January 2008
Scanners
Epson Perfection V500 (top) &
Canon CanoScan 8800F
Canon CanoScan 8800F
Canon CanoScan 8800F $200
Epson Perfection V500 $250
These are well-suited to converting old negatives and slides into digital files and can also scan paper. They have shorter warm-up times than most low-priced scanners and produced very good 11x14 prints from a film scan. The Canon's maximum optical resolution, 4800 dots per inch, is fine for scanning film. The Epson's maximum of 6400dpi, the highest we've seen in a low-priced flatbed, permits greater flexibility in cropping scanned images. Both include holders for 35mm negatives and slides, plus various types of film that are 21/4 inches wide (medium format). Both include software to fix defects during scans, plus Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Epson Perfection V500 $250
These are well-suited to converting old negatives and slides into digital files and can also scan paper. They have shorter warm-up times than most low-priced scanners and produced very good 11x14 prints from a film scan. The Canon's maximum optical resolution, 4800 dots per inch, is fine for scanning film. The Epson's maximum of 6400dpi, the highest we've seen in a low-priced flatbed, permits greater flexibility in cropping scanned images. Both include holders for 35mm negatives and slides, plus various types of film that are 21/4 inches wide (medium format). Both include software to fix defects during scans, plus Adobe Photoshop Elements.
