So I picked up a new (blue) Prime film XA plus and purchased Vuescan. Apparently the only way you can get the batch scanning feature is with the $99 pro version.

I scanned about 10 rolls this past month and was not impressed.

My issues were as followed:

• Batch scanning starts off fine for the first 2-3 frames, then the film starts to wander out of the frame. 35-45min later when you get back to the computer, your scans are all messed up. Huge waste of time.

• Workflow - Since the automated scan-batch feature didn’t work accordingly, I had to scan frame by frame. Real time consuming, even more time consuming when you’re midway through a 36 exposure roll and Vuescan crashes. The issue is not so much Vuescan crashing but the film remaining stuck and toggling between turning the machine on/off or restarting the app, followed by restarting my computer just to get this machine to eject the roll completely.

My solution to this was to pre-cut my film into 5-6 frames and scan frame by frame. Again, time consuming.

• Scratches to film. The first two rolls I had a faint line run across (left to right) and I assumed it was my camera and possibly dirt /debris stuck somewhere. So I switched cameras, and the faint line still showed. It wasn’t a hard line but a faint scratch line that would be consistent in location on all the rolls. I scanned a few frames on my old Epson V300 and the scans were clean, followed by scans on the XA Plus, and the scratch was now visible.

• Silverfast is not supported. Already having a paid version, it sucked having to pay for Vuescan.

• Dust, boy does this machine attract dust! No real way to clean the interior except with a rocket blower. I stored it in a large zip lock style bag to make sure dust doesn’t get in/on the machine

Overall it didn’t meet expectation for a $800 machine (price includes Vuescan).

Item was returned and refund provided via Amazon.

For all the issues and work arounds necessary to use this machine the cost was not worth it.

Back to scanning on the Epson V300, until I get a new scanner.

EDIT: The V300 Is not my replacement, its just the scanner I’ve used for the past couple of years for it cheap price and simplicity. The V300 sucks in quality also.. but it functions as expected.