Product Comparison: PLUSTEK OpticFilm 120 vs Nikon Super CoolScan 9000 ED
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General Specifications
Brand
PLUSTEK
Nikon
Model
OpticFilm 120
Super COOLSCAN 9000 ED
Origin
China
Japan
About the Product
The OpticFilm 120 delivers the professional image quality results from 35mm film strips, slides, and 120/220 film from 6x4.5cm up to 6x12cm in sizes. It is designed for professional photographers, advanced amateur photographers, film photo enthusiasts, photography schools and clubs. The OpticFilm 120 satisfies the film scanning requirements of advanced amateurs or professionals that require the ultimate in image quality and an ICC profiled scanning system.
A high-performance dedicated film scanner designed for imaging professionals, the Super Coolscan 9000 ED offers high-quality scanning of 35mm slides, 35mm film strips, medium-format film, medium-format slides (with optional 120/220 mounted film holder FH-869M), glass slides for microscopes (with optional Medical Slide Holder FH-8G1), and 16mm film (with optional 16mm film holder FH-816). The Scanner-Nikkor ED glass lens offers a 4,000 dpi optical resolution, while the 10,000-pixel, three-line monochrome linear CCD image sensor and 16-bit per color A/D input (8-/16-bit output) provide true-to-life, brilliant results.
Key Specs
Sensor Type
CCD
CCD
Optical Resolution
5300 dpi
4000 dpi
Density Range
4.01
4.8
Scanning Time (35mm film)
40 sec.
What customers say about "Key Specs"
PLUSTEK OpticFilm 120 Film Scanner
- Mutli-pass full-resolution scans of a 6x8 negative at 10,600 dpi do take some time to complete, but they're worth it.
- Working on it every day, on day ten I finally noticed that "scanner settings" is a thin line of text covered in orange, making it hard to read, and that allowed me to set size and resolution. I made a 5300 dpi scan with dust and noise reduction.
- To avoid the issue with very long scan times, you can take out the unsharp masking and dust removal. I prefer the multi-scan quality so I just live with that extra addition to the scan time.
- This is an excellent scanner. I purchased this after having used a Plustek 7200 35mm scanner. I was really impressed with the results compared to scans with my flatbed scanner. Scans are much sharper, finer detailed than a flatbed scan.
- I give it very high marks for scan quality and ease of use.
- It produces good scans but it can take a minute or two for each negative depending on the size of image required.
Nikon Super CoolScan 9000 ED Film Scanner
- It also scans a lot faster than what I expected. I think that some of the scan times that I've read about were probably done using computers with slower processors: I can scan a 35mm slide at 2400 dpi in about 15 secs or less.
- I'm not too technical on all the things that happen within the hardware-software process but the results an amateur like me can get are simply awsome. I scan the slides at a full 4000 bpi and store the results as huge TIFF files.
- The quality of this scanner is amazing. The detail that it picks up from slides and negatives is incredible.
- The scanresults have been better than hoped, and I can only recommend this scanner.
- The device has worked exactly as I had hoped allowing me to archieve hundreds of old negatives that would have been lost or cost much more than what I paid for it. I am very pleased.
Size & Weight
Height
7.44 in.
8 in.
Width
8.27 in.
9.8 in.
Depth
14.7 in.
19.6 in.
Weight
201 oz.
316.8 oz.
What customers say about "Size & Weight"
PLUSTEK OpticFilm 120 Film Scanner
- Size was a nice-to-have factor for me. I've already got a flatbed and ideally didn't want more space being taken up.
- A good bit smaller and quicker than the Nikon. It is a bit loud and clunky but is reliable and built well.
- The Plustek is very well built. It runs like a fine watch, except for the initial clunk that is heard at the beginning of a scan sequence.
- I've given 4 stars because the scanner is very well built and appears to work well.
- The OpticFilm 120 is well built and has impressively sturdy film carriers.
Control
Display
None
None
Control Buttons
Eject Button, Positive Scan Button, Negative Scan Button, Custom Scan Button, Power Switch
Power Switch, Eject Button
Features
Film Types
35mm slides, 35mm film, 120 film
35mm film, 35mm slides, Medium-format film, Medium-format slides, 16mm film
Scanning Area (max.)
2.36 x 4.72 (in.)
6 х 9 (in.)
Light Source
LED
R, G, B and Infrared (IR) LEDs
Output Data
48 bit
48 bit
Extras
High Dynamic Range, Multiple film formats supported, Elegant and Compact design, Powered By LaserSoft Imaging AG SilverFast®
Improved rod dispersion LED illumination technology, Newly-developed, high-quality 3-line CCD sensor, Digital ICE4 AdvancedTM (Digital ICE Quad Advanced) with Digital ICE ProfessionalTM - more compatible with Kodachrome film, Large diameter scanner Nikkor Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass lens, New, advanced image processing algorithm for color negative film, Quick AF and Quick Preview, High-speed IEEE 1394 interface
Accessories Included
FH-835M 35mm Mounted Film Holder, FH-835S 35mm Strip Film Holder, FH-869S 120/220 Strip Film Holder, CD-ROM, Interface card for Mac OS and Windows
What customers say about "Features"
PLUSTEK OpticFilm 120 Film Scanner
- There is no need to adjust it if your scans are from un-mounted film strips. I scan 120 film strips exclusively. All of my scans are sharp. I must confess that I'm a film guy.
- Basically, for medium format film it is so much better than the Epson that I would recommend it to anyone croping medium format or printing larger than 20x20 prints.
- The Silverfast software is not worth the effort to load it, a frustrating experience to say the least. If you buy this just bite the bullet and get Vuescan Pro, it is a pleasure to use and the learning curve is about five minutes.
- I have scanned 35mm negatives and color slides, and 120 negatives and color transparencies. I am very pleased with this versatile unit.
- Some light sharpening in Photoshop and you can hardly tell the difference.
Nikon Super CoolScan 9000 ED Film Scanner
- I also have used it with 35MM negatives and Kodachrome slides, which work beautifully, and with both 4.5cm x 4.5cm negatives and 110 negatives, which require that I jury-rig a special mask for the glass-covered medium format carriage (FH-869GR, not included).
- Aside from the very long wait, it seems that the scanner lives up to the hype. I'm still experimenting with it but so far its results are excellant. It's software is solid and very straightforward (thank God, for it's usually the opposite!).
- I shoot medium format 120 film and see this scanner supports up to 6x9 size negatives only due to the mechanical motor drive, though not the panoramic 6x12, 6x17 (FH-869S tray film holder supports up to 18cm) - which require stitching.
- My only complaint so far is that the 120 film hold doesn't hold the film flat. I guess I'll have to consider buying the overpriced glass film holder.
- The only drawbacks are that you have to scan bw negatives without Digital Ice (so you'll have a lot of manual cleanup to do) and the fact that there are no trays to scan 110 and 126 negative film (you could conceivably rig the existing trays to accomplish this).
- The problem I am having now is with the FireWire, which will not connect to my new PC. There are converters but the reviews on those are not good. The local PC repair shop says a FireWire card can't be installed in the computer; something about the motherboard.
Warranty / Certifications
Manufacturer Warranty
1 year(s)
1 year(s)
Certifications
CE
CE
Other Information
