A few questions about scanners?

Question

What are the different kinds of scanners in the market?
What qualities do good scanners have?
How much does scanners cost?

If possible, can you mention any websites where I can find this information?

Answer 1

Most scanners are flatbeds, in that you lay the original face-down on the glass and scan it like in a photocopy machine. Some are available with sheet-feeders, useful for scanning stacks of originals (again, like the sheet feeders on copy machines). I don't think there are many roll-through scanners any more.

Then there are the "All-in ones" -- devices which are both scanners and printers.

There are also transparancy scanners, for scanning photographic slides. (High resolution and designed for transmitted rather than reflective light).

Qualities: resolution and speed. Most consumer-grade scanners scan at around 300 dots per inch, though high quality ones can scan at 10 times that resolution or more. Unless you're doing professional work, you don't need that kind of resolution.

You can get a scanner or an all-in-one from HP or Epson (or probably other manufacturers like Canon) for under $100, and if you look for sales or rebates you might find one for $50 or so.

As far as quality, I've scanned a 4 by 6 photo on my HP 4180, then printed it out, and the duplicate looked just as good to my naked eye (though I'm sure if I'd used a lens I'd have noticed some degradation).

www.hp.com
www.epson.com
www.canon.com

Answer 2

Try the EPSON website.