|
I need a compact full page scanner for occasional use
01-27-2011, 11:22 AM
|
#1
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hooverville
Posts: 22,983
|
I need a compact full page scanner for occasional use
Any recs for a compact scanner? I use a simple, quality b&w laser printer, so no combo printer/scanner. My space is quite limited, but it would be easier for me to scan things at home from time to time.
Any suggestions or recs?
Thanks,
Ha
__________________
"As a general rule, the more dangerous or inappropriate a conversation, the more interesting it is."-Scott Adams
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
01-27-2011, 11:27 AM
|
#2
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 415
|
__________________
-----------------------------------------------------
Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
|
|
|
01-27-2011, 11:32 AM
|
#3
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Atlanta suburbs
Posts: 898
|
I gave up on scanners with the quality of current digital cameras.
Better cameras on macro settings (typically indicated by the flower symbol on compact cameras) take quite satisfactory images.
It might be worth a try with your existing camera.
|
|
|
01-27-2011, 11:56 AM
|
#4
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 120
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailor
I gave up on scanners with the quality of current digital cameras.
Better cameras on macro settings (typically indicated by the flower symbol on compact cameras) take quite satisfactory images.
It might be worth a try with your existing camera.
|
I agree with sailor. I occasionally need to make copies of documents and have found the use of a digital camera with a macro setting to be satisfactory.
To decide if a camera is the way to go, ask yourself
1) is the content the important aspect of the document, or
2) is the aesthetics the important aspect.
Is the answer is 1) then a digital camera should be satisfactory. If 2), then a camera is not the way to go.
My "process" for using the camera is
1) set the picture size to 1 meg (otherwise, you get a humongous copy),
2) select macro setting,
3) place document on dining room table under light fixture,
4) take picture of document while holding camera by hand,
5) review image using camera preview feature. If not sharp, repeat 4.
6) transfer image to PC for long-term storage, printing, etc.
|
|
|
01-27-2011, 12:16 PM
|
#5
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Lake Livingston, Tx
Posts: 4,204
|
My BIL uses one similar to this:
Amazon.com: Canon LiDE200 Color Image Scanner (2924B002): Electronics
he swears by Canon scanners. In fact I think he has two or three. He is the family historian and when he travels he looks up family members on the tree and if they have pictures and documents he scans them in. Several times he has no had his scanner with him and he buys another. Always a Canon. He has been doing this for about 10 years.
__________________
If it is after 5:00 when I post I reserve the right to disavow anything I posted.
|
|
|
01-27-2011, 12:51 PM
|
#6
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,231
|
Amazon.com: Mobileoffice S400 Scanner: Electronics
If you want even smaller
You can look at some of the other recommended ones... I just did a quick search to get this kind...
|
|
|
01-27-2011, 01:33 PM
|
#7
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Denver, Colorado
Posts: 6,258
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailor
I gave up on scanners with the quality of current digital cameras.
Better cameras on macro settings (typically indicated by the flower symbol on compact cameras) take quite satisfactory images.
It might be worth a try with your existing camera.
|
I figured out a long time ago (5-6 years) that a Scanner is nothing more than a fixed focus camera with a handy platform to place things on. (For this discussion, film duplication is not considered.) All a scanner does is take a digital photograph and save it as a (most often) jpeg file. Almost all Digital Cameras have IS (Image Stabillization) anymore so all you have to do is get the lens parallel with the document and push the button.
You can't much more portable than a Camera, particularly if it is part of your telephone.
__________________
"It's tough to make predictions, especially when it involves the future." ~Attributed to many
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is." ~(perhaps by) Yogi Berra
"Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge."~ Lau tzu
|
|
|
01-27-2011, 01:36 PM
|
#8
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,251
|
I lust after the Fujitsu s1500, but that may be more scanner than you need.
__________________
"Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy, she'll beat you if she's able.
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet" -- The Eagles, Desperado
|
|
|
01-27-2011, 03:12 PM
|
#9
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 11,327
|
I agree with Sailor. My compact scanner is my camera.
__________________
Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre -- Albert Camus
|
|
|
01-27-2011, 03:44 PM
|
#10
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,885
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonBoyd
I figured out a long time ago (5-6 years) that a Scanner is nothing more than a fixed focus camera with a handy platform to place things on. (For this discussion, film duplication is not considered.) All a scanner does is take a digital photograph and save it as a (most often) jpeg file. Almost all Digital Cameras have IS (Image Stabillization) anymore so all you have to do is get the lens parallel with the document and push the button.
You can't much more portable than a Camera, particularly if it is part of your telephone.
|
I've done it, it definitely works, is cheap and portable (if you already have an existing camera). But I find the scanner to be far easier if you want decent quality. The flat bed keeps everything aligned (no 'pincushion' or 'keystone' effect) and the built in light gives perfectly even lighting.
But it's an option worth trying. If it suits your needs, you're all set!
-ERD50
|
|
|
01-27-2011, 05:24 PM
|
#11
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hooverville
Posts: 22,983
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ERD50
I've done it, it definitely works, is cheap and portable (if you already have an existing camera). But I find the scanner to be far easier if you want decent quality. The flat bed keeps everything aligned (no 'pincushion' or 'keystone' effect) and the built in light gives perfectly even lighting.
But it's an option worth trying. If it suits your needs, you're all set!
-ERD50
|
I handled my immediate needs this afternoon by walking down to Kinko's and having them scan them onto stick.
I think I will likely go with one of the dedicated scanners mentioned for doing more work, as Kinko's is neither cheap not handy for more than occasional jobs.
Thanks to everyone for the sugestions.
Ha
__________________
"As a general rule, the more dangerous or inappropriate a conversation, the more interesting it is."-Scott Adams
|
|
|
01-27-2011, 06:36 PM
|
#13
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,681
|
__________________
Married, both 69. DH retired June, 2010. I have a pleasant little part time job.
|
|
|
01-28-2011, 11:06 AM
|
#14
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Fairfield County, CT
Posts: 480
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mickj
|
Stay away from these - I have had a few and they were all very flaky. The Fujitsu mentioned above is the gold standard.
|
|
|
01-28-2011, 11:17 AM
|
#15
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,934
|
I've had this one from Canon for a few years, and I've been very happy with it.
__________________
And if I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know.
|
|
|
01-28-2011, 11:53 AM
|
#16
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 739
|
Here is a comparison of a scan from a Canon LIDE600F (older model) and a photo from a LUMIX 12MP camera. Both are 1.5M.
EDIT: After posting, I notice the size will not allow the quality to come thru but when magnified both are razor sharp letters, I swear.
|
|
|
01-28-2011, 01:03 PM
|
#17
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Denver, Colorado
Posts: 6,258
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zero
Here is a comparison of a scan from a Canon LIDE600F (older model) and a photo from a LUMIX 12MP camera. Both are 1.5M.
EDIT: After posting, I notice the size will not allow the quality to come thru but when magnified both are razor sharp letters, I swear.
|
That's what I was talking about. A little more experience with the camera and they would have been identical -- focal length, for instance, to get rid of the distortion. If that is even important.
I use the Sun to provide light... either inside near a window or outside on a table. Use direct sunlight (if it doesn't reflect) and let the camera choose the settings.
__________________
"It's tough to make predictions, especially when it involves the future." ~Attributed to many
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is." ~(perhaps by) Yogi Berra
"Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge."~ Lau tzu
|
|
|
01-28-2011, 02:06 PM
|
#18
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 739
|
Yeah, the paper would not lay completely flat, so the scanner took care of that. Someone above mentioned that the key is whether you just need to capture the data or you need a nice repro, so each probably has it's own unique advantages.
Just thought I would do my own Consumer Reports testing, and from what I saw on my screen, at 2x viewing all the letters on both were razor sharp. So for keeping copies of bills, or making a copy to archived data, the camera seems more than adequate.
|
|
|
01-28-2011, 02:16 PM
|
#19
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,934
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Onward
I've had this one from Canon for a few years, and I've been very happy with it.
|
My mistake. I recommended a copier, not a scanner.
I use a Lexmark X1150 inkjet scanner, and I'm happy with it.
__________________
And if I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know.
|
|
|
01-29-2011, 04:14 PM
|
#20
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 94
|
Fujitsu Snap Scan is an excellent stand alone scanner but cost around $400 or so. It has a bulk feed, double sided and easy to set up. I use it in my office and love it.
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|