Summary List
9.00/10
1.
Premium pick:
Epson FastFoto FF-680W
9.20/10
2.
Editors choice:
Plustek Photo Scanner
8.60/10
3.
Best value:
Canon CanoScan Lide 300 Scanner
9.20/10
4.
Doxie Go SE
8.40/10
5.
Kodak SCANZA Digital Film And Slide Scanner
9.00/10
6.
Epson Perfection V600
9.20/10
7.
Canon ImageFORMULA DR-C225 II
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The digital age has made it easy to capture and store photos that you can access in just a few seconds. But most of us probably have a plethora of old photos in a drawer or somewhere else that signifies a special memory with family or friends.
To help bring those old prints to the modern age, there are some great photo scanners that can scan photos into a digital format.
We're highlighting some of the best photo scanners available today.
Premium pick
1. Epson FastFoto FF-680W
9.00 / 10
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If you have a mountain of photos to scan, take a look at the Epson FastFoto FF-680W. At 300 DPI resolution, you can scan as fast as one image per second.
The high-resolution photo scanner can also scan at up to 1,200 DPI with prints 8.5-inches wide and smaller. It can also capture any notes on the back of a photo in a single scan. The scanner can handle different sizes of prints in a single job to save even more time.
Thanks to built-in Wi-Fi, the scanner doesn't need to be placed near a computer, but you can connect it to a computer if necessary. Along with a computer, you can automatically send scans to Dropbox or Google Drive to access anywhere.
Epson includes Mac or Windows software that allows even inexperienced users to edit, crop, and restore the images.
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Key Features
Scan as fast as one photo per second at 300 DPI
Can scan at up to 1,200 DPI
Captures notes on the back of a photo in one scan
Specifications
Brand: Epson
Connectivity: Wi-Fi
Autofeed: Yes
Resolution: Up to 1,200 DPI
Size: Up to 8.5 inches wide
Pros
Built-in Wi-Fi so it doesn't need to placed near a computer
Can handle multiple photo sizes in a single job
Cons
Expensive compared to other options
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Editors choice
2. Plustek Photo Scanner
9.20 / 10
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As you could probably tell by the name, the Plustek Photo Scanner is designed explicitly for images. The scanner supports 3x5-inch, 4x6-inch, 5x7-inch, and 8x10-inch photos. You can save scans to a Mac or PC at 300 dpi or 600 dpi. With speed in mind, a 4x6-inch photo can scan in just two seconds.
A unique soft roller helps protect fragile photos from any damage or scratches during a scan. The included software allows you to quickly and easily restore the old image with many different quick fixes. More advanced editing functions are also available.
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Key Features
Scans in 300 or 600 DPI
Can scan a 4x6-inch photo in as as fast as two seconds
Scans a wide variety of image sizes
Specifications
Brand: Plustek
Connectivity: USB
Autofeed: No
Resolution: Up to 600 DPI
Size: Up to 8 x 10 inches
Pros
Soft roller will help protect fragile photos
Provided software offers advanced image editing functions
Cons
Doesn't scan at high resolutions needed for larger reprints
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Best value
3. Canon CanoScan Lide 300 Scanner
8.60 / 10
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The Canon CanoScan Lide 300 Scanner is a reasonably priced way to scan photos to your Mac or Windows PC. The compact scanner won't take up a lot of room on your desk. A single USB cable also provides power and data transfer to the scanner.
You can save images at up to 2,400 DPI for high-quality reprints. Your scans can even be as fast as 10 seconds per image. While scanning, the unit can automatically correct faded photos and reduce dust.
Four one-touch buttons on the front of the scanner can help you quickly scan to a PDF, automatically detect what is being scanned, start a copy, and even scan directly to a cloud storage service like Dropbox.
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Key Features
Scans at up to 2,400 DPI
Four customizable buttons on front of scanner
Can scan large books or magazines
Specifications
Brand: Canon
Connectivity: USB
Autofeed: No
Resolution: Up to 2,400 DPI
Size: Up to 8.5x11.7 inches
Pros
Power and data is provided through a single USB cable
Small size
Cons
Needs to be placed near computer
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Canon CanoScan Lide 300 Scanner
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4. Doxie Go SE
9.20 / 10
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If you're after an excellent portable, wireless photo scanner, consider the Doxie Go SE. The unit has a built-in rechargeable battery, which allows you to scan up to 400 images on a single charge.
You can store up to 4,000 images in the small scanner's memory before having to sync with a computer. To increase the memory, you can also add your own larger-capacity SD card.
You can scan images up to a resolution of 600 DPI. With Doxie's macOS and Windows-compatible software, you can save and edit photos or send them to cloud storage services like Dropbox, iCloud, OneNote, or Evernote.
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Key Features
Images can be scanned at up to 600 DPI
Memory can store up to 4,000 images
Add SD card to expand memory
Specifications
Brand: Doxie
Connectivity: SD Card
Autofeed: No
Resolution: Up to 600 DPI
Size: Up to 8.5 inches wide
Pros
Scan up to 400 images with the built-in battery
Also great for documents
Cons
SD card not included
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5. Kodak SCANZA Digital Film And Slide Scanner
8.40 / 10
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Alongside physical prints, you might have old images on a film or a slide. The Kodak SCANZA Digital Film and Slide Scanner can quickly and easily convert those to a digital format in just a few seconds.
The portable scanner is compatible with Super 8, 35mm, 110, and 126 films and 35mm, 110, and 126 slides. Kodak provides all of the adaptors for the different formats, too.
The scanner features a 3.5-inch LCD screen that can tilt up if necessary. On-screen instructions help you select the correct adapter to use and also allow you to view the image.
You can do quick edits on the scanner screen and interface. All of the images can be saved at up to 22 megapixels. If you're not around a computer for exporting, the scans can be saved to an optional SD card or even viewed on a TV screen with the included HDMI cable.
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Key Features
Compatible with a wide variety of film and slide formats
Adaptors included for all different formats
Images can be saved at 22 megapixels
Specifications
Brand: Kodak
Connectivity: USB
Autofeed: No
Resolution: Up to 22MP
Pros
Images can be saved on optional SD card when away from computer
Included HDMI cable to see photos on a television
Cons
Doesn't scan printed photos
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6. Epson Perfection V600
9.00 / 10
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The Epson Perfection V600 is a great way to scan any photos to digital using either a Mac or Windows PC. Along with prints, you can also scan 35mm slides, negatives, and film.
The high-resolution scanner can save images at up to 6,400 DPI, allowing high-quality reprints at up to 17x22-inches. Fortunately, there's no warmup time, unlike some other models.
When scanning film, superior technology helps remove the appearance of dust and scratches, along with tears and creases for the best possible image. The Easy Photo Fix feature will also help bring faded photos back to life.
And the scanner can help with more than just photos. Four customizable buttons on the front of the unit can scan automatically scan, copy, scan to an email, or create a PDF.
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Key Features
Scans photos, 35mm slides, negatives, and film
No warmup time
Four customizable buttons on the front of the scanner
Specifications
Brand: Epson
Connectivity: USB
Autofeed: No
Resolution: Up to 6,400 DPI
Size: Up to 8.5x11.7 inches
Pros
Works with Mac or Windows PC
Allows for reprints at up to 17x22-inches
Cons
Large size requires space near a computer
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7. Canon ImageFORMULA DR-C225 II
9.20 / 10
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Canon's ImageFORMULA DR-C225 II makes scanning photos easy. The document feeder can handle multiple images in a single pass. It can even scan photos directly to cloud storage service providers like Dropbox and Google Drive.
You can scan photos at up to 600 DPI, and both sides of a photo will be saved in a single pass. Designed to work with a Mac or Windows PC, the scanner features a space-saving design and a built-in cable organizer.
And when you're done with scanning photos, the unit can also handle other types of documents like receipts, business cards, and credit cards.
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Key Features
Scans photos at up to 600 DPI
One pass to scan both sides of a photo
Can scan image directly too cloud services like Dropbox
Specifications
Brand: Canon
Connectivity: USB
Autofeed: Yes
Resolution: Up to 600 DPI
Size: Up to 8.5 inches wide
Pros
Mac and Windows PC-compatible
Designed to scan photos and documents
Cons
No wireless functionality, so it needs to be near a computer
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Canon ImageFORMULA DR-C225 II
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FAQ
Q: What Is the Best Way to Digitize Old Photos?
By far, the best way to digitize your old photos is with a scanner. No matter what shape the images are in, a scanner allows you to easily save the picture in a digital format so you can keep the memory forever. There are various scanners in different price ranges that can help you quickly scan photos to view on a computer or mobile device.
Q: Is It Better to Scan Photos as a PDF or JPG?
When scanning photos, always select a JPG format. The PDF option is explicitly designed for documents and not images.
Images scanned as a PDF are more difficult to edit and won't be as high of quality as a photo saved as a JPG.
The JPG format is widely compatible with image editing software like Adobe Photoshop. Other formats to save images to include PNG or TIFF.
Q: Should I Scan Photos at 300 or 600 DPI?
If you've never heard of DPI, the initialism stands for dots per inch. It's a measurement of how much data is captured when a photo is scanned.
When scanning photos, make sure to scan at a minimum of 300 DPI. That will allows you to print the digital image without any loss of quality.
There are other options to scan photos, including 600 DPI and even 1,200 DPI or higher. Those settings will capture the image at an even higher resolution.
That makes it perfect if you're planning on making large-format reprints of those images. The one drawback to note is that a higher DPI scan will take up significantly more space.
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