PowerSlide 5000

[Scott Canoe]

After a bit of research I recently bought a Powerslide 5000 off eBay to scan my Dad's collection of several thousand slides (and probably my in-laws' next). This despite the mixed reviews of the mechanism (jamming) sand software (planning to use VueScan instead).

It's not going well. Yet.

This is on a Windows 11 laptop.

1. I can't find a manual online - is there one out there? I find this page but heck of I can find the "download" link - https://www.pdf-manuals.com/pacific-image-powerslide-5000-ccd-slides-scanner-ps5000-161409-manual

2. The CyberViewX software installs but doesn't want to talk to the scanner consistently. I screwed up by plugging the scanner in first - when I removed it from device manager, I had better but still very inconsistent luck connecting. I even swapped cables. I was able to get it to recognize the scanner twice. One of those 2 times I got it to scan a batch of 5 slides. Results were ok but no dust removal occurred (probably a setting I need to turn on) . The software often freezes introducing the scanner.

3. VueScan - it took a while to get it to recognize the scanner - probably user error. Hamrick says not to start the software until the light on the scanner quits blinking. Pretty sure I'm doing that but more often than not, the scanner is not available as a source. I have been able to scan 2 slides 1 at a time- results were great. Dust removed. But now the software freezes pretty consistently when starting up. I'm following up with Hamrick.

So what I'm trying to figure out if did I get a dud of a scanner that has hardware issues or am I doing something wrong? Help!

 

[Overrank]

After a bit of research I recently bought a Powerslide 5000 off eBay to scan my Dad's collection of several thousand slides (and probably my in-laws' next). This despite the mixed reviews of the mechanism (jamming) sand software (planning to use VueScan instead).

It's not going well. Yet.

This is on a Windows 11 laptop.

1. I can't find a manual online - is there one out there? I find this page but heck of I can find the "download" link - https://www.pdf-manuals.com/pacific-image-powerslide-5000-ccd-slides-scanner-ps5000-161409-manual

Is the Powerslide 5000 also known as (or similar to) the Reflecta DigitDia ? If so the manual for that is here - https://www.manualslib.com/manual/808347/Reflecta-Digitdia-5000.html

2. The CyberViewX software installs but doesn't want to talk to the scanner consistently. I screwed up by plugging the scanner in first - when I removed it from device manager, I had better but still very inconsistent luck connecting. I even swapped cables. I was able to get it to recognize the scanner twice. One of those 2 times I got it to scan a batch of 5 slides. Results were ok but no dust removal occurred (probably a setting I need to turn on) . The software often freezes introducing the scanner.

3. VueScan - it took a while to get it to recognize the scanner - probably user error. Hamrick says not to start the software until the light on the scanner quits blinking. Pretty sure I'm doing that but more often than not, the scanner is not available as a source. I have been able to scan 2 slides 1 at a time- results were great. Dust removed. But now the software freezes pretty consistently when starting up. I'm following up with Hamrick.

VueScan is good once you get it working. I use it with a CoolScan for negatives and slides

 

[sybersitizen]

This is on a Windows 11 laptop.

I can't find a manual online - is there one out there?

These are about as good as you'll get:

https://www.scanace.com/archive/scanner/PSX/PowerSlide X_User_Manual_2021.pdf

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/lit_files/605716.pdf

... did I get a dud of a scanner that has hardware issues or am I doing something wrong?

I owned a PowerSlide 5000 ten years ago and used it with VueScan to scan about 8000 slides (yes, it will typically jam on occasion, but that can be dealt with). However, it was running on Windows 7. I don't know what issues might arise with newer OS versions.

Regarding the problems you described, I'd forget about CyberViewX. It's poor software compared to VueScan. I'd try uninstalling both of them and reinstalling VueScan. If that doesn't work, I don't know what else to suggest.

If you get it working and have other questions about the scanner in general, let me know.

 

[Overrank]

One thing I’ve remember - when I tried to use VueScan with a Plustek it wouldn’t work. It turned out later (when I’d replaced my PC) that it was because I’d loaded VueScan not on the root drive (I.e. on D:\ rather than C:\) and it didn’t like it for that particular scanner. Is there a possibility of that ?

 

[Scott Canoe]

Thanks!

After posting this my librarian daughter pointed me to the manual I overlooked. That pointed out that you need to let the scanner initialize before running the CyberViewX software. That made the instructions from Hamrick make sense - wait for the green light to stop blinking.

We're off to the races and scanning now. First batch of 50 done.

Thanks to all who replied!

Any advice on the Braun carousels? Are there sizes for the two thicknesses like there are the box style magazines?

 

[Scott Canoe]

I'm posting what I have learned here in case it helps somebody else. My arc with this scanner has gone from doubt to frustration to success.

1 - the VueScan software is great. Plug in the scanner first. Wait for it to settle down - it is initializing. When the greenlight stops flashing, then start VueScan - it should recognize it

2 - This scanner came with a compact magazine - the slides fit snugly on cardboard slides and I was having a lot of jams. Even when I was very careful loading and inspecting the slides.

3 - I ordered some cartridges from B&H - the Paximat 100S - and these are significantly longer, the slides fit looser, loading is easier, and I have hot had a jam yet (knock on wood)

4 - the scans are fast - about 1 minute at 1000dpi and it is doing a great job of cleaning up dust and crud. To be honest, I don't know how much is the scanner and how much is the software.

Hope this is helpful