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In our review of the $250 Epson V600 we published a Short Course on Scanning that covers the key topics of resolution, sharpness, Dmax, bit depth, connection speed, batch scanning, software, film carriers and calibration targets. It's easy enough to snap a photo and get a great image almost every time but scanning a print of that image can take a lot of skill. So we still recommend taking the shoeboxes to a reliable lab for quick digitization of your collection and using a scanner at home to work on your favorite images.Īs we took a CanoScan 8800F through its pace, we tried to see if it could compete with the leading desktop scanners as well as the scanners found in inexpensive multifunction devices. Scanning, even on a nimble unit like the CanoScan 8800F, is never going to be as fast as taking a snapshot. There's no way around that, unfortunately.
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The only bad news is how long it takes to scan that shoebox. And the modest $200 list price ($175 street) for the CanoScan 8800F is even better news, although that price tag is in the same neighborhood as a multifunction device which includes a scanner. That's good news for the amateur with a few shoeboxes in the closet. Relying on an LED light source and a generic profile to drive their own well-organized software, these scanners can deliver perfectly delightful results from negatives, slides and prints without requiring a degree from Scanning University.
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