Recommendations on a quality scanner - SBB Digital Scrapbooking Forums | Scrapbook-Bytes

shand · #1 (**permalink**) 03-16-2005

Now that I've started doing LOs for others, I find myself doing a lot of scanning and needing a better quality scanner. I've done lots of research and can't figure out what is the best option. I currently have a nice HP all in one, but it's time to move up.

I want the best quality scans I can get - knowing I'll still have to do work on the image, but hopefully reduce the amount of clean up. I want a scanner only - time to keep a printer seperatly. Not sure if I really need the ability to scan negatives / transparencies.

Suggestions?

andyapc · #2 (**permalink**) 03-16-2005

I have the CanoScan LiDe 80. It scans beautifully. I'm sure it came with the slide/negative adapter but, even though it's been a couple of months, I haven't taken those items out of the box yet as I've had no need for them! The best thing about this scanner is I can scan multiple pics and it creates separate files for each. That's an awesome feature!

shand · #3 (**permalink**) 03-16-2005

Andy, that's awesome... so you can just line up several photos on the bed and it "auto magically" knows to seperate them? That alone would be a time saver and probably worth the bucks.

PamSav · #4 (**permalink**) 03-17-2005

I've recently bought an Epson Perfection 4180 Photo Scanner (bit of a mouthful that name !) It also separates multiple photos into separate files when you scan them together, it really speeds up the scanning process. It comes with 3 different sized slide/negative adapters which give great results from the negatives I've tried with it. It was cheaper than the professional version of the Perfection range and the only difference I could see was that the professional version is bundled with software I already own. The only downside is it's a little noisy.

Doris · #5 (**permalink**) 03-17-2005

Purchased an Espon 4180 about a month ago. Love it. As another poster said, you can scan slides or negatives also. Haven't done slides yet, but have done the negatives. Used negatives from 1975 and they turned out WONDERFUL (okay, I'm dating myself, what can I say, many of you probably weren't born then) - they are better the pics I have in my album that's for sure. I didn't install the editing software for it as I'm into PSP 9 now a days. Previously used Adobe. The version that comes with the scanner is 2.0, which I was disappointed about because I believe 3 is out there. But more than likely I would not have installed 3 either at this point in time, so it was a none issue. Seems like a lot of the people on this site have the scanner above this one which runs around $500, but figured I could get by with this one. If you go to the Espon site it shows you the differences. I read up on the Cannons and the Espons. I had wanted to look at one of the Cannon's, but none of the Best Buys, Office Max's, Comp USA's, Office Depot had that model. I was excited about laying mutliple items on the bed and it separating them into separate files. Works great. My first scanner cost $600 and only scanned B & W - technology has come a long way! Lost track of how many scanners I've had since then. Anyway....I love my Espon 4180! Good luck figuring out what you want. HAVE FUN!!!

Tracey R (Haley64) · #6 (**permalink**) 03-18-2005

Doris..Thank you for such a good overview of this scanner!! I need to get a new one pretty soon, but I don't want to give up an arm & leg to buy one!! LOL
I just need one that is good, it doesn't need to do tricks!! I see it is selling for around 199 at Amazon with additional discounts!!

Pesto126 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-19-2005

any newer scanner out there today will meet your needs.. If you need to scan film negatives/slides, then just look for one with this attachment. my 3 year old HP works wonderfully and I just bought a canon all in one fax/scanner that is ok too. Don't spend more than $100 for one.. you won't use it all that often and when you do.. they will all scan the same. Don't be fooled by the resolution sizes.. you will most likely use the mid range or low range settings which work just fine. Good luck

shand · #8 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005

Just wish I had some way to test these scanners out so I could see the quality I'll be working with in PSCS. Have you had any problems with the definition quality when you enlarge them for a LO? Sometimes I only use a small section of the photo in a LO and want to make sure that the quality is there...

The scanner I have now ends up pixelating and then I have to spend time smoothing and sharpening.