Revopoint Miraco Plus 3D Scanner review: better than all the rest?

Having given the Revopoint Miraco 4.5 out of 5 stars in 2024, I was excited to see whether the Miraco Plus would be worthy of a coveted 5 stars. With greater accuracy and the ability to scan larger objects, I was certainly hopeful.

The Miraco Plus ships with a photogrammetric metrology kit (PMK) which aims to build upon the structured infrared light system with quadruple depth cameras that was found on the original Miraco. It takes time to set these markers up but the expectation is that the result will be a more accurate scan and a quicker scanning process.

For the purposes of this review, I’m going to scan a range of different objects, from large to small. Read on to find out if the Miraco Plus will make it into our list of the best 3D scanners and maybe surpass the Shining 3D Einstar as the best 3D scanner for large projects.

Revopoint Miraco Plus Scanner review: Key specs

Price

At £1,726 / $1,979, the Miraco Plus will be too expensive for enthusiasts. It’s also £500 / $200 more expensive than the standard Miraco model and only worth paying more if you are scanning larger and more complex objects. If you’re looking for a more affordable entry-level alternative then we’d recommend either the Revopoint Pop 3 or the 3DMakerPro Moose.

Unboxing

The Revopoint Miraco Plus scanner is almost identical to the original Miraco. The 750g weight makes it super portable and can even be held with only one hand. The scanner is a cross between a traditional DSLR, minus the lens, and a smartphone device. It’s larger than a smartphone but the size means you can grip it with two hands for a much more stable scanning experience.

Scanned data is visible through a gorgeous 6-inch 2K backlit AMOLED touch-sensitive screen. The display is sizable enough to see what you're scanning and it even provides multiple views of what the various scanner cameras are recording. If you’d like more detail then you can always download RevoScan for a superior scanning experience.

The screen flips out on a top-mounted hinge which is particularly impressive, making it easier to work with. If you do need to scan yourself then you can even perform a selfie-scan by flipping the screen 180 degrees.

Moving away from the scanner itself, the Miraco Plus also ships with a PMK which offers a photogrammetric length accuracy of 0.02 mm + 0.05 mm x L (m) and is optimised for large objects. This makes it a one-stop solution for creating metrology-grade 3D models for inspection, reverse engineering, and other measurement applications. It comes in a dedicated metal toolbox and is both lightweight and portable.

As well as the dedicated PMK, the package includes a generous number of markers and marker pads. Additionally, you’ll find a small turntable contained in its own carry case although the case is really designed to hold the actual scanner. The turntable is powered with a USB-C to USB-A cable and offers the ability to rotate small objects at varying speeds.

This is a seriously well-built and generously accessoried 3D scanner. As an all-in-one solution, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything better.

Performance

Image 1 of 2

The scanner offers a variety of different settings that users can adjust before performing a scan. The first is to choose between the far and near modes. The former is ideal for scanning large objects such as cars and people whereas the latter is best for small objects or detailed areas on objects. I found that choosing the right one did indeed make a difference in the end result of the scan.

There is then the choice to scan using either the continuous or single shot mode. Most of the time I was able to capture the results I needed using the 20fps continuous mode but where I needed to capture more details and clearer textures, the single shot mode was far better. This was particularly noticeable in the crevices of objects and when viewing the resulting textures that were generated from the scan. When using this single-shot mode, all I’d recommend is making sure that you have a significant overlap between the frames otherwise I found that the scan can become a little patchy and inaccurate. Revopoint recommends at least 50% overlap.

While we’re on the subject of textures, the scanner is equipped with a 48 Megapixel RGB camera resolution which is the same as the original Miraco. A dedicated texture workflow will likely capture more detailed textures but there’s little that beats the speed and convenience of capturing both scan and textures in one step.

The Miraco Plus really comes into its own in terms of accuracy when scanning large objects. The PMK kit contains a range of markers which are quick and easy to apply to objects. I particularly loved the inclusion of magnetic coded targets which is ideal for use on steel, iron, and stainless steel. They also have the added benefit of being reusable.

Once markers have been placed, you’re now ready to perform a pre-scan of the global marker points. This enables the scanner to calculate the markers’ coordinates. I had no problems with the scanner picking up my markers.

The next step involved scanning the point cloud based on these global marker points. The scanner offers a high level of accuracy and tracking reliability thanks to this marker workflow. Unfortunately, it is more long-winded than just walking around an object while you capture the scan but there’s no getting around that. On a more positive note, this is a reliable workflow, especially when you become familiar with all the steps.

When a scan is complete, the Miraco Plus can take care of all the post-processing on the unit itself. This is incredibly convenient and I found the device to be surprisingly efficient, even with more complex captures. The software offers a one-tap edit process which creates the model automatically as well as a manual edit which lets you fine-tune the mesh creation process.

Who's it for?

The Revopoint Miraco Plus is aimed at professionals and very serious hobbyists. The inclusion of photogrammetric metrology capabilities makes it perfect for creatives wanting to scan large objects. It is equally adept at capturing small/medium objects which makes it a one-stop solution for those who don’t want to own different scanners for different-sized objects.

Buy it if...

• You want an all-in scanner that can capture small, medium, and large objects
• You want a display built into the scanner
• You need a high level of single frame accuracy

Don't buy it if...

• You’re looking for a budget-friendly entry level 3D scanner
• You want a quick and easy solution to 3D scanning