Customer Reviews

Microtek ScanMaker i320 High-Resolution Flatbed Scanner

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'm a long-time user of Microtek scanners, and have generally found that even their low end products are reliable and deliver great results.

The i320 installed and worked without a hitch when attached to a new Athlon-based PC running Windows XP Home Edition, and I immediately started testing it using a high quality 8x10 photograph. One issue I encountered right off is that the quality of scans was inferior to that of my previous scanner, a Microtek 3600. After working with the i320 for a while, I discovered what I think is the reason. This model, like most current scanners, has a very high hardware resolution - 3200dpi. My older scanner has a hardware resolution of 600dpi. One frequently overlooked fact about this increased resolution is that the much smaller size of today's sensors makes them a lot more vulnerable to optical noise, which degrades image quality. (And by the way, that higher resolution is of no value when scanning photographs, since most photo detail can be resolved at 300dpi.)

I found that I was able to get the scanner to behave more like a 600dpi model by using the Descreen option in the ScanWizard software. (Try setting it between 100 and 200lpi). This cleaned up the noise dramatically, and I was happy.

What I was not so happy about is the Digital ICE feature. This is a proven technology that has been employed in high end film scanners with great success. I don't know how successfully it's been used in flatbed scanners, but my tests with the i320 were not impressive. I tried numerous variations of scan resolution and ICE settings on some old photos, both color and B&W. In no case did the ICE function ever clean up even one speck of dust or debris on any of my photos. It did help a bit in correcting physical damage such as wrinkles or tears, but I frankly have very few photos in such bad condition.

Aside from the extra cost in dollars that the ICE function adds to the scanner, it also costs a lot in time. Scans with ICE enabled are sloooooow! You'll have to wait several minutes while the scanner does nothing at all except display a message about warming up. This happens with each and every scan - how warm does it need to be? Unless you have a shoebox full of mangled photos, I can't see this implementation of Digital ICE being worthwhile.

Another minor disappointment was the ColoRescue feature. This is supposed to restore proper colors to faded photos, but in my tests it usually produced silly, garish results. I found it preferable to scan without it and fix the colors in Photoshop.

Bottom line - this is a perfectly fine scanner. However, it probably won't produce great results with the default settings. You'll have to explore the intricacies of the ScanWizard software (which, by the way, is one of the best scanner control programs out there and is the main reason why I continue to buy Microtek stuff). And it won't clean up dust and debris on photos. Consider saving a few bucks by getting the Microtek 6000 without Digital ICE, or instead spend more on one of the higher end models where the ICE function might really work!

I got this scanner for its features and based on the reputation Microtek has in the professional imaging arena, where they are a major player. It was to replace my old HP scanner that is slow and whose quality is no longer up to snuff.
After unpacking the scanner, I followed the installation instructions, which are basically install the software, restart and connect the scanner - and suddenly I was back in the dark ages of Windows 95. Eithr using a USB 2.0 or USB 1.1 just failed to work with the scanner. Especially bad is the fact that the computer actually did detect the scanner but Microtek's scanner detection software refused to agree. Even when it did find it, it would hang and the scanner remained unusable.
After disconnecting all Firewire and USB devices, the scanner was finally detected by the software when it was the sole device connected to a USB 1.1 port. Then it was really fast and finally showed its promise.
Now it is back in the box and on the way back to the store. Microtek better wake up and discover that hardware these days does install plug-n-play. HP may build inferior products, but they work.

This scanner is a great value for the price. Excellent resolution, fairly quick scans. I have to agree in saying there is quite a bit to install intially, but not that bad overall. Epson scanners I have installed have had nearly the same amount of software. The software seems to lock up every once in a while on my PowerBook G4 1.33 Ghz running Mac OS 10.3.8(if anyone has any tips about that let me know), but runs great on my Windows XP Home SP1 machine. Overall probably the best quality scanner for the money.

I'm a professional web site designer and as such I do a lot of scanning. Most of the scans I do are reduced in size and optimized for the web. While I don't need real high resolution scans, the image quality must be such that they can be reduced and yet remain sharp. This has proven to be a great scanner for this type of work. If you really need high end scans, you wouldn't be looking in this price range anyway. I am a Photoshop professional, but it takes time to correct each picture. The scanner's software cleans and restores color well enough to save me a considerable amount of time.
This isn't the scanner I'd pick if I did a lot of slide or negative work, but for general purpose scanning, it works fine. The software has a standard mode and an advanced mode. If you invest a little time learning how to enhance the scans, you will be amazed at the results you can get.

I installed this scanner and had it working maybe a month. Had the scanner kept working I'd be telling you that you would get better clearer scans from something else and also that the software and installation is really out of date.

Fortunately I don't have to go into much detail on that because this scanner just quit working for no reason. Something in the scanner itself, tried many computers and the USB port on the scanner is totally dead. The light on the machine does come on though.

This scanner is just a waste of your time and money.

I purchased this primarily for quick document scans for our office. I've had no issues at all with the scan quality. The scan speed is a little on the slow side but is still tolerable. However, the software (at least for Mac OS X) seems very unpolished. So far I haven't found a way to save some key preferences from session to session. It would save a lot of time if I didn't have to reset the resolution, color depth, and file type every time I relaunched the program.

Two minor quibbles:
1) The noise is more high-pitched (and annoying) than other scanners I've used.
2) By default, the scan is oriented so that the top of the page is on the side opposite the lid hinge. This seems a little counterintuitive.

The scanner still does a great job for the price with some tradeoffs in efficiency.

This scanner takes really good quality scans, especially for LineArt. The software does lock up in OSX sometimes, but you can eliminate this problem by turning off the auto power save option in the Scanner Control setting (from the main scanning window). Just remember to quit the software and turn the scanner off when you're done, to save the scanner bulb from excess wear (otherwise it would never power off).

This scanner is worth it for the software alone that improves older photos. Great scanner, still going strong after several years.

Short story:
Installed scanner, did a few basic scanning tasks b&w documents, color photos - without exception, the scanner rendered blurry (to the point of unreadable / unviewable) images.

Completely useless. I sent it back and purchased the HP ScanJet 4850 instead.

Maybe it was "luck of the draw." I'm sure everyone has been delivered faulty electronic equipment before. Regardless, this is my first (and hopefully last) experience with Microtek.

Please Note: I purchased a somewhat different model - 6100 Pro - over 1 year ago. I was unhappy with the purchase from the onset and have subsequently purchased a Canon 8400F ... a great scanner.

The Microtek took very good scans from photos and film (35 mm slides). However, it rarely worked. It failed to recognize my computer and when I finally achieved a good scan it just stopped. Eventually, I convinced Microtek to replace the scanner however, the same problem recurred. I tossed the Microtek and bought a Canon.

I could not recommend Microtek for a mid level flatbed scanner. In addition their customer technical service department is courteous, but they are almost impossible to contact.

If you want a flatbed scanner in the $250 to $550 range you should look elsewhere.