No miracle of technology, but just about acceptable for the price.

First, you should mention that any kind of image quality assessment of a very personal and subjective matter is - everyone takes colors and sharpness effect different perceptions. Also, the purpose of such scans is different for each and accordingly the claims. A comparison with professional equipment is possible, but must be viewed realistically. I compare the results here - with an appropriate sense of proportion - with my professional film scanner "Nikon Coolscan 5 ED", however, which takes place in a qualitatively different level.

For device:

The "Film 2 SD Plus" offers the possibility of very quick and easy to digitize negatives and slides. For this he needs about 3 seconds per image, which is compared to other technologies very quickly. ION promises with a 14 megapixel sensor sufficient for the private resolution, but unfortunately he can not keep that promise. The scoring of mine usable information density can be classified in about 6-7 Megapixel Equivalent. However, one should keep in mind that much of the existing private film negatives also has a comparably low Auflösungsequivalent. For most, therefore, should be sufficient detail resolution.

Common needs As with devices of this type and price range in the templates to pay attention to cleanliness because dust and scratches are not detected and removed here, as in professional equipment is often the case. Each speck of dust can be seen later on the scans.

The density range of the image sensor is - as expected - quite limited, resulting in just underexposed or overexposed shots to Tonwertverlusten - in other words, the shadows are too dark or the lights too bright and form smooth surfaces with no visible details. Here the manufacturer but the possibility has installed, adjust the exposure from -2 to +2 EV, which can use in skilful improve quality. In perfectly exposed templates to fit just about, but the dynamic range achieved is not just a feast for the eyes. Again, again, that it may be acceptable for many users just, even if I personally would rate it as insufficient.

The color rendering of the scans is clearly too shallow and unbalanced. Without post makes little joy - but this often is the case with other scanners. Since the images are stored exclusively as JPEG files on the memory card, in this case the processing of the image data is specified by the manufacturer. The user has here unfortunately intervene no way in the settings for color values ​​or contrast. Unfortunately it is not possible ION here also to achieve a high-quality image compression. The obviously too harsh working noise reduction as well as a strange working antialiasing, combined with an unfavorable image compression hinders subsequent image processing. The firmware seems to understand positive only in the simplest conversion of the negatives in a. Who then revised his shots with a graphics program, but can do a bit more out of the scan - depending on the capabilities and ambitions of course. Nevertheless, many details go lost by the working process in the noise and film grain removal.

Operation of the device is very simple. For the operation, no computer is needed. After switching on a button the original size (type 126 Slide Type 135, Type 135 color negative, S / W negative type 135, Pocket-film type 110 or Instamatic film) selected. If necessary, can be corrected by two keys, the exposure value. Then we inserted the original to be scanned and digitized by pressing a release button and the template stored on the SD card. The current settings and the original to be scanned are displayed on a color LCD on the device. However, the quality of this display is really deficient. The display resolution is just enough for the bare necessities and the viewing angle must be exactly right to see something. Here is a slightly better display would have been really nice.

Using a supplied adapter, the device can be connected to a TV, but only analogous with a composite signal (RCA). In addition, the signal is apparently no better than the video image to the display shown what the eye does not necessarily flattering especially with today's large televisions. Subjectively perceived I have a lower resolution than it was technically possible.

Conclusion:

The usual early 2015 street price is the unit of my not quite value. However, despite the weaknesses described the device is for home use is a simple and quick solution. As the image quality for private users in many cases is still sufficient, you can make friends with the disadvantages of such a system, if necessary. Who wants better results for little money, you should look for a flatbed scanner with a transparency unit and film holder. However, these devices require considerably more time for a scan, but the picture quality is usually much better than here in the ION film 2 SD Plus. Professional equipment cost many times here but clearly superior. Compared with devices of similar design of ION makes an acceptable impression and the scans can be used with some reworking duchaus for easy screen display and small prints or printouts. The scope of supply is sufficient for the most common tasks and the build quality is adequate for the price. Those looking for an inexpensive and quick solution for simple purposes, may well live with the result here. However, you may not have all to great expectations. I did not expect much and I also get just that. The 3 star I forgive therefore with regard to price category and compared with similar products. A professional result fails, of course.