Photo scanners can help you to digitize your photo collection. You probably want to scan your photos as a backup, which may prove to be very helpful if something unusual happens to your original copies. Photo scanners are a bit different than regular scanners; as you typically insert your photo and the adjustable tray can be fitted to the size of the printed paper. The best photo scanner manufacturers include Epson, Canon, and Kodak and those brands comprise our reviewed products.
Photo scanners are relatively affordable. The top-rated scanners on our list start at just under $100. Here are the reasons that these are our best photo scanners:
- The Epson FastFoto FF-680W is capable of scanning up to 36 images in one pass.
- The Epson’s Perfection V850 Pro can enhance damaged photos during the scanning process.
- The Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 is a great budget photo scanner that can work well for amateurs or professionals.
- The Kodak Mobile Film Scanner works great for film pictures.
1. Epson FastFoto FF-680W
The Epson FastFoto FF-680W is one of the quickest photo scanners around and it’s not because of the one-second scans, but the features it has like the auto feeder and cloud backups. These handy features are very useful in automating much of the process and reducing the scan time.
The FF-680W is capable of scanning 36 images at a time. Images can be 8.5 inches in width and 36 inches in length and the scanner will take about a second to scan out an image. Despite having this much scanning speed, the scanner maintains a decent 300 dpi resolution of each scan. Those scanned images are then automatically uploaded to any selected cloud platform like Google Drive or Dropbox, or you can also save them to a USB drive.
You can also get double-sided scans, which can be helpful for the images with notes on the back. It will also cut your scanning time in half. The speed of the FastFoto FF-680W and its convenient scanning options have earned this scanner a top position in our list.
The FastFoto won’t deliver you premium quality prints but it will certainly give you the best results and won’t leave you waiting for hours to get the job done. That’s why this photo scanner works well for many users.
2. Epson Perfection V850 Pro
Epson’s Perfection V850 Pro is an excellent photo scanner designed for professional photographers and enthusiasts alike. Not only does it deliver results in very high resolution, but it can also tackle both photos and negatives.
The scanner features a dual-lens system that is capable of selecting the optimal lens automatically and gives an optical resolution of up to 4800 dpi for reflective photo scanning and 6400 dpi with film holders.
It comes with Digital ICE technology, which successfully repairs damaged photos or old photos, and the high dynamic range produces photos with great detail, color accuracy, and a dynamic range that matches the original. This machine is expensive, but for professionals, this is one of the best photo scanners available right now.
3. Epson Perfection V600
The Epson Perfection V600 has been equipped with some great features of high-end models similar to the V850. It boasts the same maximum optical resolution of 6400 dpi and 48-bit color depth, but with the V600, you will get professional-level photo scans at an affordable price tag.
The V600 comes with holders that can scan both photos and film. It has Digital ICE technology, which helps repair dust and scratches from older photos. This futuristic feature ensures that your photo collection looks like new. The V600, however, has compatibility issues with the wet-mount plate of the V850.
Duplex scanning or an auto-feed are some of the most advanced features of the pro-level V850. You won’t find them on the V600, meaning the scanner can take more time to handle large volumes of images and make your scanning job tedious. But if we talk about the resolution and dual-purpose film and photo scanning, no other photo scanner comes close to the V600, especially at this price point.
4. Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 Slim Scanner
You don’t need to invest hundreds of dollars just to digitize your photos. That’s where the Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 comes in. It is being offered at less than three-figure price point but still packs those amazing must-have features that are necessary for a photo scanner.
The maximum optical resolution of 4,800 dpi looks quite decent and can’t be expected from a cheap photo scanner. The results are great quality and it takes only a few seconds to deliver them.
The LiDE 400 can handle photos and documents up to 8.5×11.7 inches. It’s lightweight and has a slim design. The scanner is fairly easy-to-use. With the help of a single USB cable, it can handle both power and data.
This budget-friendly model also gives you the option to send your data to a cloud platform, but unlike other WiFi supported scanners, you would need to connect it to your PC for that purpose.
5. Kodak Mobile Film Scanner
Kodak Mobile Film Scanner is a very budget-friendly option, which converts the camera of your smartphone into a scanner. The process is a little different than the Google cardboard platform as the light here is underneath the film holder and you don’t need to provide the backlight, stand, and film holder like a complete cardboard setup.
Image quality totally depends on the smartphone’s camera. You won’t get the excellent quality with a single-lens camera phone but it can be improved if you are using a phone with an extra telephoto lens.
It can be the best option for casual users but certainly not ideal for serious photographers. However, it’s hard to beat at this price point. Users who want to scan old film should consider buying this inexpensive scanner.
Picking the Best Photo Scanner
Photo scanners have become more important and from casual to professional, they are being extensively used. We have arranged some of the best photo scanners above. They cover professional levels and some of them are offered at a very affordable price. You can check their features and short description, and pick the best for your needs.
