Pacific Image Electronics ( https://www.scanace.com/scan_pd.php ) markets a line of 10,000 dpi film scanners that look like they would be a prime candidate for a high quality scanner lens. I thought would be interesting to see how this 10K dpi lens compares to a 3100 dpi lens made by Nikon and found in the LS-3510AF film scanner.
This test is part of a test of the Pacific Image lens, you can find the full test here: https://www.closeuphotography.com/primefilm-xe-lens-test
ABOUT THIS TEST
All the other equipment on this site, unless otherwise noted, was purchased using my own personal funds, without any sponsors, advertising, site membership fees, or featured product fees. I do not receive any income from affiliate links or selling you any products. All the information I post on this site is to share with friends, colleagues, and fellow macro photographers. Almost all photography equipment sites today are run for a profit by using affiliate links to generate commission and through allowing advertising on the site.
1.1X SCANNER LENS TEST: 10,000 DPI LENS VS 3100 DPI LENS
Pacific Image advertises the PF10K scanner as being able to produce a high-end resolution figure of 10,000 dpi, so a lens rated at 3100 ppi optical resolution doesn’t seem to compare but Nikon is one of the only manufacturers that actually use accurate optical resolution figures so the test results might be a surprise.
PF10K 42mm f/6 Set-up: Barrel paint mark towards subject
Nikon 51mm f/3.6: Barrel paint mark towards subject
Camera: Sony α7R IV, Sony Alpha ILCE-A7R IV (A7R4)
Sensor size: Full Frame. 35.7mm x 23.8mm. 42.91 mm diagonal. 3.76 micron sensor pitch
Flash: Godox TT350s wireless flash x 2 with one Godox X1s 2.4G wireless flash transmitter
Vertical stand: Nikon MM-11 with a Nikon focus block
The sharpest frame was then selected out of a stack of images made in 4 micron steps. Separate images were selected for center, edge, and corner if needed. Each image was processed in PS CC with identical settings with all noise reduction and lens correction turned off, all settings were zeroed out (true zero) and the same settings were used for all of the images. All of the images shown here are single files.
CENTER 100% CROP AT 1.1X: PF10K VS NIKON LS-3510AF LENS
The good news is that both lenses are CA-free. The 3100 ppi rated Nikon lens is extremely sharp and much more detailed and sharp than the 10,000 dpi rated PF10K lens. The Nikon lens is so sharp it looks almost over-sharpened, the PF10K looks under-sharpened yet they were processed at the same time with the exact same settings. The PF10K used more than one frame for best results, the Nikon crops, center, edge, corner, are all taken from a single image.
EDGE 100% CROP AT 1.1X: PF10K VS NIKON LS-3510AF LENS
Both lenses are free of CAs at the edge also. The Nikon is sharpness advantage might have increased here a bit.
CORNER 100% CROP AT 1.1X: PF10K VS NIKON LS-3510AF LENS
The Nikon is just fantastic at the far corner on the Sony A7R4, very sharp without any trace of CAs. The PF10K sharpness is okay and the CA control is very good!
PF10K FINAL VERDICT
The Pacific Image PrimeFilm XE scanner lens is this is not a 10,000 dpi lens but its not bad lens either. Chromatic aberrations are very well controlled, I would not recommended one due to high cost vs low performance ratio. Lens budget money is better spent elsewhere.
The PF10K lens optical resolution is in the 2000-3000 dpi range. The PF10K scanner lens is very very similar to the lens used in the 3,000 dpi PrimeFilm scanner, you can see that was test here: https://www.closeuphotography.com/primefilm-3650-scanner-lens
Sharpness out of the PrimeFilm XE scanner lens is due to the conservative aperture of f/6. You can see the differences in the entrance pupils on the PrimeFilm XE next to two very high-performance lenses, the Minolta DiMAGE Elite 5400 and the Scanner-Nikkor ED.
PRIMEFILM SCANNER GETS A SOLID “F” GRADE FOR DURABILITY
Feeling the weight of the PF10K scanner in my hand for the first time I honestly thought I had been scammed and sold an empty scanner case. Then I shook the scanner and I could hear loose pieces rattling around inside the case. The transport lead screw was loose inside the scanner with small prices of broken plastic. Compared the the last Nikon film scanner I disassembled, I rate the the PF10K a 0 out or 10 in quality. The only problem I’ve ever seen inside the dozens of film scanners has been a dirty mirror!
Pretty sure that lead screw and gear shouldn’t be loose like that.
These parts look like they belong in a child’s toy not in a film scanner.
NONEXISTENT PACIFIC IMAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE
It appears that Pacific Image in California office and the head office in Taiwan do not answer phone calls. I’ve left phone messages for each department and each extension asking for information how to buy a scanner and I’ve never gotten a single answer or reply. Pacific Image’s office in California is in the same city so I’ve even tried dropping by and all of the doors were locked during business hours, tried using the front door buzzer, no one would reply. I would not recommend buying anything Pacific Image.
PACIFIC IMAGE 10K dpi scanners
PrimeFilm XE
Relecta ProScan 10T
PrimeFilm XEs
PrimeFilm XAs
PrimeFilm XA
Reflecta Filmscanner RPS 10M
PowerSlide X
Reflecta DigitDia 7000
Links for more info
XE scanner on the Pacific Image site:
https://www.scanacedirect.com/product-p/pfxe.htm
https://www.scanace.com/scan_pd_1.php?id=39
PrimeFilm XA (Reflecta10M) test:
https://www.flickr.com/groups/2096226@N24/discuss/72157653891467076/
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