Recommended Scanner?

[Steve Turner]

What, in your opinion, is the best scanner to buy if, primarily, someone
wants to scan in old photographs (some badly faded with time) so that you
can create a viewing CD-DVD. Thanks.

 

[tomm42]

What, in your opinion, is the best scanner to buy if, primarily, someone
wants to scan in old photographs (some badly faded with time) so that you
can create a viewing CD-DVD. Thanks.

If the photos are paper not ttransparencies or negatives almost any
scanner will do the job. I'm liking Epsons right now but I have had
good experiences with UMAX. Cheap scanners are just that ceap and you
get what you pay for. If you don't have transparencies I look at the
Epson V500, it will also do 35mm and I believe 2 1/4 transie. If you
have a large number of transparencies or negatives go to the Epson
V700. Quite a bit more $ but a higher level scanner.

Tom

 

[Steve Turner]

If the photos are paper not ttransparencies or negatives almost any
scanner will do the job. I'm liking Epsons right now but I have had
good experiences with UMAX. Cheap scanners are just that ceap and you
get what you pay for. If you don't have transparencies I look at the
Epson V500, it will also do 35mm and I believe 2 1/4 transie. If you
have a large number of transparencies or negatives go to the Epson
V700. Quite a bit more $ but a higher level scanner.

Tom

Thanks, Tom. What do you think of the Hewlett Packard Scanjet 5590 Digital
Flatbed Scanner? I like the idea of a sheet feeder, not for pictures
obviously.

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=&webid=573062&affixedcode=WW

 

[CSM1]

Thanks, Tom. What do you think of the Hewlett Packard Scanjet 5590 Digital
Flatbed Scanner? I like the idea of a sheet feeder, not for pictures
obviously.

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=&webid=573062&affixedcode=WW

My personal opinion, HP scanners are crap.

I use Canon Scanners.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndex1Act&fcategoryid=104

Go for the Film and Negative scanners even though you don't have film to
scan.
Those scanners are better scanners in that they use CCD sensors.

This is the one I go for:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=120&modelid=15561

NewEgg sells them a bit cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16838111015

This is a comparison between a CCD and A CIS sensor.
http://www.carlmcmillan.com/DOF/DepthofField.htm

Simple test but effective.

 

[Steve Turner]

Wow. I really appreciate all this! Years ago I bought an HP Scanjet 6300c
and it was painfully slow. I didn't ge that much use out of it actually and
at the time could have used a document feeder but not so much now. I'm
learning more about scanners now. The 6300c has got something wrong with the
belt but it isn't worth my while to fix it, even though I paid almost 600
CAD for it. They're advertised on eBay for something like 15 bucks now!

 

[SF-East Bay'r]

My personal opinion, HP scanners are crap.

I use Canon Scanners.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndex1Act&fcategoryid=104

Go for the Film and Negative scanners even though you don't have film to
scan.
Those scanners are better scanners in that they use CCD sensors.

This is the one I go for:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=120&modelid=15561

NewEgg sells them a bit cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16838111015

This is a comparison between a CCD and A CIS sensor.
http://www.carlmcmillan.com/DOF/DepthofField.htm

Simple test but effective.

Do you have a feeling for how the Canon 8800F compares to the Epson V500?
Thanks.
another Tom

 

[CSM1]

Do you have a feeling for how the Canon 8800F compares to the Epson V500?
Thanks.
another Tom

The Canon 8800F and the Epson V500 are very similar.

The Epson V500 has a max optical resolution of 6400 DPI.

The Canon 8800F has a max optical resolution of 4800 DPI.

Those two specs are only important if you are scanning film.
For paper you almost never need more than about 600 DPI.

If you compare to a fax machine, you only need 200 DPI.

Personally I like Canon much better that Epson. I have had bad experience
with the Epson line of printers, so I am prejudiced against the Epson line.

 

[SF-East Bay'r]

The Canon 8800F and the Epson V500 are very similar.

The Epson V500 has a max optical resolution of 6400 DPI.

The Canon 8800F has a max optical resolution of 4800 DPI.

Those two specs are only important if you are scanning film.
For paper you almost never need more than about 600 DPI.

If you compare to a fax machine, you only need 200 DPI.

Personally I like Canon much better that Epson. I have had bad experience
with the Epson line of printers, so I am prejudiced against the Epson
line.

I will be doing a lot of slide scanning, but 4800 should be OK. My old film
scanner (an HP S20) did 2400 max and the slides looked good on the DVD I
made.
Tom

 

[CSM1]

I will be doing a lot of slide scanning, but 4800 should be OK. My old
film scanner (an HP S20) did 2400 max and the slides looked good on the
DVD I made.
Tom

If you have lot of slides to scan, neither the Canon 8800F or the Epson V500
are great choices.

Slides are best scanned with a dedicated film scanner, such as one of the
Nikon line of film scanners.
http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Film-Scanners/index.page

Purchase at:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

If money is a problem, the Canon 8800F will work.

 

[SF-East Bay'r]

If you have lot of slides to scan, neither the Canon 8800F or the Epson
V500 are great choices.

Slides are best scanned with a dedicated film scanner, such as one of the
Nikon line of film scanners.
http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Film-Scanners/index.page

Purchase at:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

If money is a problem, the Canon 8800F will work.

I'm retired, so I have more time than money. I know you are not a fan of HP
scanners, but at least some of their flatbeds have a 12 slide holder for
scanning. I wonder why most (all?) of the other companies seem to limit the
holder to 4 slides.

I'm kind of a Canon fan myself. I have had a CanoScan 1240U for over 6 years
and it has worked perfectly all the time. Even works on my Vista system
without a hitch.
Tom