Shining 3D Einstar 3D Scanner

The Shining 3D Einstar Handheld 3D Scanner strikes an impressive balance between professional-grade functionality and user accessibility. It’s an exciting tool for hobbyists and professionals diving into detailed 3D modeling, but it's not without its quirks. Here's a closer look:Pros1. Ease of Installation: Setting up the scanner and its software is straightforward, even for beginners. The instructions are clear, and the intuitive design makes getting started a breeze.2. Accuracy: When properly calibrated, the scanner delivers high-resolution, precise scans that rival more expensive models, capturing intricate details with remarkable fidelity.3. Functionality: The device supports a wide range of applications, from reverse engineering to 3D printing prep, making it versatile and well-suited to both creative and technical projects.Cons1. Hefty Weight: Prolonged use can be fatiguing, especially during complex projects requiring extended scanning sessions.2. Demanding Software: While user-friendly, the software requires a high-performance computer to handle large files and ensure smooth processing, which might not be accessible to everyone.3. Inconsistent Performance: While accuracy is a strong suit, occasional misreads or errors during scans can disrupt workflows, especially for intricate models.Overall ImpressionThe Shining 3D Einstar impresses with its ease of use, exceptional accuracy, and versatile functionality. However, it’s not without challenges, particularly for those lacking high-end hardware or requiring flawless reliability. For its price range, it’s a solid contender for anyone serious about 3D scanning, provided they’re prepared for occasional hiccups.

For those that say this scanner is slow and loses tracking easily, I'd say you need more experience with it and need to understand the process a bit more.This is an amazing scanner at this price point. I've tried two others that were less expensive and those were trash!This scanner works best with lighter colored surfaces that aren't too reflective. If you don't have those, use tracking dots and spray (pictured). I mainly scan automotive interiors that are black and I use both and have great results. It takes a short amount of time to find the right distance and understand what works best for the scanner/software. This isn't point and shoot and it's done... It'll take some time to get a clean scan for larger objects. It's a 3d scanner. Not some piece of tech from Tony Stark's lab.The software is great too. Easy to use and lots of features to help clean up the scans and export. And you will need a computer /laptop that can handle it, but just check the specs. But for the one user that said it crashed on their Ryzen 9 with a 4080, sounds like there may have been other issues getting the software installed properly. It doesn't require that much to run it. I've run the software on a pc with a Ryzen 5, 1660 gpu, and 32gb ram with no issues.This is a great scanner for its price. Yes, you have to pay to play. So, don't cheap out on your scanner or your pc. It's a great piece of equipment and it may require some patience, but not a lot. Like every advanced tool, you need to understand how to use it first.

This is a high end product for home use, don’t be intimidated, plenty of help on the internet

Let me start off by saying I am not affiliated with any scanning company. I am just a guy that measures countertops for a living....with a degree in architecture and about 20 years experience drafting / 3d modeling.I Just got the brand new Revopoint Range last week. Yes that is not this scanner but I want to give you a comparison of what you can get for a similar price. I tried scanning my bumper with tracking dots in my dimly lit apartment with the Revopoint Range and the tracking was terrible, absolute garbage. The Revopoint would just lose tracking and go into a scanning death spiral of elongated point clouds and bad data. I tried scanning many things around my apartment, if it was flat no way in hell unless it had tracking dots. Pile of clothes on the floor, kind of ok but would still lose tracking and just slap bad point cloud locations on top of good ones. Man was I disappointed. So disappointed I immediately bought this Einstar. I was so prepared to be disappointed again. I am like, it is a few years older and about the same price.... probably the same marketing BS that these Chinese scanner companies all pump out. But at least with amazon I can return it if it is crap. Wow was I surprised. Just finished my bumper scan and it was so easy! Completely professional results. Yes the tracking dots where still on there from my first attempt with the Revopoint Range.... also my bumper is dark gray shiny paint. I don't have any of the white 3d scanning powder yet. Even with all the obvious no no's of scanning = dark and shiny object in poor lighting... the tracking and scanning was amazing! It would effortlessly find where I had stopped and pick right back up if I moved around or got too close. Finally! A scanner that actually works and I don't have to sell a kidney to buy.Take a look at my bumper comparison pictures. The Range scan is pretty terrible, lots of incorrect data and took me probably 2-3 times longer to scan than with the Einstar. It drives me crazy the complete BS marketing these Chinese companies use. If you watch the Revopoint Range launch video it has a guy scanning his bright red painted sports car, no tracking dots, no white spray and has a beautiful 3d mesh model as a result. It also has a woman scanning a green couch and the finished 3d model looks amazing. There is absolutely no way that scanner can do any of that....You would need a $100k Creaform scanner to get those results. But stupid me I fell for the slick marketing and was like, well it is brand new, maybe the technology is finally trickling down and us poor folk can get something that is actually good? Hell no! It was all just a lie. But the Einstar, this scanner you could probably scan a whole car in a couple days with a ton of tracking dots and white powder scanning spray.I had a company scan a different bumper for me a few months ago. They used a Artec Leo ($30k scanner) outside in the sunlight with white spray and no tracking dots. The Artec leo literally took them 5 minutes but I would say the results are very similar. See the Einstar Vs Artec Leo comparison picture.To sum up this Einstar is simply amazing. The packaging is really professional. The software is far better than Revopoint. It really felt like I was getting a professional tool when I was opening the box and using it. As for the Revopoint I was like...man I paid $700 for this? Where the scanning technology is right now, there is no other scanner for under $1k that comes close. We are probably 5-10 years away before the technology of the metrology grade scanners that cost currently $100k make it into the consumer market. This Einstar is the perfect hobbyist tool and finally has solved a problem I have had for decades. How to easily translate the real world into the 3d world. It is something that most people will not understand. How difficult and time consuming it is to reverse engineer anything in the real world. Look at your keyboard, yeah it is a rectangle, two easy measurements there...but is it actually just a rectangle? Mine has a slightly sloped complex curve that your hands rest on. How do you measure that radius? Is it a radius?...no it is actually more like a spline....and on and on. It could take days or even weeks to hand measure something a scanner can do in seconds. If you go into 3d scanning expecting you are just going to wave around a magic wand for a couple minutes and your done....you are going to be disappointed. Just like I was with the Revopoint. But I am glad I had that experience because now I know how good this Einstar is. No it is not as easy to use as a $30,000 Artec Leo. You have to hook it up to your laptop and use tracking dots on large flat surfaces. But this Einstar gives you the best chance to get a usable 3d model at an insanely cheap price.

I've used the Revpoint scanner before, and that would be considered a competitor to the Einstar. That thing is a toy compared to the Einstar. I used much more expensive 3d scanners at my work, and it's pretty incredible how close in results you can get compared to them. I'd say more than enough resolution for 99% of people's needs. The interface is OK, it's got a few little workflow things that could be done better. But it all works well and with a bit of practice, you can get the job done. I'm guessing these will easily be fixed in an update anyways.The Einstar community on FB is fantastic, you can find many examples of incredible scans there. Entire cars, very accurate parts, small items etc. They can also help with any problems you may have.Every scanner under the Einstar is a toy IMHO and there is a HUGE jump in price to the next tier of 3D scanner quality. It's really in a sweet spot for quality/capability and price.