!9# Finding the Best Photo Scanner - What to Look for

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Are you looking to buy a new photo scanner? If so, this article is definitely for you. We will start by comparing standard scanners to photo scanners. We will then take a look at some features to keep an eye out for. We will then finish off with a look at the main brands and their product ranges.

Standard Scanners vs Photo Scanners

First things first, you need to decide on what type of scanner it is that you want. Do you want a versatile all-round flatbed scanner which is able to scan all kinds of documents, or do you want a dedicated photo film scanner, designed specifically just for scanning photos? Or do you want a combination of the two, a photo film scanner that is also able to scan other documents.

The advantages of owning a good all-round scanner is that you can use it not just for photos but for scanning anything. However, with a dedicated photo scanner, you will get a machine that is perfectly suited to getting the best out of your photographs, with excellent image resolution, highly sensitive color, slide and photo negative holders, as well as many other photography-specific features and functions.

Features of a Good Photo Scanner

There are a whole host of features that your scanner may come with, but here are some important ones to be on the look out for:Film & Transparency Scanning: is the scanner designed specifically for scanning films and transparencies? Check to see what fittings it comes with and whether it is able to scan your chosen medium. High Scanning Resolution: an example of a scanner with good resolution would be the Canon CanoScan 9000F, which has a maximum 9600 x 9600 color resolution along with a 48-bit color depth and over 281 trillion colors. Photo Restoration: if you are scanning old photo negatives, then it's useful to be able to instantly retouch any imperfections along the way. Bundled Photo Software: once you've scanned in your photos, you want to be able to view and edit them on your computer, so it's useful if the scanner comes with some good photo editing software.Top Photo Scanner Brands & Their Product Ranges

Of course, there are many brands out there that make scanners, but here are the main photo scanner brands:

SVP: -0. A large range of dedicated photo film scanners at very reasonable prices. Epson: 0-,500. A good selection of products spread across an extremely wide price range. Pacific Image Electronics: -0. A small selection of dedicated photo film scanners. Nikon: 0-,000. A small selection of dedicated photo film scanners, spread across an extremely wide price range. HP: -8. A small selection of scanners at good prices.