I am trying to decide if I need a new scanner. I am working on pictures for my family tree. Clearly many are old, circa 1900, and some are from the 70s.

I have an older scanner, a Canon CanoScan FB 630U

Here are the specs.

Scanner type: Flatbed, color and monochrome
Scanning element: Contact image sensor (CIS)
Light source: 3-color RGB LEDs
Optical scanning resolution: 600 x 1,200 dpi
Maximum resolution: 9,600 x 9,600 dpi
Scanning mode: 36-bit internal, 24-bit external color
Grayscale: 12-bit internal, 8-bit external; black and white; text enhanced
Document size: Letter (8.5 by 11.7 inches maximum)
Interface: USB


It says it will do 9600 X 9600, but I cannot imagine that one..

1. What is optical resolution versus "Maximum Resolution"?

2. Do I need something better for scanning older pictures? I am just not up on what is new with scanners, and what differences they will make.

3. If I do need a new one, what do you suggest as my budget is under $200.

Thanks a million for any advice.

:classic:

"9600 X 9600" is marketing baloney. It's just resampling, which you can do on your own (if you'd ever need to). The optical resolution is the actual resolution, and for scanning old photos the scanner you have now is fine. You won't get any more than 600ppi off a print (even a new glossy print, old matte prints require even less). But scan in color mode, even if it's a b/w print.

I'm curious. I'm not @ home right now and don't remember the model name. The brand is Epson.

Which one do people here recommend for best quality and speed?

I'm curious. I'm not @ home right now and don't remember the model name. The brand is Epson.

Which one do people here recommend for best quality and speed?For prints, or transparencies/negs?

For prints, or transparencies/negs?

Prints only.

Ok, sense we're taking scanners, and I'm looking to upgrade from my HP multifunction, what about scan lines? What do we look for in a scanner that'll tell us how smooth the scanned image will be?

I'm looking at the Epson Perfection 4490 Photo, which comes with Digital ICE. It's listed on the Epson web site at $249.99. I have seen it about $10.00 cheaper at regular retail.

Cinthia

Prints only.If it's only prints, then pretty much any scanner will do, by a reputable manufacturer (Canon, Epson...) Higher end scanners with high DPI and other flash features are only of real use when scanning negs and slides. AS Doug has said, all a print holds is around 300dpi, so scanning more than about 600 is pointless.

I get the DPI thing for prints. What I'm concerned with are scan lines. My HP is a disaster! I will be working with slides and negatives in the future.

i really dont know about which is the best scanner or which can produce without scan lines. i'd suggest searching google and see if you cant find a shopping comparison site, one which reviews hardware independently.

for your future work in slides and negatives, i highly recommend a dedicated slide/negative scanner. most all of the normal flatbed scanners i've seen with slide/negative capability have done some sort of add-on-afterthought semi-combo thing which i wouldnt trust without some pretty good demonstrations.

Craig

Perhaps something like this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16838116001) or (even better) this (http://cgi.ebay.com/MINOLTA-DIMAGE-SCAN-ELITE-5400-FILM-SCANNER-WARRANTY_W0QQitemZ7549932745QQcategoryZ15223QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) would be affordable? Both are over your budget, but slide scanners are more expensive. These are new, but ebay has a lot of used deals.

Perhaps something like this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16838116001) or (even better) this (http://cgi.ebay.com/MINOLTA-DIMAGE-SCAN-ELITE-5400-FILM-SCANNER-WARRANTY_W0QQitemZ7549932745QQcategoryZ15223QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) would be affordable? Both are over your budget, but slide scanners are more expensive. These are new, but ebay has a lot of used deals.But it looks like both of those will only do film Doug?

As to flatbeds - I have an Epson Perfection 2480 at home, and a 4870 at work, and am happy with both. They both also do slides and negs BTW (and very well) The 4780 used Digital ICE and produces results equal to a dedicated film scanner, though I think has been superseded by another model now (search online for some reviews - http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson%204870/page_13.htm), but is probably a bit expensive for a hobbyist.

The scan lines you are referring to Cinthia sound like a poorly calibrated scanner. Have you tried recalibrating it? Otherwise, any quality model should not have this problem. (I've never heard that HP are top in scanners...)

But it looks like both of those will only do film Doug?

As to flatbeds - I have an Epson Perfection 2480 at home, and a 4870 at work, and am happy with both. They both also do slides and negs BTW (and very well) The 4780 used Digital ICE and produces results equal to a dedicated film scanner, though I think has been superseded by another model now (search online for some reviews - http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson%204870/page_13.htm), but is probably a bit expensive for a hobbyist.

The scan lines you are referring to Cinthia sound like a poorly calibrated scanner. Have you tried recalibrating it? Otherwise, any quality model should not have this problem. (I've never heard that HP are top in scanners...)

haha Caitlin,

My HP cleans up quite a lot which when you are portfolio building is not as desireable as it would seem :) Mine however is not an MFC but one of the older SCSI jobs from HP. I also have a couple of canon scanners, but being the lower end of the scale, think they are not quite as good as the 'ol hp. Not familiar with the Epson Scanners first hand but all my professional graphic artist clients have chased the Umax and/or Nikkon (Nikkon mainly for negatives)

To Fazools, Optical scanning resolution: 600 x 1,200 dpi, is exactly that, else it is calculating additional software via pixels, very similar to resampling in photoshop or other graphic programs, adds extra pixels via interpolation (averaging)

The Canon 630U does a good job for the price, however my canons are a bit above that one. Despite all else, go into the advanced settings, in the Canon not everything is automated and unless you are working on thumbnails or negatives, it is unlikely you need much more via resolution. For most photos 300dpi is what I use and that gives me room for upscaling. Use 2400 dpi min on negatives only, a 600dpi will quickly fill your hard drive, cause your printer to labour etc. etc. etc. If you images are dark, then look at some of the default settings, else you may have to calibrate your scanner into your software package (nightmare stuff at times for me)

here's a link to the negative scanner i use at home. it was only $129 u.s. and doesnt have some of the fancy features that doug's have, but it does a good job. it was a bit fussy to install and get working. it seems windows doesnt like two scanners on the same machine, so i had to put one on my windows 98 machine. but, like i said, it does a good job, especially for the price. also, Staples sometimes carries these in stock and if they dont currently, you can order through them and have it shipped directly to you.

Craig