That said, if 35mm film and slide scanning is all you need, and you're willing to spend the time both mastering SilverFast and adjusting the settings individually on every scan, the Plustek OpticFilm 8200i SE can be a good choice.

Optical resolution rated at 7,200 pixels per inch; Hardware-based dust and scratch removal

Scans only one slide or frame of film at a time; Little automation in the software

Does what it is supposed to do. Installation was straightforward. Had a little trouble with QuickScan software, but a call to Plustek Customer Support produced a real response from a real person.

The scanner does a good job scanning 35mm negatives and transparencies. However, I was not happy that I had to buy a separate software program after I spent a lot of money buy the device. Also, this Silverfast program is difficult to navigate.

I am a true photographer, shoot film first, know filters, know how different films react in different situations, so I need a high quality scan. I do my work In Camera, not on a computer.

Reasonably-priced support for negative/slide scanning is waning. The top-o-the-line scanners are from Nikon and they are going for $2000 on up to about $7000. The Plustek OpticFilm line is the best you're going to do under $2000.

Hardware seems solid and well-designed; It weighs about as much as a brick and kind of feels like one with your eyes closed

No serious manual comes with it, nor is one available on the Plustek site; Essential information is missing; Example: does one scan with the emulsion side up or down; Not in the "manual." I found it on a printed sheet that came with the film strip holder; SilverFast 8 is bizarrely designed.

Very pleased with this purchase. This is the second model in this range that I've owned. Is an upgrade on my previous machine and I'm not disappointed either with the hardware or Silverfast software.

The next step up from the Plustek OpticFilm 8100($349.00 at Amazon) in the company's line of dedicated film and slide scanners, the Plustek OpticFilm 8200i SE ($449) offers the same 7,200 pixels-per-inch (ppi) resolution, the same set of scan utilities, and essentially the same speed and scan quality. But it adds one key feature than its less-capable cousin lacks: hardware-based dust and scratch removal. As expected, that boosts how well dust and scratch removal works, which makes the 8200i SE a more attractive choice. As with the Plustek 8100, the 8200i SE isn't a match for the more expensive Epson Perfection V700 Photo($1,249.99 at Amazon), which offers higher scan quality, as well as fully automated scanning—meaning the scanner equivalent of a camera's point-and-shoot mode. On the other hand, the 8200i SE's 7,200 ppi resolution can potentially retain more detail in scans than the Epson V700 or the less expensive Editors' Choice Epson Perfection V550 Photo Scanner($847.94 at Am...

The Plustek OpticFilm 8200i SE film scanner delivers reasonably high-quality scans, but be prepared to invest some time in learning how to use its scan utility.

Optical resolution rated at 7,200 pixels per inch; Hardware-based dust and scratch removal

Scans only one slide or frame of film at a time; Little automation in the software