flatbed scanner for photos: recommendations?

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flacco - 20 Jan 2004 11:49 GMT

i have an archive of family photos that i'd like to scan - i started
with a microtek x6el, but wasn't too happy with the results.
fortuitously, the scanner died recently. i was hoping someone here
might have recommendations for a replacement?

my budget is around $500. the primary factor is picture quality, and
the ability to scan 8"x11" pages. scanning speed, bells/whistles/etc
are secondary.

i don't think i'd use it much once i'm finished with this archiving
project, but it would be nice if it were a good all-around scanner for
both photos and documents in case i need it in the future.

also, i'll be working under linux, but i can cross-check any
recommendations here against this list:

http://www.sane-project.org/sane-supported-devices.html

thanks in advance for your advice!

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Mac McDougald - 20 Jan 2004 21:31 GMT

> i have an archive of family photos that i'd like to scan - i started
> with a microtek x6el, but wasn't too happy with the results.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> thanks in advance for your advice!

Dunno why you didn't like your previous one, but really, for flat copy,
just about any current name brand flatbed will do. If you pay over $100
you're wasting money. I suppose all current scanners are at least 1200ppi
optical, but even that is overkill unless you are needing to scan very
tiny originals.
Just choose by preferred interface and your Linux compatibility.

Mac

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Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX - 24 Jan 2004 17:54 GMT

In one respect the best print scanner I had was an
antique HP 300 dpi SCSI scanner. There was something
about the way the lighting was arranged that allowed
a good scan of various non glossy photo prints.

Newer scanners I've tried register reflections off the
surface of the paper.

I've never read a discussion of this problem in a scanner review.

Signature

Chuck Forsberg caf@omen.com www.omen.com 503-614-0430
Developer of Industrial ZMODEM(Tm) for Embedded Applications
Omen Technology Inc "The High Reliability Software"
10255 NW Old Cornelius Pass Portland OR 97231 FAX 629-0665

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burpee - 17 Apr 2004 08:45 GMT

>i have an archive of family photos that i'd like to scan - i started
>with a microtek x6el, but wasn't too happy with the results.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
>thanks in advance for your advice!

As others have said, any flatbed would probably serve the
purpose. I have a MicroTek 6800 that I recently got, and it serves me
well for photos. I got it because it has the Digital Ice feature,
which is a real time saver if you're scanning old photos. It does
help clear up scratches, lint, tears, etc. While you could do it
yourself in Photoshop, having the scanner do it saves a lot of
time....especially when you lose almost no quality in the scan.
As for slides and negatives, well, I'd suggest a separate slide
scanner. No flatbed can match the quality of a slide/negative
scanner.(well, okay, maybe the Creo-Scitex can, but that's
$54,000.<g>)
The MicroTek 6800 can be had for around $270 if you shop around,
and a dedicated slide scanner......well, the Pacific Image line starts
at around $170 for an 1800 dpi slide scanner, so you might consider
buying both.
If you should decide to go for the 6800, try using it to scan
slides and negatives first, before buying the Pacific Image slide
scanner, then if it's not what you were hoping for, check out the
Pacific Image scanner.
Good luck on whatever you decide to get....

burpee

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