One of the best features of the OpticFilm 8200i AI is its advanced SilverFast Ai Studio 8 scanner software, which helps optimize image quality and improve your workflow. Among other features, the driver lets you adjust curves, color, and brightness for each scan, based on the prescan. If you assume a reasonable value for on-film resolution is about 80 l/mm, the net resolution is only 4800 pixels. In this article, I will be sharing my learnings from the two years I’ve spent with PrimeFilm XA, including my understanding of how it compares to other methods and how to make the best use of it.

I recently downloaded the latest version and got outstanding results straight off my Primefilm scanner - after a little playing with the settings. SilverFast makes film focus adjustment easy by letting you select a small patch to scan at 100% resolution and compare the results as you slide the distance control. When exposed optimally, this film can render your scenes beautifully with medium/realistic contrast. I’ve been inverting all my negatives using this method (I’ve developed an automated tool that does most of the work for me): analog. to Male RMS adapter slips right over the PrimeFilm 3650 lens and is held tightly in place by a small strip of metal shim tape.The reason I now "scan" with a camera is life is too short fo finish doing my archives with a scanner. Having to rely upon scanners with unreliable autofeed designs/UX issues and jerry-rigged DSLR slide copiers is a travesty. The slower PrimeFilm lens does not have the same ability to resolve fine detail but the lens will have more depth of field. Unlike some pricy fine-grained black-and-white films that become noticeably coarse after slight contrast adjustments, Kosmo Foto Mono 100 scans are easy to post-process. Here’s where the split toning comes in handy, which allows you to adjust the hue/saturations of the highlights/shadows independently.

Although you can read all of the micro numbers and letters with both lenses, the MP-E 65 does show more fine detail in the 100% crop images. There is no firewire card provided with the scanner, so check whether your computer has the necessary support before you get too excited!

Using slides, you can insert one at a time into the front of the scanner, there is no functionality provided for scanning APS films. After removing the scanner top cover, locate the long black plastic unit in the center of the scanner. My experience during setup may be a bit unique, but it’s an acceptable use case, and highlights what will likely be a common problem that both Plustek and LaserSoft Imaging didn’t take the time to preemptively remedy. The BEOON works equally well on medium format/70mm film, using different extension tubes and a different mask at the film end. His new product, Agent Shadow , has been on sale since mid-2022, and I will be reviewing it shortly, along with the book that came with it in the premium backers’ package.