Pacific Image Electronics' PrimeFilm PF1800U USB Film Scanner

Other products by Pacific Image Electronics

Product Details

Product Manual [993kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 11 x 3 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00007L682
• Item model number: PF1800U
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #5 in

  Electronics > Camera & Photo > Printers & Scanners > Slide & Photo

• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 10, 2003

Product Description

Product Description
The superior inherent detail of 35mm film combined with PrimeFilm 1800's advanced optics provides the uncompromized image quality that traditional flatbed scanners just can't compete with. The PrimeFilm 1800 series captures such excellent image detail from both positive slides and negative filmstrips, you can retouch any image exactly the way you want it. The PrimeFilm 1800 series captures 1800 dots per inch (dpi) giving you 3 times the resolution of the average desktop scanner. For graphics professionals, this means that you can enlarge images to approx. 20 cm x 13 cm (7.8" x 5.1") and still maintain the 1: 1 300 dpi resolution sufficient for color separation and offset printing. Previously the realm of experienced graphics professionals and photographers, high resolution color film scanning is now available to a broad range of home, office or home, office or school users in this compact, inexpensive unit. Now there are no excuses not to own one!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 52 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)

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!

51 of 55 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

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.

30 of 31 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

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.