Finding the best photo scanner for your needs is really about determining the way that you’ll be using the scanner. You’ll want to factor in the type of photos you’ll be converting into digital format. That means thinking about photo type, size, and composition in order to determine the best photo scanner. Some are designed to handle large photographs, others very vividly colorful photos, and there are even scanners to handle film strips and slide projector reels. The best type for your needs depends upon what you’ll be scanning.
The average desktop scanner is usually a good choice for most households. They are typically sized around 11×17 inches. This is plenty of room to scan the average home photograph, so that you’ll be able to easily convert any photos you’ve taken, into a digital format. This enables you to safely store them forever, whereas physical photos can be destroyed or lost. The only downside of this type of scanner is that they can’t tackle very large photos, in case you have any large format pictures you’d like to convert. But for the average job, this is the best photo scanner for you.
Large format scanners are essential for the biggest jobs. These are handy for importing large pictures that are closer to poster size, into your computer as a digital file. If you have very large family photos, or photography that you’ve done in the past that you’d like to convert, only this type of scanner will suffice. The only downside is that large format scanners are very expensive. That makes them less than desirable for the average consumer, as you may not use the scanner enough to justify the large price tag. Plus a larger scanner requires a faster computer, so you’ll have to make sure your computer has the proper hardware to upload these types of files. But for large images, this is the best photo scanner type for you.
If you have old family photos, or presentation slides that you’ve used in the past, and want to convert to digital, you’ll need a film scanner. These are different from traditional photo scanners, as they are specifically designed to handle film strips. Because of the way that film reel and slide negatives are produced, they require a special process in order to be converted into a digital file. A film specific model will be the best photo scanner in order to get that job done. Otherwise your photos just won’t be of the quality that you would prefer.
Your average desktop scanner will cost you around $150 and up, depending upon the model that you choose. Large format scanners contrast in price greatly, and will actually cost well into the high hundreds and perhaps even thousands of dollars. The average film scanner is no more expensive than the average desktop model. Usually a computer specific store like Best Buy or Office Depot should have a few options for each type. The best photo scanner for you is the type that contours to your specific needs.