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Subject: PrimeFilm 120 scanner - initial report
Date: 2011-09-28 19:42:40
From: John Thurston

I collected my new scanner today!

My PrimeFilm was well packed for shipping, and the product
box and packaging was also impressive. It has three holders.
2x2 slide, 35mm film, 120 film. There is an external power
supply for 3 amps of 12VDC. You'd think for $2K I'd get an
internal power supply :(

The CyberViewX software installed just fine and provided a
TWAIN-compliant interface to my existing applications :)

The scanner, however, is not seen by the software. Closer
investigation of the front shows a blue, seven-blink cycle on
the LED. The only help in the manual is:

> Flashes several times, then a pause, then flashes again -
> Scanner is malfunctioning. Turn the unit off, close the
> software. After approx. 10 sec. power on the scanner, wait for
> calibration, then re-open CyberView X.

The results are the same whether it is connected to a
computer or not.

I've sent an email to support at scanace dot com. I'm going
to put it back in its box and wait to see what happens.

I've spent $80 on 2nd-day freight, and it took a week to get
here. I had to leave work and collect it myself because UPS
isn't able to deliver when anyone is home, nor do they
provide a way to specify a delivery time, nor a way to change
the delivery address. And for my troubles, I have $2k brick :(

My initial report is two thumbs down for the PrimeFilm 120
scanner. If anyone wants to lend me a hand, I'll give it
three thumbs down.
________________________________________
John Thurston
Juneau, Alaska
http://stereo.thurstons.us

Subject: Re: PrimeFilm 120 scanner - initial report
Date: 2011-09-29 06:27:47
From: JR

Very sorry to hear this; unfortunately your experiences are becoming more and more common recently, regarding both products and delivery. I don't know if it is because of the current worldwide economy or other factors.

Regarding the external power supply, this is also becoming more common. Perhaps the variety of power sources in different places in the world affect this, but that is not new. Some multinationally distributed products used to have switchable internal supplies, but these were often bulky and took up a lot of space inside, making the case much larger. Switching type power supplies are often smaller, ligher, and cheaper than continuous full wave rectified transformer type supplies, but they cannot always be used with all products.

JR

On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 6:42 PM, John Thurston <juneau3d@thurstons.us> wrote:

I collected my new scanner today!

My PrimeFilm was well packed for shipping, and the product
box and packaging was also impressive. It has three holders.
2x2 slide, 35mm film, 120 film. There is an external power
supply for 3 amps of 12VDC. You'd think for $2K I'd get an
internal power supply :(

The CyberViewX software installed just fine and provided a
TWAIN-compliant interface to my existing applications :)

The scanner, however, is not seen by the software. Closer
investigation of the front shows a blue, seven-blink cycle on
the LED. The only help in the manual is:
> Flashes several times, then a pause, then flashes again -
> Scanner is malfunctioning. Turn the unit off, close the
> software. After approx. 10 sec. power on the scanner, wait for
> calibration, then re-open CyberView X.

The results are the same whether it is connected to a
computer or not.

I've sent an email to support at scanace dot com. I'm going
to put it back in its box and wait to see what happens.

I've spent $80 on 2nd-day freight, and it took a week to get
here. I had to leave work and collect it myself because UPS
isn't able to deliver when anyone is home, nor do they
provide a way to specify a delivery time, nor a way to change
the delivery address. And for my troubles, I have $2k brick :(

My initial report is two thumbs down for the PrimeFilm 120
scanner. If anyone wants to lend me a hand, I'll give it
three thumbs down.
________________________________________
John Thurston
Juneau, Alaska
http://stereo.thurstons.us

--
stereoscope3d@gmail.com

Subject: Re: PrimeFilm 120 scanner - initial report
Date: 2011-09-29 09:33:45
From: John Thurston

On 9/28/2011 5:42 PM, John Thurston wrote:

> I collected my new scanner today!

- snip -

> The scanner, however, is not seen by the software. . . .

- snip -

> I've sent an email to support at scanace dot com. I'm going
> to put it back in its box and wait to see what happens.

I have a prompt and courteous response from scanance.com
"Hello, John, The 7 blinks is a hardware malfunction, please
contact your reseller about an exchange. --Wendy"

B&H is closed for Rosh Hashanah. I'll try contacting them on
Monday to see what my choices are :( I'm not feeling
warm-fuzzies about this device and am inclined to ask for a
refund rather than an exchange.

Just in case anyone is feeling crazy enough to try one of
these, look out for sn 131AK00A00088. It's NDG!
________________________________________
John Thurston
Juneau, Alaska
http://stereo.thurstons.us

Subject: Re: PrimeFilm 120 scanner - initial report
Date: 2011-09-29 11:39:29
From: Bill G

> My initial report is two thumbs down for the PrimeFilm 120
> scanner. If anyone wants to lend me a hand, I'll give it
> three thumbs down.
>

I needed a good laugh today, thx for providing
it..... but sorry for your disappointment.... it seems technology lets us down more often
than not.....

in the field of scanners, I have tried so many through the years, and other than Nikon
and Minolta for MF, you really need to move into drum scanners or the higher end flat beds
for good results....and by good, I mean damn good.... but if the goal is to go back to
film, this introduces a new set of limitations, which is another can of worms..... all
these problems can be overcome, but at quite a price, and a terrible inconvenience if the
goal is only a few dupes...

>
>

Subject: Re: PrimeFilm 120 scanner - initial report
Date: 2011-09-29 12:24:02
From: JR

The "only a few" is the key here. Purchasing a scanner only makes sense if you are going to be doing a lot or doing it frequently. Otherwise, when you consider the hassles likely to occur as well as the price, you may be better off making use of a service house for that occasional scan.

Of course, there are those who like to have complete control over their images from beginning to end. These are the people who buy bulk film and spool their own, process it themselves (sometimes even formulating their own chemicals rather than using pre-mixed pre-packaged kits), make or modify their own slide mounts, etc. It all depends on what you enjoy doing.

JR

On Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 10:39 AM, Bill G <bglick@rconnects.com> wrote:

> My initial report is two thumbs down for the PrimeFilm 120
> scanner. If anyone wants to lend me a hand, I'll give it
> three thumbs down.
>

I needed a good laugh today, thx for providing
it..... but sorry for your disappointment.... it seems technology lets us down more often
than not.....

in the field of scanners, I have tried so many through the years, and other than Nikon
and Minolta for MF, you really need to move into drum scanners or the higher end flat beds
for good results....and by good, I mean damn good.... but if the goal is to go back to
film, this introduces a new set of limitations, which is another can of worms..... all
these problems can be overcome, but at quite a price, and a terrible inconvenience if the
goal is only a few dupes...

>
>

--
stereoscope3d@gmail.com

Subject: Re: PrimeFilm 120 scanner - initial report
Date: 2011-10-14 20:05:20
From: John Thurston

On 9/28/2011 5:42 PM, John Thurston wrote:

> I collected my new scanner today!

I collected my replacement scanner today!

This one was as well packed as the last. It even powered up!
It ran long enough for me to get one preview out of it. Then
it gave a loud ker-thunk, followed by a buzzing noise (which
sounds suspiciously like a stepper motor jammed in place).

Now all it does is blink and buzz at me.

> My initial report is two thumbs down for the PrimeFilm 120
> scanner. If anyone wants to lend me a hand, I'll give it
> three thumbs down.

I'm contributing my own third (and fourth) thumb. I will be
requesting a refund on this piece of junk. Looks like its
flat-bed city for me.

> Just in case anyone is feeling crazy enough to try one of
> these, look out for sn 131AK00A00088. It's NDG!

Oh, and you'd better look out for 131AK00A00085, as well.
Obviously, they weren't any better earlier in the production run.
________________________________________
John Thurston
Juneau, Alaska
http://stereo.thurstons.us