Microtek ScanMaker 35T Plus

Review Date
April 26, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
Ray , Intermediate

Price Paid
$200.00 at Trade and Exchange

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
I have never been one to spend money unless I was sure what I was buying was going to perfomr the task at hand, I purchased the 35T Plus with the full knowledge that some people had less than good results, so I broke my own rules. Well I am glad I invested the money now! I also own an Epson 1250 Photo, and I thought I was happy with it until I needed to scan some less than perfect negs, it would not even touch them....along comes the Microtek..FANTASTIC...perfect saturation, colour correction superb, optical quality accurate.

Strengths
Cost - $200NZ is less than $100US...so it is the best kit I have purchased in a long time!

Weaknesses
SCSI card supplied is ISA , so I have to get a PCI card to fit my primary PC.

Similar Products Used
Epson 1250 Photo

Review Date
February 12, 2001

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
Nick Roberts , Expert , from UK

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
This isn't a bad scanner for the money. I've never tried to scan colour negs, so can't comment on that aspect of performance, but it's fine for slides (98% of my output).
I don't find the scanning software very user friendly, the resolution isn't very high and it hasn't got digital ICE. But for the price, it's a fair performer. However, if you can afford better, buy better.

Strengths
Low cost, solid build, reasonable quality

Weaknesses
Bulky, not especially high quality, don't like the software much

Similar Products Used
None

Customer Service
N/A

Review Date
January 7, 2001

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by
Pete photo , Intermediate , from UK

Price Paid
$250.00 at Walter photovideo

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Other

Summary
This scanner received a good review in a UK photography mag so I bought one. I'm sure they only scanned slides as the results from negatives are crap. It has a few film types but Fuji Superia is not supported yet is the best selling film!

Please try before you buy

Strengths
Low price
Very good slide scans

Weaknesses
Useless for negatives

Similar Products Used
None

Review Date
March 8, 2000

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Reviewed by
BJ Nicholls , Professional , from Salt Lake City, UT

Photography Experience
21+ years , Other

Summary
A primitive scanner that isn't in the same league as Nikon, Minolta, Polaroid and other scanners. Don't invest in one unless you can buy it really cheaply. An earlier 35t model had problems with a bearing assembly after relatively few scans. The cost to repair/replace through Microtek out of warranty was more than the cost of a better new scanner. The carcass sits gathering dust. I replaced the newer 35t+ with a Minolta Scan Dual which offers superior resolution and performance for about $400. The ScanWizard interface as well as the add-on DCR color calibration software are well designed and supported.

Strengths
Inexpensive, Scanwizard is good software.

Weaknesses
Not very well made -earlier 35t had a recirculating bearing go out, replacement of whole assembly costs as much as a new scanner. Not very good in shadows or highlights. Dust infiltrates easily. Large for a single purpose scanner.

Similar Products Used
Nikon LS-10, Minolta Scan Dual

Customer Service
Okay for basics. Repair/update costs can be outlandish.

Review Date
January 31, 2000

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by
Ken Lotts , Intermediate , from Sierra Vista, AZ usa

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Landscapes

Summary
My comments about this scanner are:
Basically it is a SLIDE scanner not a negative scanner.. color negatives produce substandard results..
I have had mine for several years. It works well with black & white negatives and color slides but is poor with color negatives..

I am going to try before I buy next time..
I will take in a good variety of color negatives and put the scanner to the test. The ScanMaker 35t plus is a bad performer for me.

Strengths
Good Price
It works with with the microtek scan wizard.

Weaknesses
MAJOR problem:
Color negatives shot in bright scenes end up with brown streaky scans.

I was so alarmed at this problem that I sent mine back for service. I provided them with a negative so that they could duplicate the problem... Did they fix it? No. They said that it worked within specifications..

Similar Products Used
None

Customer Service
I can say one of two things about Microtek’s customer service department:.
Either the customer service people told me the truth and the product is truly unable to scan the bright sky scenes in my color negatives because my negatives push the scanner past it’s specifications (hmmm…)

-or-

the customer service people lied and the product is ok.

Either way I ended up as a very unhappy customer.