Accessories

Great Scanner
I've been looking for an affordable, dedicated 35mm film scanner for a long time and this is it. I am a user with above average computer and photographic skills. The scanner is well constructed and the "SilverFast SE" software is superb. The iSRD (infrared scratch & dust removal), contrary to some reviews, works very well, however read the documentation carefully! Don't expect to just use the automatic removal mode. You can apply and/or modify a mask which is a very powerful tool in that you don't have to use iSRD on your entire image. Remember that iSRD is no substitute for carefully cleaning your slides first. Colors are brilliant and detail is excellent, however careful reading and experimentation are also needed in this area for optimum results. Successfully scanning negatives requires even more expertise/experience. The post scanning, image editing software, "Presto! ImageFolio" is very basic, at best. I use PhotoShop but there are other editing programs available that have a much easier learning curve if you are a beginner.

Note: I am using Windows XP second edition, Intel Core Duo processor and a large, external hard drive for storage.

Bottom line: Great machine & scanning software but don't expect immediate superb results without putting in some effort!

Works as advertised
Worked right out of the box on a vista 32bit machine!!!! After fiddling with the bundled Silverfast software, decided it was much to cumbersome to use and purchased a third party product online called VueScan ($~#30) that does the job. I am in the process of scanning over a thousand 35mm slides taken back in the late 1940's for a video project and find that the iSRD feature is saving me a huge amount of time cleaning up much of the accumulated dust and grime. Previous to this device I projected the film and snapped photos with a telephoto lens and spent a huge amount of time cleaning them up with photoshop. With this product I stil use photoshop for minor croping and defect removal however it its taking maybe 1-2 minutes per slide, the old way took 15-20. Great product for a reasonable price for work such as this. So far no mechanical problems in the first 150 slides but have 1000+ slides to go... You could spend 2-4 times as much on a Nikon scanner (I use all Nikon cameras and lens) but saw no need for a project such as this.

Extremely Happy
I purchased this scanner based on the reviews of the previous models. I've been very happy with the results. I've tried flatbed scanners and they don't come close to the clarity this one provides. It is time consuming and the Silverfast software is not for beginners but the results are worth all of the time and effort

Displeased by the quality
I have been using the CanonScan 8600F flatbed scanner with fantastic results but was hoping to get a specialized negative scanner. Upon receiving this device I tried it out and was disappointed to say that the quality of its scans were vastly inferior to a basic flatbed scanner. Save your money and go with the flexibility of a flatbed. Occasionally cleaning the glass is a small price to pay for the quality.

Dissatisfied
The scratch and dust removal feature worked when I first got the scanner, but began to malfunction after a few weeks into use. I tried to contact Plustek who promises a 24 hour response. I've made three attempts to obtain help, and never heard a word from them. The price would be good for a working device, but its way much money for something that's not functional and a company that won't support their product.