AgIn5S8 thin films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition onto glass substrates. The AgIn5S8 crystals, as target material, were prepared by Bridgman growth (vertical variant). Crystal structure, chemical composition, surface morphology of laser-deposited films and transmittance and reflectance spectra in the 0.4-2.5-mu m wavelength range have been investigated. Band-to-band transition energies were calculated from the optical spectra in the region of the fundamental absorption edge. The obtained results are compared to existing data of single-crystalline AgIn5S8 bulk material. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.