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Recommened Cheap Color Scanner

kuphryn

Senior member
Hi.

I often scan color photographs, magazines and other photo sources. I would use a friend's Epson color scanner. I would like to buy one soon. I believe he bought his Epson scanner for around $180.

Current, what is the best color scanner for under $200? Does HP make better color scanners than Epson?

Thanks,
Kuphryn
 
I know someone who had a some major problems with an Epson scanner a while back. I don't know much more than that about them. I have a Canon N650U and I'm very happy with it. It's small, fast, and quite. It was $100 about 1.5 years ago.
 
I got an artec scanner from staples for $20 after rebate and it works pretty well for being so cheap. If you are doing professional scanning it's not for you, but if you are just sending some pics to friends/relatives over email it's a great tool.
 
The Microtek ScanMaker 4900 is an excellent sub $200 scanner. I've only scanned a few materials yet, but they look gorgeous. I scan cels of cartoons & anime for show and sell/trade for my sister, and she loves it as well. It was a huge upgrade from this ye olde Umax SCSI scanner I had. It comes with an adaptor for 35mm slides and negatives to boot. You can find tons of info by Googling.
 
Okay.

I am interested in these scanners.

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Canon CanoScan D1250U2F USB Flatbed Scanner - $128.94

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...how=-submittime

HP ScanJet 3570 Scanner - $149.99

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...3732765-9188641

Hewlett Packard ScanJet 5400cse Color Scanner - $199.94

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...3732765-9188641

Epson Perfection 1650 Flatbed Scanner - $134.64

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...e&s=electronics

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HP scanners have the least features out of all the scanners. HP is on pricy. Specifications and features do not mean much if the scanner do not actually perform as the specs say. That is one reason I am considering HP scanners. HP scanners have least features and specs, but maybe they out performer the other scanners. HP seems to be behind when it comes to the latest Windows drivers (XP, etc).

Epson scanners have the most features. Epson prices are fair considering the features. I use a friend's old Epson Perfection. I notice two problems. First, it scans good quality images only if the document (photo, magazine, etc) is placed in the middle. Otherwise, I see dark areas to the side. Furthermore, I notice white dots everywhere. Maybe the reason is the scanner is old (2 years). I do not know. Epson seems to be pretty good when it comes to the latest Windows drivers (XP, etc).


Canon scanners are a mystery to me. Canon is a highly respectable for cameras. I read a review at ZDNet and found the Canon scanners perform very well for photos and not well for documents (text). Canon scanners are similar to Epson in features and specifications. Canon is the least expensive for the features and specs you get. Canon seems to be very good when it comes to the latest Windows drivers (XP, etc).


Please post if you have any of the scanners above and please post your thoughts about them. I am especially interested in scan quality. Again, I am buying a scanner to scan in (developed) photos from my 35mm cameras and photos from magazines, newspapers, etc. That is not to say I will never scan in text. I do know that I would not scan in a book.

Thanks,
Kuphryn
 
I use the Canon CanoScan D1250U2F USB Flatbed Scanner and love it...I also have the Epson 1240U which is 1 fine Scanner but slower
 
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