TOP 10 best scanners for home: 2021 rating and technical characteristics of models for photographs and documents

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Our technical support service is often asked for help in choosing a scanner. You can find a variety of types of scanners on the market: image scanner, barcode scanner, film scanner, biometric retinal or fingerprint scanner, etc... We decided to shed light on this issue and in the first post on this topic we will briefly explain how they differ in general document scanners, which, in particular, Epson offers for home and office, and what technologies are used in them.

Printer with scanner or separate scanner?

You can convert a document into electronic form using a scanner installed in an MFP (multifunction printer with a built-in scanner and copier) or a separate device - flatbed or streaming.
If you have a limited budget, it is more convenient to consider the option of purchasing an MFP. The scanners in such devices are slightly inferior to individual scanners in terms of scanning speed and quality of the resulting image.

If you plan to transfer large volumes of documents to the archive (for example, in an office or accounting department) or the high quality of scanned materials is extremely important to you (for converting analog photos and films into electronic format), we recommend that you pay attention to a separate scanning device. Let's look at why this is so.

What types are there?

Scanners are designed to convert information that is on paper into electronic format.

Main types of scanners:

• Tablets . The most common and user-friendly. They provide high quality and good scanning speed.
• Manual . They don't have an engine. The object that the user needs to scan must be moved manually.
• Leafy . In them, a sheet of paper must be inserted into the slot and pulled along the guide rollers inside the scanner.
• Books . Designed for scanning bound documents. Scanning here is done face up.
• Planetary . They do not come into contact with the objects being scanned, so they are designed for documents that are easily damaged.
• Drums . They provide high scanning quality and are used in printing.
• 3D scanners . Designed for scanning real physical objects.
• Ultrasonic . They are used exclusively in medicine to study internal organs.

Scanning technologies

The differences between scanners are largely due to the features of the scanning technologies that they use. Epson devices use 2 technologies – CCD and CIS. CCD
is a data reading technology based on CCD (charge-coupled device) sensors. During the scanning process, light from the source hits the image, after which it is reflected (refracted) and, using an optical system of mirrors, is directed to a line of light-sensitive elements (CCD sensors), and then transformed into a digital signal using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The CCD sensor guarantees good depth of field and excellent color reproduction, which is why most professional scanners are manufactured using CCD technology.

CIS
is a technology that uses contact image sensors (CIS). This technology is often used in inexpensive scanners. Instead of the complex optical system of CCD scanners, it uses multiple rows of red, green, and blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that sequentially illuminate the scanned image. The reflected light hits contact image sensors located across the entire width of the scanning area, very close to the surface of the glass tablet or document. Then, using an ADC, the signal from the sensors is converted into a digital code.

Image sensor

This is the “eye” of the scanner, converting the incident light into an electrical signal. The quality of operation of the device depends entirely on it. In modern devices, two types of sensors are most often installed:

CIS (Contact Image Sensor)

The contact image sensor is a line of photocells equal in width to the surface being scanned. During operation, the sensor transmits information about the image line by line. The technology is most often used in inexpensive scanners.

The main advantage of CIS models is their compact size and low weight due to the simple design of the sensors. In addition, the scanner requires less power and is quieter.

The main disadvantage of CIS is its shallow depth of field. This makes scanning an open book or wrinkled document very difficult: the curved image becomes blurry at the edges.

CCD (Charge-Coupled Device)

A charge-coupled device is a microcircuit with light-sensitive elements that works together with an optical system that directs the light. The sensors are installed in scanners that provide maximum image quality - usually these are professional devices.

Pros: CCD sensors provide much better depth of field and color reproduction. The image is clear, even if the original is not pressed well against the glass.

Disadvantages: Such scanners are not only expensive, but also take up a lot of space, are heavy and often make noise during operation.

If you have a limited budget and low requirements for scans, you should choose models with CIS sensors. For maximum quality - CCD.

Camera and slide scanners use CMOS sensors, and there are no other options.

Permission

Important characteristic. The term “resolution” refers to the number of dots that the scanner sensors can read from each horizontal stripe of the image. The parameter is measured in dpi - dots per inch.

The higher the resolution, the more detailed the scanned image will appear and the more you can enlarge it without losing quality.

In addition to horizontal resolution, there is also vertical resolution . It depends mainly on the precision of the movement of the mechanics of the device and on the processing of scanned files. For most users, vertical resolution will not be too important.

In addition, a distinction must be made between optical and enhanced resolution. The first is the hardware (original) resolution that the scanner sensors transmit. The second is the maximum possible resolution created by interpolation, that is, a software increase in resolution above optical.

When purchasing, you should pay attention only to the horizontal optical resolution.

For example, the scanner specification indicates 2400×4800 dpi:

• The first number (2400) shows the optical horizontal resolution;
• The second (4800) is vertical.

The first number is more important - this is the actual resolution of the scanner.

The resolution should be selected depending on the purpose for which the scanner is purchased. Since the price of the device increases as the resolution increases, there is no point in overpaying for an excessively high dpi.

High-resolution scanning has its drawbacks. Firstly, as can be seen from the table, the higher the set dpi, the slower the digitization occurs. Secondly, the resulting files take up more free space and take longer to open and edit.

Color depth

This feature is important if you are looking for a photo scanner. With high depth, more colors are used and the image is brighter and more vibrant.

The specifications indicate two values: internal and external color depth . The first indicator determines how many colors the scanner actually distinguishes, and the second determines the number of colors transmitted to the computer by the device. Color depth is measured in bits.

• For scanning photos and working with graphics, it is advisable to choose a scanner with a depth of 48 bits .
• If you buy a device only for scanning documents, then you can ignore the color depth - many models already have at least 24 bits . This is enough for most tasks.

Color depth affects the cost of the scanner. Obviously, the higher the indicator, the more expensive the device.

Additional scanner features

Automatic feeder

An ADF model is the best option when you regularly scan a lot of documents. The materials to be scanned are placed in the input tray and are automatically pulled in one by one by the scanner.

This saves a lot of time by eliminating the need to manually insert and remove each document. Some autofeeders also handle stacks of business cards well. But not everything is so rosy: even an automatic document feeder cannot cope with digitizing books.

The capacity of the ADF device should be selected based on the number of pages in standard documents that you plan to scan. Most scanners feed up to 50-100 sheets of paper, while professional models are designed to automatically feed hundreds and even thousands of sheets.

Duplex scanning

This feature is useful for those who plan to frequently scan documents printed on both sides of the paper. It is implemented in different ways:

• The scanner has scanning elements on both sides of the sheet - that is, both sides are digitized simultaneously. This function is provided in the best models.
• Autofeed scans one side first, and then automatically flips the document over to digitize the other side.

A kind of double-sided scanning is obtained when the user manually turns the sheets over. But in this case, you may need a driver, thanks to which the scanner software will automatically combine the two sides of one sheet for convenience. This manual digitization is the simplest option if your budget is limited or double-sided scanning is not carried out very often.

Connection and power

When choosing a scanner, you need to pay attention to the connectors offered. The device must be connected to the computer using a cable for the ubiquitous USB interface - this is the most important point.

In some cases, especially if the PC is a MacBook, you will need an adapter from standard USB-A to USB-C. Other connectors, such as SCSI, are becoming less common and are not very important for modern models.

Some scanners are equipped with an Ethernet for connecting to the Internet via cable. This is significant for business-class devices. A more convenient alternative is Wi - Fi - connecting and sending scans will be done over a wireless network. Such scanners are more expensive, but more convenient and do not depend on a cable.

Portable models support offline scanning - without connecting to a computer. Files are saved to a flash drive, SD card, or even to the built-in storage of the scanner itself. And from these storages the information is transferred to a PC or the Internet.

Scanners have several types of power:

• Connecting to an outlet is the simplest and most common type.
• Hand-held scanners are equipped with batteries that are recharged using a USB cable or from the mains, and in the second case, charging occurs much faster.
• A USB cable is capable of not only transmitting information, but also providing power to the device when connected to a desktop computer or laptop.

There are several USB standards. It is better to choose models that support USB 3.0 : data transfer will be much faster than with interface version 2.0 or 1.1.

Software

Without software, the scanner is useless. The software processes information from the device, decoding and converting each character, breaking blocks of text into pages and saving scanned files in the required format.

Data exchange with the computer occurs only after installing drivers, which are usually supplied with the scanner on disk or downloaded from the Internet. Drivers from different manufacturers can perform other important functions, expanding the capabilities of working with the device:

• Sorting scanned materials.
• Automatically upload files to cloud storage when connected to the Internet.
• Enhance scanned images - sharpen, enhance colors.

If you use applications like Photoshop to work with scanned materials, you need to make sure that the scanner is compatible with one or more standards:

Each of these standards facilitates the exchange of data between hardware and software from different manufacturers. The scanned images will be opened immediately in the editing application - in the same Photoshop.

Case study

For clarity, here are two examples of images obtained from scanners based on different technologies. The subject to be scanned is a medium-thick book.

If, when scanning a spread, you moderately (without “fanaticism”) press the book closer to the glass with the scanner lid, then the difference is noticeable. Due to the absence of the need to focus the scanning beam, a scanner using CCD technology produces excellent results.

Even with strong pressure, a CIS scanner finds it difficult to produce a completely focused image.
At the same time, both the book and the scanner lid got damaged during scanning, because quite a lot of force has to be applied to press it. To summarize, we can say that both types of scanners are quite suitable for scanning flat documents. But for scanning photographs, films and book spreads, it is better to choose a scanner with a CCD matrix due to its greater depth of field and more accurate color rendition.

Epson Perfection V850 Pro

scan quality;
scanning speed;

stylish design;

easy to use.

high price.

[product-like]

Xerox DocuMate 3640

RUB 46,000

The flatbed model with CCD sensors is equipped with a convenient paper feed tray with a capacity of 80 sheets. The connection to the computer is provided by a USB 2.0 interface.

The device is configured and controlled using a block with four buttons and an LCD screen. The maximum document size is 216×965 mm, A4 paper format. Automatic feeding is two-sided.

Scanning speed 40 ppm. (single-sided)/80 ipm (two-sided). Manufacturer's warranty 1 year.

Specifications:

• resolution 600×600 dpi;
• color depth 24 bits;
• operating power 40 W;
• weight 10.8 kg;
• dimensions 41.1×22.4×53.1 cm.

Scan speed

Scanner resolution

The resolution or resolving power of a scanner is the number of dots that the light sensors can read from each horizontal stripe of the image (the image is read line by line).
Resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi – Dots per Inch) (see *Note). Actually, the higher the scanner resolution, the more you can enlarge the image without losing quality, which is convenient, for example, for further processing in an editor or for printing. To simplify things, we will give analogies from the world of photography. The resolution of the scanner can be compared with the resolution of the matrix of a digital camera: the larger it is, the higher the resolution of the image can be obtained “in an honest way”, without software tricks. There are two types of resolution: optical and interpolation. Optical

resolution (“optical zoom” in a digital camera) is a hardware characteristic of the device.
It depends on the number of photosensitive sensors per inch of the horizontally scanned image. Interpolation
resolution is obtained by interpolating the real resolution to, usually, a higher resolution using bilinear, bicubic and other digital algorithms).
The result is an artificially increased number of pixels.

How much DPI does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Let's look at the example of the Epson Perfection V850 Pro scanner. The scanner's hardware resolution is up to 6400×9600 dpi
, where 6400 dpi is the horizontal scanning resolution, which is related to the density of the light-sensitive elements in the scanner matrix, and 9600 dpi is the vertical scanning resolution, which depends on the accuracy of the carriage movement and processing of scanning results. You should focus on the first number, because this, in fact, is the actual (“optical”) resolution of the flatbed scanner. Interpolation resolution 12800 dpi is the resolution obtained as a result of software processing of a scanned original by enlarging it four times (two in width and two in length). It does not improve image quality, but it can help when scanning graphic sketches (the lines are smoother), as well as when enlarging small images when you don’t have a graphics editor at hand, but you need to get a better look at the scanned object.

Now let’s remember that for high-quality photo printing in A4/A3 format, the optimal printer

300-600 dpi is considered. Those. anything more is the lot of cool photographers, expensive glossy magazines, etc. Now let’s estimate what resolution the image will have, which is intended for printing in A4 format at 600 dpi:

Wow, this image turns out to be 4961×7016 = 34 megapixels.
Now let’s figure out what image, ahem, resolution we’ll get when scanning A4 at 6400 dpi

:

Somehow I immediately didn’t want to scan anything... 4000 gigapixels
is probably too much for one A4 sheet!

Why then do scanners have such crazy resolutions?

It's simple - for scanning film and small photos

! When scanning 35x24mm film, of course, 600 dpi is not enough. Therefore, the scanner specifications indicate the maximum supported resolution in film scanning mode. For scanning documents and medium-sized photos, 600 dpi is more than enough, as we were able to see in the example above.

Canon CanoScan LiDE 400

scan quality;
ease of use;

compact dimensions;

connects to any PC;

poor photo scan quality;

flimsy cover.

Epson Perfection V19

RUB 8,000

Flatbed scanner in black housing. It is equipped with CIS sensors. To control the scanning process, there are four buttons on the body. The model is designed to work with A4 paper.

Color and black and white scanning speed is 10 seconds. The scanner supports JPEG, PDF, TIFF file formats.

Maximum paper size 216x297mm. The model connects to a computer via USB.

Specifications:

• resolution 4800×4800 dpi;
• color depth 48 bits;
• operating power 2.5 W;
• weight 1.5 kg;
• dimensions 24.8x3.9x36.4 cm.

A light weight

Scanner type - flatbed or stream

In order to decide on the type of scanner, we recommend paying attention to 2 parameters: the type of documents being scanned and the area that you are willing to allocate for the new “tenant”.
Stream scanners are compact devices that can be easily placed on your desktop. A flatbed scanner will take up at least 2 times more space than its streaming counterpart, but there are also significantly more options for materials that it will scan. The table shows data on Epson scanners.

FAQ

Why do you need a scanner at home and in the office?

A computer scanner is needed to convert text and graphics into digital format. Nowadays, public and private structures are actively switching to digital, so a scanner is absolutely necessary in any office. At home, they use the device to send copies of their documents to the appropriate structures or to their employer. Photographers, printers, and artists use scanners in their professional activities.

Which is better, a scanner or an MFP?

When choosing a scanner, many people wonder what is better to choose, a scanner or an MFP. To understand, let's look at the pros and cons of these devices.

The advantages of the scanner are its more compact size and low price. The scanner device is simpler, therefore its reliability is higher. The downside is limited functionality - the scanner can only scan texts and images from different media.

The MFP performs the functions of three devices at once: a printer, a scanner and a copy machine. This is its main advantage. Disadvantages of MFPs: high cost, dimensions and high probability of breakdown due to multifunctionality.

The choice of a scanner or MFP depends on the tasks that the device must perform. If you only need to scan photos or documents and do not need printer functions, you need to buy a scanner. If you plan to not only scan, but also print, it is better to choose an MFP.

Flatbed scanners

A distinctive feature of a flatbed scanner
is a flat glass on which the object being scanned is placed - a page with text or an image. The inside of the scanner lid is plain and serves as a universal background for reading the size of the document being scanned. To scan bulky objects, such as books, the cover can be removed. Tablet devices are divided into scanners for home (Perfection series) and business (WorkForce and Expression).

Home and professional photo scanners

The Epson Perfection series home flatbed scanners allow you to scan documents, brochures and magazines, digitize and process photographs, slides and films, removing damage from them and restoring color (using the supplied software).

The youngest model in the line, the Epson Perfection V19 scanner, can be connected to a computer using a micro-USB cable; the device does not require independent power supply. The only scanner in the Epson Perfection line using CIS technology. However, it scans at 4800x resolution and provides additional options for enhancing images using Epson Easy Photo Fix software. Using the software, you can remove dust particles from a scanned image, restore color, and correct background light. If you are looking for an inexpensive, but “angry” flatbed scanner, the Epson Perfection V19 is likely to suit you perfectly.

The top model of professional photo scanners, the Epson Perfection V850 Pro, is based on CCD technology for professional processing of photographs, films and slides
(35 mm, medium format and 9x12 cm format). The scanner can adjust the height of the film holder to adjust the position of the focus point, which helps achieve sharper scanning. Special holder plates press the film against the glass, which avoids the appearance of Newton's rings during scanning. Two built-in lenses scan originals with high optical resolution - 6400dpi for film and 4800dpi for photographs. The high optical density of 4.0 DMax allows the scanner to accurately reproduce a wide range of shades, especially in dark areas of the image. High Pass Optics anti-reflective coating on the lens and mirror ensures the best possible image quality.

There are quite a few models of flatbed scanners, and it is important to choose a model that suits your needs so as not to overpay for expensive optics for processing slides if you plan to scan only documents.

Rating of the TOP 20 best scanners of 2021

Flatbed scanners for business

Business devices are designed for high loads - up to 8000 scans per day! And suitable for processing:

• standard paper documentation,
• dilapidated or bulky samples (books, magazines),
• stapled official documents that cannot be separated.

Another distinctive feature of scanners for business is the ability to connect via a network, i.e.
the scanner becomes available to several computers in the workgroup at once. There are scanners with built-in interfaces (connectors), or you can separately purchase and connect a special panel with network connectors. With its help, the scanner can be connected via Ethernet and scan to email, an FTP server, Share Point and network folders. In the line of flatbed scanners for business, for example, the Epson WorkForce DS-7500 scanner with a maximum load of 4000 documents per day will cope perfectly with all of the listed tasks. To scan a stack of pages, you can use the 100-sheet duplex automatic document feeder—sensors simultaneously read the front and back sides of the sheet. If stapled or stuck pages are detected, the ultrasonic sensor will notify you of this. Fragile, bulky, or bonded materials must be placed on the glass of the tablet. The optical resolution of this model is 1200 dpi (no more is needed, since documents are scanned, not film or small photographs), and the interpolation resolution is 9600 dpi.

Using software functions it is possible to:

• automatically straighten the image,
• customize the color palette of the document,
• remove shadows from the binding area when scanning books,
• Selectively remove red, green, or blue from a document to improve document readability.

HP ScanJet Pro 2000 s2 - from 22,030 rubles

• type: lingering;
• resolution: 600×600 DPI;
• scanning speed: 35 pages;
• Automatic feed of originals: 50 pages;
• additionally: double-sided scanning.

Very high-speed device for heavy loads. The manufacturer assures that it can handle up to 3,500 sheets per day. Duplex scanning function available. It is possible to automatically feed originals. The device works with paper of almost any thickness and plastic cards. The gadget independently adjusts the threshold values ​​for work, determines colors, smoothes or removes the background if necessary, straightens the image and makes many other adjustments. Thanks to good assembly, the device works without failures. There are no complaints about the image quality, but this scanner also costs a decent amount.

✅ Pros:

• high scanning speed;
• high build quality.
• functionality.

❌ Cons:

• relatively high price.

Stream scanners

Stream, broach, roller or as they are sometimes called - document scanners are designed for fast multi-page document processing.
A stack of materials is loaded into the automatic feeder and pulled page by page through the matrix. Originals must be opaque (translucent) because they use a method of reflecting light off a surface. By the way, a fax is a type of streaming scanner.

Despite their compact size (usually small desktop devices), they can work with almost any material from business and plastic cards, to special forms and materials up to 1.5 mm thick and up to A3 size.

Like all flatbed scanners for business, streaming models are equipped with:

• ultrasonic sensor for stuck pages,
• technology for skipping blank pages,
• task breakdown function for saving into different files
• automatic system for determining document format,
• document tilt recognition and correction system.

Automatic document feeding allows you to scan almost any material in the office in duplex mode on both sides in one pass.
Plastic cards (up to 1.5 mm thick), business cards, A4 and even A3 documents and many other materials and documents will be scanned as quickly and efficiently as possible. Let's talk about the most interesting models of stream scanners for business:

The Epson WorkForce DS-560 is Epson's first document scanner with wireless connectivity and Wi-Fi scanning. Moreover, you can scan directly to mobile devices and tablets based on Android and iOS. Processing speeds are up to 25 ppm in single-sided mode or up to 50 ipm in duplex mode at 300 dpi. The scanner supports scanning in color, grayscale or black and white and provides a maximum resolution of up to 600 dpi. The capacity of the automatic document feeder is 50 sheets. The maximum daily load for this model is 3,000 pages.

The flagship of our line of flow scanners is the Epson WorkForce DS-860 with a maximum load of up to 6,000 pages per day (imagine 12 reams of 500 sheets of paper!) and an 80-sheet paper tray. The scanner is capable of processing documents at speeds of up to 65 pages per minute for color and black and white A4 documents or 130 images per minute at a resolution of 300 dpi.

Like most Epson document scanners, the WorkForce DS-860 is available in two versions: with USB connectivity and in a network version.

TOP 1 best hand-held scanners

Below is the best handheld scanner for 2021.

ESPADA iScan A4

The lightweight and compact model of the ESPADA iScan A4 brand is perfect for working in mobile conditions - while traveling, on the road, or away from the main office .
It is always convenient to take it with you and not feel any difficulties. The scanner can handle any A4 document.

The device is capable of scanning at 900 dpi and has a speed per page of 12 seconds, as well as 8 seconds per page when scanning at 600 dpi and 3 seconds per page when scanning at 300 dpi.

The scanner has a slot for microSD memory cards and supports memory cards up to 32 GB in size.

The maximum size of the scanning area of ​​the device is 210x890 mm when scanning at a resolution of 900 dpi.

The maximum scan area width is 210 mm.

Power is supplied by two AA batteries, which must be purchased separately. The battery life is 200 pages.

Characteristics:

• Scanning color depth is 32 bit.
• Paper format - A4.
• The scanner sensor type is CMOC.

pros

Comfortable.

Practical.

Acceptable price.

Minuses

No batteries included.

Small, but daring!

For those who, due to their duties, often travel on business trips, the Epson WorkForce DS-30 portable scanner is perfect. It weighs 325 grams. and can easily fit in the same bag along with your laptop. Its dimensions are only 276x36.5x50 mm (length, depth, height), so it can even be hidden in a drawer if there is little work space on the table. Epson WorkForce DS-30 is one of the most compact and lightweight scanners in its class. It works from a regular USB 2.0 cable connected directly to a computer or laptop. There is only 1 button on the scanner body, but it can be programmed for a number of tasks: specify not only scanning modes, but also mailing addresses for digitized documents and images, insert them automatically into certain applications for further processing.

The standard Epson Scan driver is capable of automatically aligning and determining the document size, enlarging fonts, protecting a PDF file, and also performing other equally important functions.

The Epson WorkForce DS-30 will take 13 seconds to scan an A4 document. And the maximum possible resolution will be 600x600 dpi. In addition, the scanner supports all commonly used paper document formats (A4, A5, A6, A8, B5), and also allows you to digitize business and bank cards.

TOP 3 best inexpensive scanners

Below are the best inexpensive scanner models.

Vision FB10

The Avision FB10 tablet device is ideal for document digitization .
The thickness of the model is only 46 mm, making it an obvious choice for a small desktop. Despite its small size, it has excellent characteristics.

Documents and photos are scanned, the 4800x4800 dpi resolution and 48-bit color depth are capable of accurately reproducing details and the most detailed shades.

When you need to scan a thick or bulky document, the innovative cover helps smooth the object and deliver good image quality with even illumination.

In addition, the device is equipped with a convenient function for cropping multiple images..

With this feature, documents of different sizes, such as photographs, ID cards or business cards, can be placed on the tablet, and the device will crop and create multiple images according to the original dimensions.

Characteristics:

• Resolution - 4800 dpi.
• Load - 1000.
• Scanning element - CIS.

pros

Comfortable.

Functional.

Compact.

Minuses

Old fashioned design.

Plustek OpticSlim 2610

The Plustek OpticSlim 2610 ultra-thin flatbed scanner works using a USB port .
It is capable of scanning A4 documents at an optical resolution of 1200 dpi and does not require a power source. Interaction between the device and the computer is carried out via a USB interface.

The device digitizes documents in high quality and images in high resolution and conveys all their features.

It supports automatic removal of blank spaces to reduce file sizes and manual adjustment of color saturation.

With one click of a button, the user can send scanned images to an OCR application and create a structured PDF document from it.

This greatly facilitates working with a large number of similar materials . The compact model can be carried with you in a laptop bag or in a special case. It does not need to be connected to a power outlet, as it receives power through the USB port.

Characteristics:

• Power - 5 W.
• Scanner sensor - CIS.
• Paper format - A4.

pros

Comfortable.

Compact.

Minuses

Difficult setup.

Plustek MobileOffice

The Plustek MobileOffice scanner has a compact size, so it fits comfortably on a table surface and does not take up much space .
The device is equipped with a CIS sensor and has an optical resolution of 600x600 dpi, so the output electronic copies are characterized by optimal detail and quality.

The device has high speed and is capable of processing both color and black and white source materials with a maximum A4 paper format in just 7 seconds.

The Plustek MobileOffice brand model has simple and intuitive mechanical controls, which are carried out by two buttons located on the side of the case.

To connect the scanner to a personal computer or laptop, just use a USB cable.

The scanner is compatible with different operating systems . Its durable housing protects components from dust and mechanical damage.

Characteristics:

• The scanner sensor type is CIS.
• Paper format - A4.
• Resolution - 600x600 pixels.

pros

Weight.

Size.

High build quality.

Minuses

Speed ​​of work.

A few words about the software

Epson Document Capture Pro software helps to significantly expand the possibilities of working with scanned materials. The software is included with all business scanners and allows you to:

• Sort documents into separate files (the scanner detects blank pages inserted between documents or recognizes special barcodes or dates and sorts and saves documents into separate folders according to them)
• Improve the quality of the scanned image (color enhancement, sharpening, raster removal).
• Automatically upload documents when scanning to cloud storage (for this, the PC with which the scanner works must be connected to an Ethernet network)
• Register tasks (a set of operations such as sorting, saving, locating a scanned file, etc.) that the application will perform automatically when scanning documents. In addition to launching these tasks from Document Capture Pro, you can also assign them to a scanner button, allowing you to launch tasks with just one button press on the scanner.
• Recognize barcodes and support OCR-A and OCR-B optical character recognition.

Various brands and their features

The most popular brands among scanners are, first of all, Canon, Epson, Hewlett Packard, Xerox and a relatively new company - Plustek, which has been producing for several years, but only recently began supplying its products to the Russian market in the form of A4 color flatbed scanners.

The remaining brands and models will remain outside the scope of this review, not because they are unworthy, but because one review is not rubber. Therefore, if you see a Texet scanner on sale, this is already normal. As a rule, such a device will have approximately the same set of service functions as the brands we are already familiar with, but Texet will cost several times less (due to the configuration and mechanisms).

Here everyone chooses for themselves. I will reserve only my opinion: all scanners and multifunctional devices (MFPs) today are produced in China, where prudent companies - to optimize costs - have long moved their production branches.

Canon

Canon's high-speed Multi-Photo technology saves time by allowing you to scan multiple original images (including photos) in one carriage pass.

The originals (images) can simply be laid out on the glass without wasting time on aligning them, since the Multi-Photo system itself will automatically recognize them, crop them, align them and create a separate file for each photo.

Epson

Epson scanners are of excellent quality. Resolution 2400x4800 dpi, 48-bit color depth for contrast and clear color reproduction. EPSON Matrix CCD scanning sensor, MicroStep Drive and On-Chip MicroLens technology for maximum original image quality.

Multifunctional quick scanning with EPSON SmartPanel menu and QuickStart key Interface USB 1.1, USB 2.0. Built-in module for scanning transparent originals. An excellent choice for home, photography and design.

Hewlett Packard

Processing paper documentation in offices is one of the labor-intensive jobs that takes a lot of time. Fast and reliable scanners from Hewlett Packard provide this task to the maximum and minimize the cost of processing paper documentation.

Thus, Hewlett Packard scanners will be indispensable assistants in processing documentation where there is a lot of it, and are also a good example of a universal information input device.

Plustek

Plustek scanner models are CCD scanners with an optical resolution of 600×1200 dpi with a focal depth of up to 3 cm, which allows you to scan not only flat, but also three-dimensional objects. Equipped with five function buttons on the front panel, which allow you to call up installed software for copying, emailing, OCR, power saving and settings.

Comparison table of the most popular flatbed scanners

Modern scanners, as a rule, have a USB 2.0 interface and are compatible with PCs such as IBM PC and MAC, which is fully consistent with modern standards. Scan file format PDF, JPEG, DOC.

What is important when choosing a scanner

When choosing a scanner and analyzing (comparing) technical characteristics (different models of the same type, for example, flatbed scanners), important parameters are the scanning speed of color and black-and-white (monochrome) images, color rendering depth, and maximum resolution.

The first two parameters determine the scanner's performance; that is, how many pages (images, color or monochrome, respectively) can be scanned over a certain period of time. For example, for a Canon CanoScan LiDE 700F scanner, these parameters will be:

• scanning speed (color) 34.3 ms per line (4800 dpi);
• scanning speed (b/w) 11.4 ms per line (2400 dpi);
• color depth 48 bits.

The higher all three indicators - scanning speed, color depth and resolution (dpi), the better, but also more expensive the scanner will be.

In addition to monochrome or color images, all models of modern scanners have the ability to programmatically (via the scanner menu on a PC) set the resolution parameter (in dpi) within the maximum capabilities. The quality of the scanned image, color rendition, scanning speed and the “weight” (volume) of the finished file will depend on this setting of the value of this parameter.

By the way, it is best to save scanned images in tiff raster format; such a file is perfectly (effectively) compressed by the RAR archiver. For example, a file with a tiff resolution of 11 MB will be archived by RAR to a volume of 1 MB or less, depending on the archiver settings; Such a minimized file is much more convenient to send by email or even store on a PC (so that it does not take up space).

Another equally important feature is the material of the glass through which the image is scanned. Mineral glass is most often used in good scanner models. Its distinctive feature is strength and transparency.

Organic glass (plastic) is lighter and resists impacts well, and is very light in weight, while mineral glass makes the scanner heavier. However, plastic is molten natural quartz sand with various additives.

It is much cheaper than glass, but also less valuable; plastic glass darkens over time. Small scratches on plastic cannot be corrected at home (the plastic is not polished).

On the other hand, scanners equipped with high-quality plastic glasses are several times cheaper than “glass” ones and are lighter. If you are buying a scanner for a short time, you can take the cheapest one, with plastic glass, in accordance with the comparative characteristics of budget models presented below.

For a good scanner purchased for your convenience for years, including one combined with an MFP, glass is better suited. A similar method is used to select lenses for glasses, cameras, and in other cases. The savings here are questionable.

Advantages of Canon CanoScan LiDE 700F

Slim body, quiet and fast scanner. Without bulky power supplies (“powered” from USB, which also downloads files). Can stand vertically on a table. This is especially convenient when there is limited space on the desktop: - you push the scanner behind a flat monitor, it is not visible.

Additional features of the Canon CanoScan LiDE 700F tablet: 4 EZ Buttons.

The scanner has a separate module for scanning slides and negatives. Allows you to digitize slides with excellent quality. This is important for those already quite elderly people, grandparents, who have kept old films (slides, negatives) as souvenirs; after all, just 30 years ago there were no free access to digital cameras (there were only a few lucky ones who owned Polaroids).

Many people today want to digitize their film archives, including 35mm negatives. Color rendition, shading - everything is at its best. Nice and simple software, you can scan in batches and individually, which is also a plus. There is a screening function.

The scanner cover is magnetic and presses documents onto the glass itself.

For example, on some other scanner models, to scan a notebook or brochure or convex sheets of cardboard, you had to place a stack of paper on top.

Canon CanoScan LiDE 700F is a simple and functional scanner for any color work (except for scanning stacks of prints).

Good for home because it takes up almost no space on your desktop. The average retail price of Canon CanoScan LiDE 700F as of February 2011 is 3,950 rubles. This is an average model both in cost and in terms of parametric characteristics.

Advantages and disadvantages of Canon CanoScan LiDE 110

Scanning speed: 15 s; scans shades of gray with a resolution of 300 dpi. A relatively inexpensive (budget) model, like the previous one, is powered by USB. The software works well and installs without problems. Light source type: light emitting diode (LED). However, in this case, there were more disadvantages than advantages.

Flaws:

• 13 seconds of time are spent returning the carriage to its original state; 15 seconds scans an image with a shade of gray (the middle option between black and white and color images, all other things being equal - the set resolution), then another 13 seconds waits to return to scan further, for a total of 28 seconds - this is a relatively long time for one run.
• A color image with a resolution of 300 dpi is scanned for 30 s plus 13 s to return the carriage to its original state, a total of 43 s.
• The scanner has a CIS matrix (not CCD). This means that if you scan a book, if it is thick and has a deep spread, then due to the scanner lid not being tightly closed, the scanned image will blur near the center.

  When moving further than 0.5 cm from the glass, the scanned image blurs. If there was a CCD matrix, then everything would be clear.

The scanner is only good for scanning flat gray text, such as sheet documents. Maximum - thin books, or books without deep spreads between pages.

I wanted to make an electronic version of a thick reference book, recognize and search text from it. This scanner cannot solve this problem.

Conclusion: despite the budget limitation in the buyer’s pocket (the cost of the scanner is 2,700 rubles), for a student, and especially a student, such a scanner, in my opinion, is cheap, but rather weak.

Canon CanoScan 5600F

One of the advantages of the Canon CanoScan 5600F is its high scanning quality - both reflection and transmission. Besides:

• thoughtful (functional and impact-resistant) mechanical design;
• convenient software interface;
• built-in power supply;
• high-quality interface cable included;
• nice unobtrusive design.

  Automatic correction functions should be used with caution; So with the help of third-party software you can sometimes get better results.

  The interface is simple and functional, which is what a good scanner requires. In my opinion, if you evaluate, the parameters of the Canon CanoScan 5600F are above average; An excellent option for schoolchildren and students, even for the future. Color rendering speed and depth parameters:

• scanning speed (color) 67.5 ms/line;
• scanning speed (b/w) 67.5 ms/line;
• color depth (external) 48 bit.

Flaws:

• non-removable cover;
• excessively bright indicator on the lid;
• relatively small weight and dimensions.

Conclusion: an excellent scanner for its price (RUB 5,950). It scans negatives remarkably well and is not inferior to specialized film scanners (if you prepare the film well, then you can get an excellent scanned copy even from old negatives).

Canon CanoScan LiDE 210

Newer, improved model compared to Canon CanoScan LiDE 110.

Distinctive features of the device:

• scanning speed (color) 2.2 ms per line (300 dpi), 33.2 ms per line (4800 dpi);
• scanning speed (b/w) 2.2 ms per line (300 dpi), 11.1 ms per line (4800 dpi);
• color depth 48 bits;
• color depth (external) 24 bit;
• number of shades of gray 256;
• light source type light emitting diode (LED).

The image (appearance) is similar.

Advantages: high scanning speed (see parameters above), conveniently located quick access buttons on the body, automatic image adjustment to size, powered by USB (no external power supply). Good color rendering parameters.

Conclusion: a good scanner at a decent price, average for schoolchildren and students. Works faster than many externally powered CCD scanners. The kit includes a stand for mounting the scanner on its edge.

The standard software program is multifunctional and, in my opinion, complex, but you can figure it out. Conveniently designed quick access buttons, click and get the result.

Epson Perfection V330 Photo

Advantages : reasonable price and good scanning quality. Movable module in the lid for scanning films.

Disadvantages: not a perfect frame for films (slides). In all previous models, except for the relatively cheap and simple Canon CanoScan LiDE 110, such a frame is included.

Conclusion: Not ideal, but for little money (4500 rubles), probably a good option. There is no point in programming at the maximum resolution due to the large file size. It’s better to scan in professional mode, using the settings you understand, and leave the rest to the automatic selection of the software.

Epson Perfection V33

Advantages:

• convenient software;
• fast scanning;
• high quality scanned images.

Disadvantage found : no adapter for film (slides, negatives). Although it is clear that not everyone needs such an adapter today; We live in the 21st century...

Conclusion : a good scanner, at a very good price (3,600 rubles).

The software made a good impression; everything is convenient, simple, understandable and at the same time very functional.

An excellent scanner for home use and a wide range of users.

HP ScanJet G2410

Disadvantages : when switching to Windows-7 OS it starts to slow down very much. Among the mechanical problems: the cover fell off the guides, the glass got dirty easily, after a year of use it looked like it was “smoked.”

Conclusion: cheap (RUB 2,200) and cheerful. Not functional. I'm now looking for another one, for example, HP ScanJet G3110. If you want to change equipment more than once a year, buy this model.

HP ScanJet G4010

Advantages : fast scanning, with a resolution of 300 dpi, carriage return speed of about 8 s.

Disadvantages : the software failed, when working online it heats up to 45º C, which was not noticed in other models.

Conclusion: average model; at a cost of 5,200 rubles, the user most likely pays for the brand, taking into account the fact that for similar material resources one can buy (see above) something better and more functional.

Compromise

If you still decide to opt for a universal multifunctional solution (so that you can be a reaper, a priest, or a pipe player), you can buy any Epson Multifunctional Device and limit yourself to a scanner built into it using CIS technology.
We recommend paying attention to the Epson Print Factory line of devices - the new products in the series not only provide record savings when printing, are easily refilled from special bottles of ink, but also have caught up in functionality with cartridge models of Epson printers. For example, a 4-color Epson L555 MFP or a 6-color Epson L850. Thus, you can make copies of documents, scan photographs for the family archive, or immediately print pictures for friends and relatives, without thinking about replacing the printer consumables, since you can print up to 11,000 documents from the Print Factory starter kit!