There are now many apps that allow you to transform any smartphone into a scanner: frame a document or a photo with the phone’s camera and, in a few seconds.
You can get excellent quality digital files. In some cases, however, real scanners, those that deal exclusively with the digitization of documents or photographs, are still needed.
If you think you need a scanner and are looking for some advice on which scanner to buy, know that you’ve come to the right place!
Below you will find a list of best photo scaneers belonging to various categories and various price ranges that might be right for you; also there are a series of tips that should help you identify the type of product that best suits you.
- World’s Fastest Personal Photo Scanner (1) — scan thousands of photos as fast as 1 photo per second at 300 dpi (2); batch-scan...
- Preserve Your Priceless Photos — restore, organize, protect and share photos; scan Polaroid photos, panoramas, postcards and...
- Share Stories for Future Generations — use the Epson FastFoto app (3) to add voice and text over your photos or create...
- Perfect Picture Imaging System — bring new life to old photos with auto enhancement, color restoration, red-eye reduction,...
- Single-step Technology — capture both the image and any handwritten notes on the back of a photo in a single scan
- Amazing image clarity and detail — 4800 dpi optical resolution (1), ideal for photo enlargements
- Epson ScanSmart software included (4) — easily scan photos, artwork, illustrations, books, documents and more
- One-touch scanning (2) — scan in fewer steps with easy-to-use buttons (2)
- Restore color to faded photos — with one click, Easy Photo Fix technology makes it simple
- Scan books and photo albums — high-rise, removable lid
- Scanner type: Document
- Connectivity technology: USB
- With Auto Scan Mode, the scanner automatically detects what you're scanning
- Digitize documents and images
- The easiest way to scan photos and documents. Supports 3x5, 4x6, 5x7, and 8x10 in sizes photo scanning but also letter and A4 size...
- Fast and easy, 2 seconds for one 4x6 photo and 5 seconds for one 8x10 size photo@300dpi. You can easily convert about 1000 photos...
- More efficient than a flatbed scanner. Just insert the photos one by one and then scan. This makes ePhoto much more efficient than...
- Powerful Image Enhancement functions included. Quickly enhance and restore old faded images with a click of the mouse.
- ePhoto Z300 works with both Mac and PC : Supports Windows 7/8/10/11 , Mac OS X 10.10 to 13.x , User can download the latest...
- High quality scanning for photos and documents : 4800 dpi optical resolution (1) for amazing clarity and detail
- Preserve priceless memories: Restore, archive and share family photos for generations to come
- Scan to Google Drive and other cloud services (2): Epson Document Capture Pro and Easy Photo Scan software included
- Convenient: Easy to use buttons for scan jobs, plus a space saving built in kickstand for vertical placement
- Scan over sized prints, documents and artwork : ArcSoft Scan n Stitch Deluxe 2 included (3)
- FAST SPEEDS - Scans color and black and white documents a blazing speed up to 16ppm (1). Color scanning won’t slow you down as...
- ULTRA COMPACT – At less than 1 foot in length and only about 1. 5lbs in weight you can fit this device virtually anywhere (a...
- READY WHENEVER YOU ARE – The DS-640 mobile scanner is powered via an included micro USB 3. 0 cable allowing you to use it even...
- WORKS YOUR WAY – Use the Brother free iPrint&Scan desktop app for scanning to multiple “Scan-to” destinations like PC,...
- OPTIMIZE IMAGES AND TEXT – Automatic color detection/adjustment, image rotation (PC only), bleed through prevention/background...
- 5”LCD DISPLAY FOR VISUAL ENJOYMENT: Features Large, Crystal-Clear Screen with Wide Viewing Angle for Instantly Previewing &...
- 4 IN 1 FILM & SLIDE SCANNER: No Computer Required.22MP Digital Film Scanner Lets You View & Convert Your Old Color & B&W Negatives...
- SUPER CHIC AND Best Gifts for Families and Friends：KEDOK Negative Scanner Handles All Your Old Slides & Negatives, Supports Sd...
- EDITING WITH A SINGLE TOUCH: No Complex Screens or Settings! Just to Select Scan Photo or Film,Easy Options Let You Choose Film...
- PACKAGE INCLUDED & SATISFIED WARRANTY: Full Set Includes,Scanner ,USB Data Cable, Power Adapter, 8GB SD Card, Cleaning Cloth,...
- Scan up to 4 x 6 photos directly onto your PC or memory card
- Scans to JPEG output format, at resolution of up to 1800 x 1200 or 300 dpi
- 5-in-1 card reader supports SD, MS, MS-Pro, MMC, and xD formats
- Ultra-portable scanner is just over six inches wide and 1.5 inches deep
- Free 512 MB SD Card included with scanner
- SAVE OLD PHOTO MEMORIES: 1422MP Digital Film Scanner Lets You View, Edit and Convert Your Old Color and BandW Negatives 135, 110,...
- 5” LCD DISPLAY WITH GALLERY MODE: Features Large, Crystal-Clear Screen with Wide Viewing Angle for Instantly Previewing and...
- CONVENIENT EASY-LOAD FILM INSERTS: Quick-Feeding Tray Technology Allows for Continuous Loading Action, Making Scanning Fast and...
- EDITING WITH A SINGLE TOUCH: Advanced Capture Software Enhances, Resizes and Converts Photos Via Easy ‘Scan’ Button—No...
- SUPER CHIC. UBER COMPATIBLE: Device Handles All Your Old Slides and Negatives, Supports SD or SDHC Cards Up to 32GB (NOT INCLUDED)...
- Optimized user experience: ScanSnap iX1600 features an intuitive 4.3 inch touch screen for complete end to end scanning and data...
- Customize your preference: The scanner supports up to 30 customizable profiles; Customize the profile on the touch screen based on...
- Scan anywhere you want whenever you want: Wi-Fi compatibility allows you to directly connect to your smart devices or cloud...
- Great for both individuals and teams: Personalized icons for multiple users make it easy to use the touch screen at a glance
- Preserve Photo Memories: Scan 4" x 6" photos in under a second with intelligent features such as auto facial orientation and...
- DIGITIZE PAPER PHOTOGRAPHS – Create lasting memories with digital montages or scrapbooks, share with friends and family or store...
- FAST AND EFFICIENT – Scans both sides of photos and documents at the same time with just the touch of a button, at up to 40...
- BUNDLED SOFTWARE – Includes software for enhancing photos, red-eye correction, digital face smoothing, and more; also scan,...
- HIGHLY FLEXIBLE – Handles photos and documents including Polaroids, receipts, cards, driver licenses, and tax documents of...
- BROAD COMPATIBILITY – Supports Windows and Mac; TWAIN driver included
- 【Easy to Carry--Portable Scanner】Length: 9.5 in = 1.5 pens. Weight: 0.66 lbs = An apple. Carry way: Small bag. Power Source: a...
- 【Easy to Scan--Handheld Scan】Portable Scanner scans your photos, documents, book pages in 3-5 seconds on 900 dpi resolution...
- 【Easy to use--No Driver】Portable Scanner does not require downloading a driver. Easily connect the portable scanner to a...
- 【Easy to Digitalize--Clear Image】The highest 900dpi scan resolution can convert pictures, documents, book pages, or other...
- 【Easy to Store--16G SD Card】Wand scanner with 16G SD card will store thousands of scan files. With OCR software, easy to...
- Easily scan photos up to 8.5x11
- Scan directly to SD card and comes with five in one reader that reads SD/MS/MSPRO/MMC/XD
- No PC needed
- Resolution of 600dpi
- Simple transfer to your digital photo frame or PC
Best Photo Scanner Buyer Guide
Type, resolution, colors, and scanning speed are just some of the factors to consider before purchasing the best automatic slide scanner for your needs.
For this reason, before moving on to the list of the best devices, it is essential to clarify all the technical characteristics to be evaluated before clicking on the “buy” button.
Resolution
Resolution is another significant factor in which sharpness and image quality depend. Many scanners allow you to choose between 300 DPI, 600 DPI, and 1200 DPI.
Figures that do nothing but represent the density of pixels per inch of a scan that is the resolution. For a standard document, the most suitable decision is 600 DPI, while for a photograph it is recommended to scan at 1200 DPI.
Dmax
One of the most important factors to consider before purchasing a best scanner is the so-called Dmax. It is a value that measures the optical density and the quality of the details that the device can record mainly in the shadows of the negatives or the brightest light points.
Clearly, the higher the Dmax level, the greater the detail captured by the scanner.
Dust Reduction
Given the nature and composition of the slides, it is crucial to verify that the model chosen supports the dust reduction technology.
This allows you to eliminate the imperfections of the image caused precisely by the grains of dust. The result is a cleaner, sharper image with higher quality.
Compatibility
Compatibility is a fundamental feature, which must be verified based on the computer to which the automatic slide scanner will be connected.
If you are using a Windows computer, the problems may be few. Still, things may change if you are using a Mac or a laptop with Linux. In essence, it is therefore essential, before buying your wireless scanner, to make sure that the model chosen is compatible with the operating system installed on the computer.
Best Inexpensive Slide Scanner
Once clear the factors to consider, let’s move on to the real buying guide. We will start with the most exciting devices of the low end, devices that despite being very cheap guarantee excellent value for money.
Range and Speed
Another important aspect, especially if the need to purchase a best photo scanner is to place it in an office, and it is the speed of the device, or its ability to scan a certain number of pages in a minute.
Some models, for example, can host multiple sheets or photographs at the same time and scan them without you having to “assist” them. In this way, you will save precious time.
The last technical aspect to consider is the dynamic range. Still, it is an assessment to be made only if you are interested in scanning photographs and slides since it indicates the ability to reproduce the details of the image with various levels of brightness, going to recognize the darkest and lightest areas.
Flat, Duplex or Automatic
Comparing the prices, the cost changes are related to the type of device, since there are three different versions. The most popular model is the flatbed scanner, designed to scan documents on a single page. It is characterized by a cheaper cost but is not very fast and therefore suitable for occasional use.
The scanner with automatic feeder, on the other hand, is more extensive and is designed to scan a large number of documents, thanks to the feeder that allows you to load all the pages and then perform the operation.
Fast and autonomous, it is ideal for offices or if you need high volumes.
Finally, duplex models have sensors on both sides and are therefore able to scan the front and back of a document in one go.
Sheetfed Scanners
These are scanners that look similar to fax machines or best epson printers designed for professional use. They scan documents line by line and include an automatic loader (ADF) that allows you to scan multiple documents in series.
They are perfect for text documents, while they are not suitable for scanning photos and other “graphic” content. They are generally more expensive than flatbed scanners.
Sending and Receiving Directly from The Cloud
Once this aspect has been clarified, we can say without a shadow of a doubt that the iX500 ScanSnap scanner is characterized by excellent performance, and is specifically designed to facilitate communication with networks as much as possible.
This means that you will no longer be forced to make the files pass on your computer, as in the case of scanners equipped with the TWAIN standard. You can download or send them directly on your smartphone, on the Cloud, or as email attachments, in an easy and above all fast way.
High System Compatibility
The iX500 scanner has a CIS image sensor, therefore in color, capable of performing double-sided scans simultaneously, with a maximum resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 dpi in black and white and 600 x 600 dpi in color.
In addition to Wi-Fi connectivity, it also has a USB 3.0 interface, compatible with versions 2.0 and 1.1, is extremely compact, with a footprint of only 29.2 x 15.9 x 16.8 cm, and is compatible with Windows, Mac systems and currently most popular Cloud services.
As regards the file format, it is compatible with PDF, also in the searchable version, JPEG, Word, and Excel with modification options, smartphones, tablets, and cameras, and it can scan business cards.
The management software is straightforward and intuitive, and offers a wide range of scan modes; buyers particularly appreciated this in this respect, as well as for the ease of interfacing with the web and mobile devices.
