Top Scanners by Consumer Reviewers

Epson Perfection V300 Photo Flatbed Scanner (4800x9600, USB, PC/Mac)

515 Reviews

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	Price: $96.95
	Price: $79.99
1st Run	Price: $100.31
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Pros: Lightweight. Scan resolution is comparable to higher priced models.
Cons: Limited film strip scanning capabilities

Review: A versatile scanner that can handle flat photos as well as larger, three-dimensional objects, the Epson Perfection V300 features a LED light source that let you get up and running in no time. The V300 scans up to 4800 dpi, a capability that is usually found in flatbed scanners that cost almost twice the price. In addition to the ability to handle documents and photos, color and black and white, from 8.5 to 11.7 inches, the V300 can also produce excellent scans of books and almost any other 3-D object that you can place on the glass. The provided software is easy to install and lets you choose the amount of control you want over the final output, from an auto-correct mode to advance settings that you can adjust yourself. The V300 also has shortcut controls that let you scan items to an email, convert them to a PDF and to a printer and/or file. While the V300 can scan 35mm slides and filmstrips as well, it can only handle four frames at a time.

Epson Perfection V500 Photo Flatbed Scanner (6400x9600, USB 2.0, PC/Mac)

460 Reviews

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	Price: $159.99
	Price: $157.79
1st Run	Price: $167.06
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Pros: High resolution scans of prints and filmstrips. Fast start-up.
Cons: Lack of substantial office software.

Review: The Epson V500 offers a whopping 6,400 ppi scanning resolution that makes it perfect for scanning photos and film and producing high-quality digital versions. Its LED light source means warm up time is virtually eliminated. Included with the V500 is Photoshop Elements, which gives any user access to high-end photo adjustment features, and ABBYY FineReader 6.0 Sprint for OCR scanning of documents and converting text into an editable format. But it is the scanning capabilities that make the V500 a standout. Install the included software and select the level of editing control you wish: Automatic, Home and Professional. Each level gives you the option of employing such features as dust-removal, color restoration and (in Home and Professional level) backlight correction. Controls are also located on the front panel that allows the user to scan photos and documents and convert them into a PDF, send an instant email of a scanned document) or copy the scan to your computer or printer. Scan speed on the V500 is comparable to similar scanners: about 25-30 seconds for a color photo at 300 ppi. And while the V500 does an adequate job scanning text, users who desire to scan multiple pages of text must purchase a separate automatic document feeds for just under $200. Otherwise, you'll have to place each page on the glass by hand, one at a time. But the V500 is, first and foremost, a photo scanner and for that purpose it performs more than admirably.

Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 Sheetfed Scanner (600x600, USB 2.0, PC/Mac)

342 Reviews

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Popularity :

	Price: $278.48
	Price: $260.99
	Price: $269.99
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Pros: Small footprint, Supports duplex printing, Easy to use
Cons: No travel case, 10-page limit

Review: The ScanSnap S1300 is the smallest in Fujitsu's line of multi-sheet scanners. It features an automatic document feeder with a 10-sheet capacity and a total of four scanning modes: Auto, Color, Grayscale and Monochrome. In addition to scanning up to 8 double sided documents per minute, it is also capable of transforming them into editable text or searchable PDF files. You can even scan business cards using the included software. This portable scanner is compatible with most operating systems including PC and Mac. Unlike other scanners, it offers flexibility and portability with its two power options. You can use the supplied AC adapter when you're at home or simply connect it to your USB 2.0 port when you're on the road. In terms of operation, it is straightforward. There is a scan button which lets you accomplish various tasks such as Scan to Folder, Scan to Email, Scan to Print, Scan to Word, Scan to Excel and Scan Business Card. However, we would like to see a few more buttons for quicker and simpler menu navigation. Due to its 10-page limit, the Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 is not recommended for heavy use. It also doesn't come with a case which can be handy when you travel but the good thing is that it provides convenience and mobility compared to standard scanners. Most importantly, it produces high-quality documents and boasts a compact size which makes it a great addition to your workspace.

Epson Perfection V600 Photo Flatbed Scanner (6400x9600, USB 2.0, PC/Mac)

213 Reviews

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1st Run	Price: $200.52
	Price: $179.99
	Price: $199.99
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Pros: No warm-up time, Inexpensive, Excellent output
Cons: Outdated version of Adobe Photoshop Elements

Review: The V600 by Epson is a great choice for the budget-minded. It boasts four dedicated buttons which allow you to quickly scan, copy, scan to email and create PDF files. Thanks to its ABBYY FineReader Sprint software, it also has the ability to turn your documents into various formats. This energy-efficient scanner provides crystal clear images with its 6400 x 9600 dpi resolution. It enables you to scan documents and photos from film and negatives for up to 17" x 22" and offers faster scanning than any of its competitors with its ReadyScan LED Technology. Installation was a snap to do. Just plug in the USB cable, turn the unit on and install the included software. On the other hand, its film holder could be further improved for an easier and quicker operation. It would also be great if it ships with the current version of Adobe's Photoshop Elements rather than version 7. The Epson Perfection V600 comes with 35mm slides and 6x22cm Medium-format Film Holders. With Epson's Easy Photo Fix, Digital Ice and Adobe Photoshop Elements, you can easily remove dust and scratches, fix the damages on old photos and bring them back to life. Overall, it produces high-quality scans at a relatively low price and it offers usability and features found on more expensive scanners.

Canon CanoScan LiDE 210 Flatbed Scanner

144 Reviews

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	Price: $99.99
	Price: $84.95
1st Run	Price: $99.04
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Pros: Portable and has a small footprint, USB powered and energy saving, Very high scanning rates
Cons: Lacks depth of field, Software has some unneeded programs, Only scans up to 8.5" by 11.7"

Review: The two best things about the Canon Canoscan LiDE210 Flatbed Scanner are its size and the fact that it draws power from a standard USB port which it also uses for data thus, eliminating the need for a power source nearby to plug into and also reducing the wiring around your workstation. Measuring 9.9" in width, 14.4" deep and 1.6" in height, this scanner is completely portable and can fit into a larger laptop bag with no problem, making it a great imaging solution for professionals on field assignments. With regards to power consumption, since it uses three-color LEDs as its main scanning element instead of fluorescent tubes, it draws much less power, peaking at a max consumption of 2.5 watts. There is virtually no warm-up time, also because of the LED scanning element. That is not all there is to the LiDE210, though. It may be small but it can scan documents and photos as good as a traditional scanner. Maximum color resolutions of 4800 X 4800 and a 48-bit color depth will do for everyday purposes but this product can interpolate those figures to an astounding 19,200 X 19,200 DPI using its software. It also scans in 16-bit grayscale and monochrome. It is very user-friendly, having buttons that automate the scanning process if you are scanning into the more common image file types as well as PDF. For further automation, an Auto Scan mode does all the work from selecting the type of source document to cropping to auto-saving into the appropriate format. The advanced Z-Lid of this scanner accommodates thicker media like books. The reduced height also works to its advantage in this respect. This unit can scan in one of three possible positions: portrait, landscape and even upright. On the contrary, there are a few disadvantages. For one thing, while drawing power from USB is definitely convenient, it's only good for scanning a few documents and not for heavy batch work when running off batteries. It also has excellent scanning of documents, but lacks in depth of field, which makes it not suitable for 3D scanning. The software supporting the scanner is a little cluttered and tricky to navigate, but put it on the most basic settings and it can be understood. It also has some extra programs but it provides the option to only install the essentials. Lastly, the Canoscan LiDE210 Flatbed Scanner is limited to scanning a maximum document size of only 8.5" X 11.7".

Epson Perfection V700 Photo Flatbed Scanner (6400 dpi Optical - USB, FireWire)

121 Reviews

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	Price: $558.95
	Price: $578.01
1st Run	Price: $575.42
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Pros: High quality, Good for photos or document scanning, Easy to use, Simple to install, Works well
Cons: Expensive, Some users experienced problems with support, Takes time to warm up,

Review: If you need high quality scans of photos, negatives or other documents, the Epson Perfection V700is a great choice. Priced higher than most scanners, it has a lot of features and is built to last. It also remains relatively simple to use and is embedded with Epson's Exclusive Dual Lens System. Offering a high 6400 dpi resolution, it delivers the highest possible quality for your photos and other documents. The built in 8" x 10" transparency unit supports a wide variety of sizes including 35 mm film strips, 35 mm mounted slides, Medium format strips, 4" x 5" and 8" x 10" film. For easy image enhancement, this flatbed color image scanner is integrated with Digital ICE technology. In addition to Epson Copy Utility and Epson Scan with Epson Easy Photo Fix technology, you also get other software such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, LaserSoft Imaging SilverFast SE6 and ABBYY FineReader Sprint Plus OCR. The bundled software is not the greatest out there but it enables you to get the job done. It is also possible to use other software to increase productivity. Installation and connectivity-wise, it is fairly easy as it has a FireWire and USB 2.0 interface and it supports major operating systems including Mac and Windows. It even comes supplied with a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable, an AC adapter and a power cable. In conclusion, while there are cheaper alternatives than the Epson Perfection V700, it is tough to beat. It can handle almost anything from organizing photos to scanning slides and negatives from years gone by.

Brother DS600 Handheld Scanner (48-bit Color - 8-bit Grayscale - 600dpi Optical - USB)

145 Reviews

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Popularity :

	Price: $149.99
	Price: $149.99
	Price: $149.99
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Pros: Compact, Inexpensive, Solid performance, Easy to setup, No power supply needed
Cons: Speed is not the fastest, Can't scan 11" x 17" documents and pages from books, magazines and newspaper

Review: At nearly half the price and size of standard scanners, the Brother DSmobile 600 combines innovative design and versatility. It boasts a speed of up to 3 pages per minute in color, 5 pages per minute in gray scale and 5 pages per minute in black and white. It also enables you to organize and scan up to 8.5" x 14" documents with optical resolution of up to 600 dpi. You can even save your scanned documents in different file formats including JPG and TIFF. Measuring just about 11" long and weighing merely 12.2oz or 345g, you can easily slip it into your bag and bring it anywhere you go. No separate power supply is needed since it draws power from your PC's USB port. This handheld scanner is eco-friendly and cost-effective. It consumes less power compared to other models. It only uses 2.0W when operating, 0.2W in standby mode and 0.01W in sleep mode. With regards to set-up, it is a cinch to do. Just connect the device to your computer using the detachable USB cable and install the drivers. It is suitable for use with Windows 7, Vista and XP and even includes DSmobileSCAN II and PageManager Version 7 software. Furthermore, it comes with a protective case for traveling, 1 Cleaning Sheet, 2 Calibration Sheets and 2 Photo Sleeves for scanning pictures. The Brother DSmobile 600 is armed with everything you need to start being organized. While its speed is not the fastest and it is not capable of scanning 11" x 17" documents and pages from books, magazines and newspaper, it is still a solid device with solid functionality.