Price of A3 scanners

[tk]

This query has probably been aired before, but can someone tell me why A3
scanners are so expensive? When I can buy a top-class 48 bit A4 scanner
(Expression 4870) for around £300, how come the 1640XL (42 bit) is priced at
well over a grand??

 

[tomcas]

Supply and demand.

 

[Leonard Evens]

This query has probably been aired before, but can someone tell me why A3
scanners are so expensive? When I can buy a top-class 48 bit A4 scanner
(Expression 4870) for around £300, how come the 1640XL (42 bit) is priced at
well over a grand??

It is mainly a matter of demand. Scanner manufacturers work harder at
providing for a larger market. But the 1640 XL, in addition to
scanning A4 will also scan much larger transparencies than the 4870, and
that requires more expensive technology.