Pacific Image Electronics' PrimeFilm PF1800U USB Film Scanner

by Pacific Image Electronics

Product Details

Product Manual [993kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 11 x 3 inches ; 3.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00007L682
• Item model number: PF1800U
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #11 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Printers & Scanners > Slide & Film Scanners
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 5, 2002

Product Description

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars One star is overrating this thing, March 24, 2003

By 

Bernie Spencer (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pacific Image Electronics' PrimeFilm PF1800U USB Film Scanner (Office Product)

Customer support [is bad]; the drivers and software that I bought in March 2003 had a 1996-1998 copyright date; and worst of all, scans get progressively darker. A scanner that can't handle exposure settings! it's OK until it runs thru it's 'calibration' routine, then it's the beginning of the end. I went thru two different units, they both were terrible.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars There must be a better scanner available at a modest price., December 29, 2003

By 

"rgarriott" (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pacific Image Electronics' PrimeFilm PF1800U USB Film Scanner (Office Product)

I have purchased two PF1800U's over the past 18 months, because it seemed the only option in my price range and I need quality slide scans (flat bed scanners definitely not an option). Both units had lamp failure, the second one after only a couple dozen slides. "Customer service" is hardly an option; difficult to impossible to reach via their website and not terribly helpful over the phone. I had to locate my receipt and register the product by fax before I was allowed to ask any questions, and I still didn't get any answers. Needless to say this was terribly disappointing.

On the good side, the scan quality is quite good, though the process is very slow and you may have to close down most open programs to get it to work. Interfaces well with Photoshop.

Would I buy one again? While the new version with the ICE software is quite tempting, I'd have to say no. I'm looking for another, more reputable brand. Maybe a Minolta DiMAGE Scan Dual III. About a hundred bucks more, but if it doesn't break down it will be well worth the extra money.

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars WORST computer peripheral I ever bought!, July 27, 2006

By 

David Hodgson "Steed" (Santa Rosa, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pacific Image Electronics' PrimeFilm PF1800U USB Film Scanner (Office Product)

Before buying this scanner, I'd had some of my 35mm transparencies professionally scanned, which produced great results but was an expensive approach. I bought this scanner in the hope that it would allow me to produce reasonable-quality scans at a lower price. Unfortunately, although the software worked fine for me, the quality of the scans is so hideously bad that I gave up in disgust after a few scans. Here are some of the problems: 1) strong pink tint to every scan. Although this can be corrected to some extent in software, there is a significant loss of color spectrum that cannot be restored. 2) Poor dynamic range: rendering of shadow detail is nonexistent. The most astonishing thing is that I bought my unit several years ago, and they're still selling this piece of junk now!