RFI: Looking to get a photo scanner for my iMac (OS X). Any suggestions?

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I'm looking to make JPEGS out of old photographs. Advice is welcomed.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 21 October 2005 20:14 (twenty years ago)

i prefer the flat bed kind... as opposed to the kind that load in your picture ... that way you can scan 12" and things. less moving parts is a good thing in electronics.

our hp scanner was maybe $90? it worked with both our win xp and mac os x boxes without any troubles. connects via usb.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000A6X9GG/qid=1129929967/sr=8-7/ref=pd_bbs_7/102-0624864-7955311?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846

is probably comparable to what i have. (a newer model.)
m.

― msp (mspa), Friday, 21 October 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

I got a fine HP that prints/xeroxes/scans. It was also around $100, at Best Buy.

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Friday, 21 October 2005 20:48 (twenty years ago)

I have an Epson Perfection 2400 Photo (flatbed, USB) and I love it, though I'm sure there are Epson models that supersede this one by now. It was about $140 I think. It has a very fast carriage return, so you're not waiting for the scanner to reset to scan the next print. Pretty accurate color, good controls. My main gig is magazine production, I scan 200-300 pictures per issue, and the best thing I can say about this model is that I don't ever have to think about it.

― I do feel guilty for getting any perverse amusement out of it (Rock Hardy), Friday, 21 October 2005 20:54 (twenty years ago)

Dumb question: do these instantly make JPEGS? Or are they PDF files? And do they come with software that could help me translate them into JPEGs?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 21 October 2005 20:58 (twenty years ago)

it's all about the software... and most software will support jpegs or whatever other format you like

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 21 October 2005 21:13 (twenty years ago)

(i don't mean it's ALL about the software... only as pertains to yr question)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 21 October 2005 21:14 (twenty years ago)

Epson all the way. And I'm talking as a "print professional" who doesn't own an epson and regrets the choice.

If it's just for online stuff, maybe you can get one of those all-in-one things, but if you want any decent scans, spend a little extra money and get a better scanner.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 21 October 2005 21:20 (twenty years ago)

Pretty much any flatbed scanner works fine for scanning prints. You're not going to be able to make giant blow-ups of them no matter what, so I'd stick with something reasonable, in the $100 range. The Epson 2400/3200 is a good choice, their software is easy to work with.

― Are You Nomar? (miloaukerman), Friday, 21 October 2005 21:29 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=63059196

any opinions on this one?

― lauren, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 16:59 (eighteen years ago)

Timely revive, I've been wanting to do this with my old photos...

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 17:00 (eighteen years ago)

anyone?

― lauren, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 19:59 (eighteen years ago)

probably a perfect choice for that money, unless you ever want to scan medium-format transparencies, in which case the model one up would be appropriate.

― dan selzer, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 20:48 (eighteen years ago)

that is unlikely. i really don't want to/can't afford to spend more than $200, so the v350 is probably gonna be it. thanks, kiddo.

― lauren, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 20:56 (eighteen years ago)

p.s. - you need to see at least some of the several thousand photos i found from when i carried a camera at all times. yes, you're in a few.

― lauren, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 20:59 (eighteen years ago)

you can destroy them if you want.

― dan selzer, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 21:12 (eighteen years ago)

oh god the pain in the ass that is scanning photos. I feel your pain.

― Dandy Don Weiner, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 21:18 (eighteen years ago)

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