SCANNERS

Nikon Coolscan V LS-50 ED

EDITORS RATING

8.2

SPECS

Film scanner (35 mm) - Desktop, 4000 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Outstanding film scans; great software; easy to set up; intuitive scanning interface.

THE BAD

Manual focus is hard to use.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Unless your stuff appears regularly in National Geographic, this may be the only film scanner you'll ever need.

REVIEWED: 14-Oct-2004 02:33 PM PDT

Epson Perfection 1670 photo scanner

EDITORS CHOICE
1

EDITORS RATING

8.2

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 1600 dpi x 3200 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Excellent photo and graphic scans; built-in film- and slide-scanning capability.

THE BAD

Lightweight software package; bland design.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Epson's Perfection 1670 Photo scanner produces great photo scans for a decent price. It's a solid choice for everyday home use.

REVIEWED: 25-Nov-2003 08:24 AM PST

Epson Perfection V700 photo scanner

EDITORS RATING

8.0

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 6400 dpi x 9600 dpi, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Single-pass

THE GOOD

Speedy; full-featured hardware and software; FireWire and USB 2.0 connections.

THE BAD

No automatic document feeder option; large; a bit loud; driver has some annoying interface quirks; frequently pauses in midscan to warm up.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The Epson Perfection V700 Photo makes an excellent choice for a deep-pocketed photo hobbyist or a pro who needs to scan originals in a mixture of sizes.

REVIEWED: 12-Oct-2006 12:16 PM PDT

Epson Perfection 4990 photo scanner

EDITORS RATING

8.0

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 4800 dpi x 9600 dpi, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Single-pass

THE GOOD

Very easy to set up; solid flatbed scan quality; great value.

THE BAD

Soft detail on film scans.

THE BOTTOM LINE

A versatile and inexpensive model for producing high-quality scans of photographs and film.

REVIEWED: 29-Mar-2005 12:46 PM PST

Epson Perfection 4990 Pro

EDITORS RATING

8.0

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 4800 dpi x 9600 dpi, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Single-pass

THE GOOD

Very easy to set up; solid flatbed scan quality; great value.

THE BAD

Soft detail on film scans.

THE BOTTOM LINE

A versatile and inexpensive model for producing high-quality scans of photographs and film.

REVIEWED: 29-Mar-2005 12:46 PM PST

NeatReceipts Scanalizer Professional 2.5

EDITORS RATING

7.9

SPECS

Sheetfed scanner - Portable, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Simple, intuitive software interface; can export files to Excel, Quicken, Acrobat, and more; helpful, well-written documentation and user tutorials.

THE BAD

Software doesn't recognize handwritten or faded receipts; more expensive than a basic flatbed scanner; shuns Mac users.

THE BOTTOM LINE

This compact, intelligently designed sheet-fed scanner almost makes it a pleasure to generate expense reports and calculate itemized income tax deductions.

REVIEWED: 24-Mar-2005 01:49 PM PST

Konica Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400 II

EDITORS RATING

7.7

SPECS

Film scanner (35 mm) - Desktop, 5400 dpi x 5400 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Excellent performance for a consumer model; first-rate, easy-to-use software; fast scanning at all resolutions; relatively high resolution.

THE BAD

Scans 35mm-format originals only; no batch-feeder option.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The Dimage Scan Elite 5400 II is a good choice for photographers who need to generate high-quality digital images from 35mm slides and negatives.

REVIEWED: 07-Sep-2005 01:37 PM PDT

HP Scanjet G4050

EDITORS RATING

7.5

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 4800 dpi x 9600 dpi, Hi-Speed USB

THE GOOD

Excellent scans, especially of very saturated originals; very nice industrial design.

THE BAD

Only supports sRGB color space; random color registration problems on slide scans; weak driver; many operations are very slow.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The HP Scanjet G4050 is a solid scanner that could use a driver overhaul and a better means of handling slides.

REVIEWED: 05-Jan-2007 12:39 PM PST

Epson Perfection 4870 Photo

EDITORS RATING

7.5

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 4800 dpi x 9600 dpi, IEEE 1394 (FireWire) / Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Very easy to set up; solid flatbed scan quality; great value.

THE BAD

Mediocre film scans.

THE BOTTOM LINE

As long as you don't need to scan film, this flatbed scanner should suit you fine.

REVIEWED: 19-Oct-2004 01:18 PM PDT

Epson Perfection 3170

EDITORS RATING

7.5

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 3200 dpi x 6400 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Produces high-quality scans; easy to install; comes with adapters for slides and 35mm or medium-format film; nice price; lets you save scanning presets.

THE BAD

Annoying software package; no manual; scans slowly at highest optical resolution.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The Epson Perfection 3170 scans like a champ--and it's cheap, too.

REVIEWED: 13-Apr-2004 08:25 AM PDT

Epson Perfection 2580 photo color scanner

EDITORS RATING

7.4

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 2400 dpi x 4800 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Decent scans for the price; easy to set up and to use; convenient 35mm negative autoloader.

THE BAD

Weak film-scan quality.

THE BOTTOM LINE

A nice buy for the penny-pinching hobbyist/amateur photographer who has moderate scanning needs.

REVIEWED: 13-Oct-2004 02:15 PM PDT

OneTouch 7300 USB Scanner

EDITORS RATING

7.4

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 1200 dpi x 1200 dpi, USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Thin and light; gets power from USB port; makes good scans all around; lots of configuration options; inexpensive.

THE BAD

No film or slide scanning; lid doesn't come off all the way; Windows only.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Mobile professionals and students will love the low price, the portability, and the quality results of Visioneer's OneTouch 7300 flatbed scanner.

REVIEWED: 20-Jan-2004 08:40 AM PST

HP Scanjet 4670

EDITORS RATING

7.4

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 2400 dpi x 2400 dpi, Hi-Speed USB

THE GOOD

Sleek and stylish; scans silently; innovative design; easy to set up and use.

THE BAD

Grainy color reproduction.

THE BOTTOM LINE

HP's Scanjet 4670 is a must-have for those who want unique and stylish hardware. If you're OK with mundane, though, stick with the Epson Perfection 1670 Photo.

REVIEWED: 25-Nov-2003 08:20 AM PST

Canon CanoScan 3200F

EDITORS RATING

7.2

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 1200 dpi x 2400 dpi, Hi-Speed USB

THE GOOD

Bold, colorful design; good color-photo and graphics scanning.

THE BAD

Poor-quality text scans.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The vibrant Canon CanoScan 3200F is a great choice for scanning photos and graphics, but look elsewhere for high-quality text scanning.

REVIEWED: 25-Nov-2003 08:28 AM PST

CardScan Executive 700c

EDITORS RATING

7.1

SPECS

Sheetfed scanner - Portable, USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Simple setup; compact; speedy; full-featured, easy-to-use interface; compatible with Windows and PDA programs.

THE BAD

Inaccurate character recognition; expensive; incompatible with Macs.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you can afford $249.99 to avoid typing your contacts into your address book or PDA, this machine will keep your wrists rested.

REVIEWED: 23-Nov-2004 02:07 PM PST

Konica Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400

EDITORS RATING

7.0

SPECS

Film scanner (35 mm) - Desktop, 5400 dpi x 5400 dpi, IEEE 1394 (FireWire) / Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

High resolution; solid scan quality.

THE BAD

Hard-to-use software interface needs work; slow scan-adjustment tools; lacks version of Digital ICE.

THE BOTTOM LINE

This is a great entry-level film scanner for advanced amateurs, but it's not quite ready for pros.

REVIEWED: 28-Oct-2004 09:22 AM PDT

HP Scanjet 5530 Photosmart

EDITORS RATING

7.0

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 2400 dpi x 4800 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Scans stacks of photos effortlessly; offers good photo and color-graphic scans; fast opaque scans.

THE BAD

Huge footprint; unintuitive setup; exceedingly slow translucent scans.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you need to scan lots of photos and negatives--and you have plenty of desktop space--the Scanjet 5530 is a good choice.

REVIEWED: 12-Feb-2004 08:09 AM PST

CanoScan LiDE 50 Color Image Scanner

EDITORS RATING

7.0

SPECS

Flatbed scanner, 1200 dpi x 2400 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Good-looking; easy to operate; includes plenty of software extras.

THE BAD

Mediocre scans; no slide or film scanning; USB only.

THE BOTTOM LINE

This slim, snazzy-looking scanner performs basic scanning chores satisfactorily, but look elsewhere if you demand crisp color photographic reproduction.

REVIEWED: 21-Nov-2003 08:49 AM PST

Canon CanoScan 9950F

EDITORS RATING

6.8

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 4800 dpi x 9600 dpi, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Single-pass

THE GOOD

Adequate all-in-one scanner; quiet operation

THE BAD

Spartan feature set; lackluster scans.

THE BOTTOM LINE

An OK scanner for an OK price.

REVIEWED: 21-Oct-2004 10:35 AM PDT

Canon CanoScan LiDE 80

EDITORS RATING

6.8

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 2400 dpi x 2400 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Sharp design; scans negatives; thin and light.

THE BAD

Doesn't scan slides; so-so scan quality; slightly pricey.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you're looking for a portable scanner that doesn't skimp on style, you'll like the razor-thin Canon CanoScan LiDE 80.

REVIEWED: 21-Nov-2003 08:52 AM PST

OneTouch 9320 USB Scanner

EDITORS RATING

6.5

SPECS

Flatbed scanner, 3200 dpi x 6400 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Solid design; speedy installation; easy to use.

THE BAD

So-so text scanning; weak software package.

THE BOTTOM LINE

For a scanner with superhigh optical resolution, Visioneer's OneTouch 9320 makes merely OK photo and text reproductions.

REVIEWED: 25-Nov-2003 08:15 AM PST

Planon System Solutions DocuPen R700

EDITORS RATING

5.8

SPECS

Hand-held scanner - Handheld, 200 dpi x 200 dpi, USB, Hand-held

THE GOOD

Easy to use; ultraportable; scans fast.

THE BAD

Poor scan quality; expensive; doesn't work with Macs; scans in black and white only; text is illegible at small sizes; middling OCR software.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you need an ultralight scanner that slips inside a deep pocket, dig deep into those pockets to splurge on the DocuPen.

REVIEWED: 27-May-2005 03:14 PM PDT

Canon CanoScan LiDE 35

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 1200 dpi x 2400 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

REVIEWED: 13-Jul-2004 12:20 PM PDT

Canon CanoScan LiDE 8400F

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 3200 dpi x 6400 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

REVIEWED: 13-Jul-2004 12:20 PM PDT

Planon System Solutions DocuPen DocuPen (DPEN-BW)

SPECS

Hand-held scanner - Handheld, 200 dpi x 200 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Hand-held

REVIEWED: 13-Jan-2004 09:19 AM PST

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Product Reviews

The Good, The Bad, And The Bottom Line

Percentage of wireless customers who use their cell phones to take pictures

Nikon Coolscan V LS-50 ED

EDITORS RATING

SPECS

Film scanner (35 mm) - Desktop, 4000 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Outstanding film scans; great software; easy to set up; intuitive scanning interface.

THE BAD

Manual focus is hard to use.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Unless your stuff appears regularly in National Geographic, this may be the only film scanner you'll ever need.

REVIEWED: 14-Oct-2004 02:33 PM PDT

Epson Perfection 1670 photo scanner

EDITORS CHOICE 1

EDITORS RATING

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 1600 dpi x 3200 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Excellent photo and graphic scans; built-in film- and slide-scanning capability.

THE BAD

Lightweight software package; bland design.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Epson's Perfection 1670 Photo scanner produces great photo scans for a decent price. It's a solid choice for everyday home use.

REVIEWED: 25-Nov-2003 08:24 AM PST

Epson Perfection V700 photo scanner

EDITORS RATING

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 6400 dpi x 9600 dpi, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Single-pass

THE GOOD

Speedy; full-featured hardware and software; FireWire and USB 2.0 connections.

THE BAD

No automatic document feeder option; large; a bit loud; driver has some annoying interface quirks; frequently pauses in midscan to warm up.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The Epson Perfection V700 Photo makes an excellent choice for a deep-pocketed photo hobbyist or a pro who needs to scan originals in a mixture of sizes.

REVIEWED: 12-Oct-2006 12:16 PM PDT

Epson Perfection 4990 photo scanner

EDITORS RATING

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 4800 dpi x 9600 dpi, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Single-pass

THE GOOD

Very easy to set up; solid flatbed scan quality; great value.

THE BAD

Soft detail on film scans.

THE BOTTOM LINE

A versatile and inexpensive model for producing high-quality scans of photographs and film.

REVIEWED: 29-Mar-2005 12:46 PM PST

Epson Perfection 4990 Pro

EDITORS RATING

SPECS

Flatbed scanner - Desktop, 4800 dpi x 9600 dpi, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Single-pass

THE GOOD

Very easy to set up; solid flatbed scan quality; great value.

THE BAD

Soft detail on film scans.

THE BOTTOM LINE

A versatile and inexpensive model for producing high-quality scans of photographs and film.

REVIEWED: 29-Mar-2005 12:46 PM PST

NeatReceipts Scanalizer Professional 2.5

EDITORS RATING

SPECS

Sheetfed scanner - Portable, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Simple, intuitive software interface; can export files to Excel, Quicken, Acrobat, and more; helpful, well-written documentation and user tutorials.

THE BAD

Software doesn't recognize handwritten or faded receipts; more expensive than a basic flatbed scanner; shuns Mac users.

THE BOTTOM LINE

This compact, intelligently designed sheet-fed scanner almost makes it a pleasure to generate expense reports and calculate itemized income tax deductions.

REVIEWED: 24-Mar-2005 01:49 PM PST

Konica Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400 II

EDITORS RATING

SPECS

Film scanner (35 mm) - Desktop, 5400 dpi x 5400 dpi, Hi-Speed USB, Single-pass

THE GOOD

Excellent performance for a consumer model; first-rate, easy-to-use software; fast scanning at all resolutions; relatively high resolution.

THE BAD

Scans 35mm-format originals only; no batch-feeder option.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The Dimage Scan Elite 5400 II is a good choice for photographers who need to generate high-quality digital images from 35mm slides and negatives.

EDITORS CHOICE
1