What's the best scanner I can buy for around $200?

[Teslacoiled]

The quality is more important for me than the options it has (like film scanners...).But it would be nice to have these options
It's the first scanner I plan to buy,so please be patient and ask me some questions if you need more input from me!
Thanks in advance.

 

[Gunbuster]

Any of the slimline canons are great

 

[anime]

Epson's--they make excellent scanner

 

[Eug]

<< Epson's--they make excellent scanner >>

Agreed. Fast, good quality images, and they've got good drivers. Avoid Agfa. Their drivers consistently suck (consumer and pro).

 

[Yoshitoshi]

I've used Canon's before with good results. I currently have an Epson 640U which is chunky but works great, nice sharp images.

If you are going to buy a USB scanner make sure your on-board USB is trouble free. I've had USB power-outs with my KT7A-RAID mainboard when using the Canon's which are powered by the USB.

Yoshi

 

[Soulflare]

Buy an Epson Perfection 1650.

 

[Teslacoiled]

Isn't USB fast enough and my best choice?SCSI scanners cost more,don't they?
What about HP's?
Thanks a lot for the input guys!

 

[Aquaman]

I'm very happy with my new Canon 670U. Very small and pretty fast. I've also heard many good things about the Epsons. Checkout Cnet.com for the hardware reviews.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Teslacoiled]

Do you encourage me to get the Epson 1650 scanner?I've read some good reviews about this scanner?
I think 1600 x 3200 dpi optical resolution is be good enough for a semi professional scanner,isn't it?

 

[heng1028]

get the canonscan 1240

you willl not regret about it

 

[rwalterk]

HP has an excellent scanner line; a little pricier but excellent. I used them quite a bit when I worked at WB (they could afford them); driver support was top-notch. For a slightly cheaper selection, I agree with the others in
here about Epson. Through personal experience I would not recommend UMAX.

 

[rwalterk]

I forgot about your later questions.

USB vs. SCSI -- for personal use, USB is probably the better bang for the buck. Cheaper, fast enough, and easy (my last scanner was a parallel interface -- ugh).

1600x3200 dpi -- more than you'll need. It's hard for me to tell the difference past 600X1200 dpi.

 

[Hellblast]

I have experience with HP scanners and while they are similar to the Epson scanner I have experience with I can't stand the HP software and scan interface. It's got that idiot-proof look to it and all real options are hidden.
I'd go EPSON or CANON, both good products.

Hellblast

 

[Teslacoiled]

Well,I've read some reviews yesterday and today,and I like the specs of the Epson Perfection 1650 more than the Canoscan 1240.Maybe they're the same in real life?
I personnally have a feeling that a lot of people like more the Perfection 1650.And yes,it has a transparency adapter....
Please correct me if I'm wrong because it's my first scanner!
Thanks again and again....

 

[filmore crashcart]

I'm going with the Perfection 1650 after reading 2 reviews on it. MWave has it for $217 with the slide adapter - that's the best I've seen yet.
1650