costs $500 to fix and isn't supported on OS 10.7, I'd say reflecta priced this one pretty well!
That's what i kind of suggested, but from the other direction. Since the vastly superior Nikon scanner is no longer available at $2300 (and commands as much as $4000 second hand) Refelcta can get away with charging $1940. If the Nikon 900 was still available at $2300, they would have trouble charging $1500, or even $1200.
Lotusm50 wrote:
That's what i kind of suggested, but from the other direction. Since the vastly superior Nikon scanner is no longer available at $2300 (and commands as much as $4000 second hand) Refelcta can get away with charging $1940. If the Nikon 900 was still available at $2300, they would have trouble charging $1500, or even $1200.
If the Reflecta ends up being absolutely terrible, I will happy agree with you. Until I see some output, it's only speculation.
