Benq (Formerly Acer) ScanWit 2720S

Review Date
December 22, 2009

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
pantr , Intermediate

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
After years of good work. With Windows 7 however this scanner will not work. Benq does not plan to make drivers for Windows 7 as they told me

Review Date
November 14, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.40 of 5, 5 votes

Reviewed by
Peter Popov , Expert

Price Paid
$390.00 at Comelsoft - Sofia -

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
I am using the scanner for more than 8 years. Transferred in computer format all my color slides, color negatives and black and white negatives (I estimate the total number at six to seven thousands pictures). Dont have any serious problems except those with the slide holder (discussed in detail by many other reviewers).
After some trials I perceived specific way of combining MiraPhoto and PhotoShop – using MiraPhoto’s histogram tool mainly (and the curve tool in rare cases) and performing brightness, contrast and color corrections in PhotoShop.
I never printed the scanned pictures but used them in slide shows at computer or TV screen. So I cant appraise the printing quality of scanned slides or negatives.
To keep the size of picture files moderate I used mainly ½ of the scanner maximum resolution. In rare cases I notice grainy results but the originals were grainy too (ASA 400 negatives in dark situation.

Strengths
High quality and robust. Easy to operate. Durable.

Weaknesses
It is not clear if BENQ is continuing to support the product.
Comparatively small number of preselected film types.

Similar Products Used
None.

Customer Service
Fortunately not used.

Review Date
April 21, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.29 of 5, 7 votes

Reviewed by
mr_vegas , Professional , from long beach, ca

Price Paid
$285.00 at Ebay

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Other

Summary
I've used this scanner for 2 years straight. Scanned 1000's of frames of film. Landscape, portrait, sports, wedding. All film types. Its an excellent scanner, especially for the price. It has the best specs in this price range. Slidefilm, as with all film scanner scans very well. Fuji Velvia shows almost zero grain. Print film works much better if you ad Veuscan software. Highly recommend with both film types. This scanner has not had one problem in 2 years of heavy use. For anyone looking to get into scanning film this is a great entry level scanner. Flatbeds are all but useless if you want to actually print from your files.

Strengths
Everything just mentioned. Excellent qualty able to print up to 8x12 at 300dpi.

Weaknesses
The slide holders break easily. Just dont have your slide film mounted and use the regular film holder, works better anyways.

Similar Products Used
Polaroid Sprintscan 120, Microtek Scanmaker 5600

Customer Service
N/A

Review Date
February 6, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
Eric Carter , Intermediate , from Columbia, MD

Price Paid
$250.00 at eBay

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Fine Art

Summary
The Scanwit 2720s is a fine low-cost alternative for many people who want to get good quality scans of their slide and lower speed negative film. I've used it for quite some time now and it has given me excellent quality slide scans that show deep color with acceptable grain, and while it isn't as good a performer scanning negatives, it still does a very adequate job with lower speed negative film. The color rendering on this scanner actually seems to be better than on most slide scanners I've used - even ones far more expensive.

The scanner is not without its drawbacks. The lack of ICE cleanup may turn off people who have more to scan, as it is absolutely necessary that you go through the image to manually clean up, and while the negative carrier is okay, the slide carrier is just flimsy. You *WILL* break the plastic tabs, but fortunately on mine the carrier is still useable. Also particularly a problem for a scanner without ICE, it seems to be pretty vulnerable to environmental dust - so make sure to keep it covered when not in use and clean everything before scanning (should do this whatever scanner you'd use).

Excellent at the price, highly recommended for the budget photographer who needs low/medium volume film scanning.

Strengths
- Low price
- Good color rendering
- Ease of use

Weaknesses
- No ICE
- Poor Slide Holders

Similar Products Used
- Flatbed Scanners
- Nikon Coolscan 4000

Customer Service
N/A

Review Date
October 17, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Reviewed by
yother33 , Intermediate , from Bloomfield, CT USA

Price Paid
$330.00 at eCost

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
First one didn't work at all, errors and problems in spades. BenQ sent me a reconditioned one which has been fine. I recommend dumping the software and getting VueScan from hamrick.com, much better.

Strengths
With Hamrick software, will do 4 slides in a row and you can walk away from it and come back later.

Weaknesses
The plastic slide holder is a ROYAL PAIN (literally: it makes my fingers hurt) and the clips break off very easily.

Similar Products Used
PacificImage PrimeFilm, which was really a piece of junk.

Customer Service
Found it to be excellent. They answered the phone quickly and were on top of everything.