In August of 2007 Plustek introduced the slide scanner OpticFilm 7500i as a new device to the market - it's a consistent advancement of the Plustek OpticFilm 7200i. I speak consciously of an advancement and not of a follow-up model, since Plustek isn’t giving up the sale of the 'old' device for the time beeing. The OpticFilm 7500i starts out with an extremely attractive price against strong competitors like the Nikon Coolscan 5 ED or the Reflecta RPS 7200 and wins in any case already a plus for the purchase price.

This scanner was replaced by the successor Plustek OpticFilm 7600i in July 2009.

What changed in the new model? Whoever compares the two models, will notice outwardly only marginal differences. Also the technical data of the two devices are almost identical. One feature has changed essentially: multisampling and multi-exposure. This becomes apparent in the scanning software: while the OpticFilm 7200i was available either with the SilverFast version SE or Ai, the OpticFilm 7500i is delivered either with the SilverFast version SE plus or with the Ai-Studio version. This software upgrade becomes of course also apparent in the price. Our test device has the Ai-version.

Multisampling and multi-exposure are much promising features. Multiple scanning of the film is supposed to increase the dynamic range of the scanner. Plustek indicated a maximum density of 3.3 for the old OpticFilm 7200i; the density range was about mere 2.8.

For the OpticFilm 7500i Plustek indicates a density range of 3.5. That's at least on the paper a much promising figure, which suggests high-quality scans. Does the multi-exposure function really increase the density range by 0.7? That would be indeed an astronomical quality increase. Skepticism is the word: many photographers regard multi-exposure just as a marketing joke, which doesn't work satisfying in practice. We want to find out!

Important: the film scanner Plustek OpticFilm 7500i runs only on PC's with Windows operating system, thus not on Apple computers. The company Quato developed a Mac driver for this device and sells the identically constructed device by the name of Quato Intelli Scan 5000.

Plustek Scanners drivers. 394 (8.06 GB) free drivers for 184 Plustek Scanners. 7300 OpticFilm 7400 OpticFilm 7500i AI OpticFilm 7500i SE OpticFilm 7600i Ai. Respected as one of the world-class imaging and surveillance solutions providers, Plustek Inc. Is dedicated to manufacturing high-quality, professional scanners as well as security devices for businesses, professionals and consumers.

Equipment, accessories and performance data of the film scanner

In the delivered box of the Plustek OpticFilm 7500i is everything, which one needs for the digitization of 35mm-films included: beside the scanner itself there are film holders for film strips with up to six pictures and for up to four framed slides. Furthermore a power supply, an USB cable, a carrying bag (which no one really needs) and the software package are included. This consists of the NewSoft Presto! toolset, the Plustek QuickScan program as well as the professional scanning software SilverFast SE Plus or SilverFast Ai Studio. If one choses the Ai Studio version, then there is additionally an IT-8 calibration target.

The CCD sensor of the Plustek OpticFilm 7500i delivers an optical resolution of 7200 dpi; that's at least on the paper an extremely high resolution. A scan of a 35mm-negative or a slide results in a picture with approximately 70 megapixels, which produces with 24bit colour depth a decompressed picture file of about 210 Mbyte. With a colour depth of 48 bits the data doubles accordingly to about 420 Mbyte! To process such an amount of data one really needs a fast computer. A resolution test will show whether the effective resolution reaches the nominal resolution.

A source of infrared light is for the hardware-based dust and scratch correction. The multi-exposure function makes scanning of a target with two different exposures possible: one too bright and one too dark scan are being made, from which then a final picture is combined by calculations. This way the density range is supposed to increase. Furthermore it is possible to make multiple scans. The film is being scanned several times (up to 16 times) like with MultiExposure, however not with different exposures. The purpose of multiple scans is to minimize the coincidentally arising picture noise - particularly in dark picture portions.

On the front of the device are, as in all models of the OpticFilm series, besides the power button the IntelliScan and the Quickscan key. With activated QuickScan application (this small tool resides in the system tray of the task-bar as soon as one installs the program) one starts the QuickScan software by pushing the first button, while with pressing on the latter one starts SilverFast. That's familiar from the predecessor models.

Installation and start-up

The installation of the provided software works problem-free. In the CD casing there are two CD's: one with the driver software and the provided tools (see the chapter on software), as well as one with the SilverFast scanning software.

One must however pay attention to one characteristic regarding the installation: contrary to most other scanners for the installation of the Plustek OpticFilm 7500i one must attach the scanner to the PC first, and afterwards install the software. As soon as one connects the scanner to the power and through USB to the computer, the scanner is recognized immediately and the assistant to add hardware is started. Now one is asked to insert the CD with the driver software, whereupon after confirmation the installation automatically takes place. Afterwards one can install the scanning software SilverFast, which is also problem-free and nearly fully automatic. After typing in the serial number from the CD cover, scanning can start.

A printed quick-start manual helps with the installation, if any questions come up. A detailed manual is given on CD as PDF; a printed version of the manual doesn't exist, thus one has to print it by oneself.

Now one has two possibilities to make a scan: with QuickScan or with SilverFast - one must only press the according key at the scanner front. The exact proceeding is further below explained.

Scanning framed 35mm slides

Plustek delivers the OpticFilm 7500i standardly with a slide holder, which has somewhat changed compared to the predecessor model: the structure with the 4 mounting plates for 4 framed 35mm slides remained the same, but the springs are now covered. What's caused by the cover over each of the 4 slots? The slide gets additional support, by being fixed at one side in the top, down and left. The disadvantage is of course that there is now a restriction of thickness; up to now one could insert practically arbitrarily thick slides into the film holder. Now there is a restriction to about 3 mm. However - except for the spring covers the slideframe holder remained the same.

The slideframe holder has 4 slots, whereby at the left side is in each case a spring, which one must squeeze together, in order to insert a slide and at the right side is a groove, so that one can reach with the finger into the slot. Inserting a slide into the slideframe holder is difficult at the beginning, since one must insert the slide and at the same time squeeze the spring together. If one slips, one can easily hit the bulls-eye, meaning to fully touch the film and even runs the risk to push the film out of the frame. Particularly during the first attempts with the film holder one should absolutely wear cotton gloves, so that one doesn't damage the film surface when slipping. After a certain training period one does however handle the inserting of the slides into the holder easier.

Inserting normal plastic frames works after a certain time of practice quite problem-free. Cardboard frames must be handled very careful to avoid bending of the cardboard due to the tension of the spring. The additional fixings fail for very thick glass-framed slides, but the spring can be squeezed together so far, that thick slides can be nevertheless inserted into the film holder. That the springs don't enjoy this forced step is clear.

Since to receive good results one will scan mainly with SilverFast, here is only briefly dealt with the procedure when scanning with QuickScan:

By a doubleclick on the icon in the system tray a window appears, in which one can make all for the scan necessary adjustments: e.g. the type of target (slide or negative), the desired file format (JPG or TIF), folder names, the destination folder and the desired resolution as well as various corrections such as brightness and contrast are being specified here. In addition one can select here whether first a preview

Plustek Opticfilm 7500i Drivers