Pacific Image Electronics PrimeFilm PF1800U USB Film Scanner

Its not even worth pulling out your wallet. Results are about as good as trying to draw your photos with a very blunt crayon. I get far better results using a flatbed Epson with the film adapter. Not that using a flatbed is the best idea but it is 100 times better than the 1800u. If someone gives it to you consider them a mean person and dont take it. Unless you need a rather ugly 2lb piece of plastic to clutter up your desk and spill coffee on. Even then, theres probably something better to accidentally caffeinate .

Bought it to bring my pictures into the 21st century. Still have it in case I stumble across more old negatives. (Id sell it, though).

a

very good results for an inexpensive 35mm film scanner and scans negatives as well as slides. The scanner only takes 35 seconds per scan and offers very good quality for a very low cost as compared to other film scanners costing over twice as much.

Its as bad as the other reviewers noted back in 2003. Mine runs properly but the resolution is worse than your kids Barbie camera. If you had Kmart make prints when you had your film developed, scan those paper prints on a flatbed scanner to get better digital images than you can obtain from this. Buy something else. If you are determined to proceed - Recent 2013 edition TWAIN software, SF_ENG_1.3.exe, is available from scanace.com (The manufacturer). This makes the scanner visible to Photoshop, Irfanview etc. But the scanner still wont be visible to MS Paint or Paint.Net since those use a different protocol. Some of the prior 5-star reviews have to be shills who intended to raise the ratings average. This device needs both hands to release the film clamp before your negative is free to move to the next frame.(Or fall to the floor). Clumsy. Then each scan is done individually. I wouldnt have the patience to capture and edit a collection of negatives as was claimed. Your type of film can be specified in a menu. Choosing raw type, then editing in separate software, gave better color balance for me compared to the scanners presets. This devices era has passed. Much better gear is available now. At least I didnt pay too much for it. It had been on the shelf so long that it was marked 75% off from Goodwills original $3.98. It will soon go back.

This is not a bad item when you need to scan a couple, but its very slow and the resolution is not good. If you need it for your family photos it can be a good product, but you have to think you will need a lot of time, if I could Ill try to get one with autofeed.

I purchased this item in 2002 to scan all the 35mm negatives that I have. The only problem is that the pictures that I scan comes out all pinky or funny colors. I tried using it for awhile but the awful picture quality was really annoying that I stop using it. I recently heard from a digital graphic person recommending that you should acquire all your digital photos in RAW format. As it is uncompressed and retains all the original unmodified data that you can use any photo editing software to adjust to your liking. Before the moment I heard it from the digital graphic person, RAW means nothing to me. You might as well speak coded language to me as this RAW terminology means as much to me as the coded language I mentioned on

The first Pacific Image Electronics PrimeFilm PF1800U USB Film Scanner I received was damaged and would not work at all. I returned it and was sent another as a replacement. The scans from this scanner are terrible. This thing is junk. I returned the second PF1800U scanner and purchased a Minolta DiMAGE Scan Dual IV. It cost a little more but was well worth it. The Minolta is wonderful I have scanned close to 9000 slides with it and have had no problems.

My experience with this scanner hasnt been much different from what others have reported. Ive owned mine for about 5 years. From the very beginning, the scanner made a grinding sound, which continued for awhile until it warmed up (while grinding, the scanning mechanism appeared not to be moving). The software which came with the scanner produced less than satisfactory results. I bought Silverfast AI, which provided excellent images from both negatives and slides, but which (unfortunately for me) is specific to this particular device and will not work with my newest (replacement) scanner. After two or three years in the closet, the 1800u scanner was used again for some additional slides and worked satisfactorily (after the usual grinding). Two weeks ago, however, I again attempted to perform some scans -- this time without success. The grinding sound never did stop. Dozens of attempted phone calls to tech support were unsuccessful (the answering machine continuously reports that the staff is out to lunch). I did email Scanace (the manufacturer), and received a reply instructing me to open the unit and apply vasaline to the screw drive and the track bar. I did so, without success. The motor (as has been said elsewhere) lacks sufficient power to drive the traveling scan head. As the unit is out-of-warranty, the manufacturer wants a minimum of $75.00 to service the scanner (more if the problem takes more than one hour to resolve). I was offered a motor to install myself for about $18.00, but without any assurance that this would resolve the problem. I estimate that I have performed about 150 scans. Including the cost of the unit and software to use it, that figures out to about $2.00/scan! Definitely not a bargain!

it is impossible to get tech support for this product. i have a burnt out scanner bulb, and i know that it will be next to impossible to have it replaced, as i have tried all day to access any form of aid. they want to sell them, but look out, if it breaks. i give the device two stars.