Scanner Question

[mccoady]

I'm getting a new scanner for Xmas and I'm thinking about the Epson 3490 ($100), Canon 8400 ($130) or the HP 4850 ($150). I will mainly use this for scanning text and photos like cd and dvd covers etc. and maybe film photos once in awhile but that will not be a priority. After some research there doesn't seem to be alot of differences in scanners unless you do alot of film scanning and then it seems you should spend a little money (say $250?). I think the above listed scanners are all pretty good but I'm leaning toward the Epson because it seems to do most things well without spending alot, does anyone have any opinions on the above scanners like which is the best value? Or maybe had good or bad experiences with the software that comes installed with each?

Also my brother is getting the HP 4850 for Xmas mainly because he says it's maximum scan size is 8.5" x 12.3" and he says it's important to him that when scanning text it scans larger than the standard 8 1/2" x 11" sheets of paper so he gets everything on the page. Now wouldn't all scanners made now do this without having to look specifically for one that does? I do know with some older scanners like my (Canon 620?) you have to arrange 8 1/2" x 11" sheets just right on the scanner or it will leave part of the page off. So Is it important to look for scanners that scan larger than standard printer paper to get the whole thing scanned right if scanning text is important?

[ROF]

First you can tell your brother that all three of these scanners have a maximum scan surface of 8.27 in. x 11.69 in. or A4 paper size. This is plenty big for normal scanner usage. The HP has a higher optical resolution but it achieves this via software and will produce those scans much slower than both the canon and epson because of it.

Given these choices, I'd opt for the Epson. Why? My personal preference for scanning is all.

[guns1inger]

If it achieves it via software then it isn't optical resolution, it's interpolated resolution that is about as clear as a bicubic resize (it might even be a bicubic resize).

[thecoalman]

and he says it's important to him that when scanning text it scans larger than the standard 8 1/2" x 11" sheets of paper so he gets everything on the page.

If you want to scan documents larger than that with one scan you need one with a bigger bed. All current scanners will scan a normal sheet of paper fully.

[ROF]

How do you define normal? Letter Size? Legal Size? A4? A3? B1?

My scanner, an Epson, will scan 11.5 x 17 in one scan.

[thecoalman]

How do you define normal?

The standard 8.5 x 11 that I and everyone else use the most. (at least in the US)

I'm sure your defintion varies.

[ROF]

Nope, I'm in the US too so letter size is what I would call normal as well.

[mccoady]

Good that's what I wanted to know that all current scanners would indeed scan the full page without leaving something off. I was never really seriously considering the HP until my brother brought that up and it does have a larger bed (8.5x12.3) so maybe he needs that to scan things I'm unaware of.

I was really trying to decide between the Epson and the Canon. The Epson 3490 is a new model with hardly any use reviews yet, although it has been sort of reviewed by PC Mag and PC World but I didn't know how much credence to put into them. The Canon 8400 is an older model and has plenty of good reviews although the physical size is quite large. So I was leaning toward the Epson because of the smaller size and hoping it would compare closely to the Canon in performance.

[ROF]

I'd go with the Epson. I simply enjoy the Epson line of scanners. Canon is good too, but with the price difference and similiar specs of both, I'd go with the Epson.