OT: Scanner recommendations

[Anthony S.]

My HP All-in-One has been giving me problems off and on for so long that my resolve is finally teetering on the edge of triumphing over my inertia. My most recent card scans must have board members wondering if they're developing glaucoma. Haven't decided whether to buy a new all-in-one or just go the scanner route (as the printer on my All-in-One works fine). Wanted to get some opinions on products/models that work for y'all.

[JK]

The Epson Perfection line does well.

[Leon]

I use a Microtek S400 and it works great. Just make sure you get a high speed USB port version 2 on whatever scanner you get.....they are much faster than the older versions....

[Jacklitsch]

Originally Posted by JK

The Epson Perfection line does well.

Yep. I have the 3590 Photo and it works great,

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Anthony S.

My HP All-in-One has been giving me problems off and on for so long that my resolve is finally teetering on the edge of triumphing over my inertia. My most recent card scans must have board members wondering if they're developing glaucoma. Haven't decided whether to buy a new all-in-one or just go the scanner route (as the printer on my All-in-One works fine). Wanted to get some opinions on products/models that work for y'all.

Anthony - I just had this happen with my HP D145 AIO that I had for 7+ years. I researched over 20 different AIO models (basically the top inkjet models from HP, Brother, Canon, Lexmark and a few others) and found only 2 models that had the 3 features I wanted:
1) CCD scanner - this is THE key if you want decent looking scans of graded cards. CCD technology takes a good image of something that's not directly pressed against the flatbed which is what happen when a card is in a slab.
2) Duplex printing/copying - I do a lot of article printing so the ability to have it automatically do 2 sided printing is important
3) Wireless connectivity - this was more of a "nice to have" but my wife gets annoyed at having to turn on the computer connected to the unit in order to print instead of just being able to print from her laptop.

Those 3 requirements in an "All in One" unit narrowed it down to the HP L7780 and the Canon MP980. Whereas the HP was praised in reviews for cartridges lasting longer then on a laser unit, the Canon was almost universally criticized for being an ink hog and having to replace the cartridge way to often. That made my choice for me - ordered the HP 2 days ago from NewEgg.com for $250 delivered.

If you want in AIO and don't need the duplex copying/printing the HP Photosmart C8180 outclassed everything by a ton. The CCD scanner on that model is 9600 DPI, which is off the charts.

[Kotton King]

I use the Canoscan 4400F. It's an absolutely fantastic scanner and does well with SGC, PSA, and BVG slabs. On Amazon.com it can be purchased for around $100.

There are a lot of members that use this scanner.

Here are examples of each slab (SGC, PSA, BVG) and a raw card scan.

1909-11 T-206 Tinker, Joe (portrait) BROWN HINDU.jpg

1909-11 T-206 Johnson, Walter (portrait) SOVEREIGN 150.jpg

1909-11 T-206 Lajoie, Nap (bat on shoulder) OLD MILL.jpg

1909-11 E90-1 Chase, Hal (American Caramel).jpg

[Jason Carota]

Originally Posted by Kotton King

I use the Canoscan 4400F. It's an absolutely fantastic scanner and does well with SGC, PSA, and BVG slabs.

I use the 4400F, as well. The scan quality (for both raw and graded cards) is excellent for the price. Although I have cropped the slab out, this Speaker is in a PSA case:

[calvindog]

I have the Canon 8800F and it's wonderful.

[Anthony S.]

Wow, that's a nice scan. Thanks for all the recommendations so far, guys.

[Old Mill Man]

I love Canon the best,crisp and vivid pics.

[PSACJ]

Calvindog,

How did you scan your card in order to look that way. It scaned very nice. I have a Canon 4400F and I'm trying to adjust my scanner properly in order to get scans in high quality as yours.

Andy

[prestigecollectibles]

My Canon CanoScan 8800F Flatbed Scanner just arrived today.
It uses a CCD scan element and Hi-Speed USB.

[Matt]

For comparative purposes, the first image was taken with a CIS scanner (HP 8500 Pro), the second with a CCD scanner (my now deceased HP D145).