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| Midrange Scanners |
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Scanners March 2000 • Vol.8 Issue 3 |
Midrange Scanners $200 To $450 Units Offer Expected Quality Plus Powerful Software | ||
In general, midrange scanners offer truly amazing performance and software bundles for the money. And while choosing one of these models may mean shelling out a few hundred dollars, it's an investment that will keep you enjoying your scanner for years to come.
The Canon CanoScan FB 1200S is a scanner designed for users of all levels and features a superior, user-friendly software package and quality imaging capabilities. With 1,200 dots-per-inch (dpi) resolution and 36-bit color features, the 8.8-pound CanoScan comes with a great software bundle to help you easily manipulate image and text scans. The ScanGear Toolbox CS programs, for example, has an easy-to-navigate control panel with ready access to all the scanner's settings, including calibration, resolution, and color. We also found the TextBridge Plus application to be one of the best optical character recognition (OCR) programs included with the scanners in our round up. It renders nearly perfect character translation from image to editable text. And Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE is a useful program for quick and easy image manipulation. The 11.5-inch wide x 18.1-inch long x 3.7-inch high CanoScan is solidly constructed. The lid is sturdy and firmly attached to the unit's base, but you can still easily remove it to quickly install the optional transparency and document feeder adapters. Setup. Installing the CanoScan was simple. After running the unit's setup program, we rebooted our machine. Windows 98 then took care of the rest, and the scanner automatically calibrated on the first scan. There is ample documentation for the CanoScan, as well. We especially liked the handy, pocket-sized Quick Start Guide, which gave us comprehensive setup and installation instructions for the scanner and its software and the SCSI card; it also gives troubleshooting hints and technical support contacts. Performance. Despite the SCSI interface for faster scan speeds, the CanoScan delivers average scan times ranging from more than a minute to two minutes and 30 seconds for the test images. However, the unit's great image quality made these slower speeds only a minor inconvenience. Although the CanoScan showed a little fuzziness in some of the images' darkest colors, the color-block tests and photographs still scanned in with vibrant, rich colors and good image detail. Grayscale capabilities for the scanner were average at 27 distinctive shades, but the black-and-white graphic scans were very sharp and clean. Even more pleasing are the text scans, which are legible at 16% zoom. At $265, the CanoScan FB 1200S is a solid unit, despite its lackluster scan speeds. Its useful, simple software bundle, good image detail and color reproduction, and easy setup for optional adapters make it a unit worth considering.
The Epson Perfection 1200S is one of the most solid scanners in our midrange category and features both the high-speed scanning and top-notch image quality consumers want in a scanner. With 1,200 x 2,400dpi resolution and 36-bit color capabilities, the 1200S features a SCSI interface and comes with the necessary cables and expansion card you'll need to hook up the machine and begin scanning. Solidly constructed, the 16.8-inches long x 11.3-inches wide x 3.5-inches high Perfection weighs 9.91 pounds. We weren't very fond of the unit's lid, which seems a bit flimsy. However, it comes out from the base easily to accommodate books and other thick media you may wish to scan. We were impressed with the software bundle that ships with the 1200S. Using the included Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition, NewSoft Presto! PageManager, BroderBund PressWriter, and ArcSoft PhotoPrinter 2.0, you should be able to accomplish most of your image manipulation, editing, and scanning tasks. Setup. Installing the scanner on our test computer was a snap. Once we installed the SCSI card and drivers, the system detected the scanner and completed the setup process. After a simple calibration procedure, we were ready to begin scanning. We were also pleased that Canon included thorough documentation. With an extremely comprehensive printed users guide that has information covering setup basics, advanced scanning tips, troubleshooting steps, and more, this guide is a useful resource for the new scanner owner to learn his or her way around the unit. In addition to delivering rich, vibrant color and sharp, clean details for all the scanned color images, the Perfection 1200S also performed at decent speeds, taking just over a minute for most scans. The text scan is legible and clear, with crisp, dark characters, and the unit recognized 29 separate shades of gray on the grayscale test, above the average 27-shade rating. The black-and-white test image is clean and sharp with nice defined lines. With its useful software, superb image quality, and excellent color reproduction, not to mention decent scan times, the $252 Perfection 1200S is one of the best scanners in this midrange review. It a device you'll definitely want to check out.
The UMAX Astra 4000U is the most expensive device in this category, and it has the greatest bit-depth of all midrange scanners we tested. It has what it takes to deliver superior image scans. If you don't want to deal with the long waits that result from the unit's 42-bit color setting, you can adjust the scanner to 24-, 30-, 36-, or 42-bit settings, which is a nice feature to help speed up your scan times. The 4000U has 1,200 x 2,400dpi resolution, an 8.5- x 14-inch scanning area, and weighs 9.9 pounds. It is solidly constructed and large, with a footprint of 21.4-inches long x 13-inches wide x 4.1-inches high, but it has a rather wobbly lid. Consumers should find the included software bundle useful. With VistaScan version 3.5, Adobe Photoshop LE, Caere OmniPage, and NewSoft programs Presto! PageManager (full version), Page Type, and Presto! PhotoAlbum LE manipulating images and similar tasks should be fairly easy. Setup. As with all the USB UMAX scanners we reviewed, the Astra 4000U was extremely easy to setup. We installed the drivers and software, rebooted the computer, and plugged in the unit. The scanner automatically calibrated on the first scan job. We also like the documentation included with the UMAX scanners. The Quick Start guide and users manual have all the information you'll need for scanning, troubleshooting, and contacting technical support, if you have any need. Performance. Because we tested the 4000U at its high, 42-bit setting, scan times for this machine were rather long, ranging from one minute, nine seconds for the simple black-and-white graphic image to more than four minutes for the color-block tests. However, the resulting image detail could not be beat by any other scanner in the midrange category. The 4000U differentiated well among the darkest color tones and shades on the color-block tests, both of which presented problems for most of the scanners we tested. And while the unit's grayscale abilities were average at 27, the black-and-white graphic and text document scans are crisp, clean, and smooth, with no jagged edges. With its excellent imaging capabilities and adjustable bit-depth settings for faster image scanning, the $408 Astra 4000U is an ideal upper-midrange scanner for users who are serious about image detail, sharpness, and color reproduction.
While the Visioneer OneTouch 8600 scores low for its color imaging capabilities, it still ranks high among our midrange scanners for image detail, speedy scan times, convenience features, and great text-imaging software. With an unusual horizontal loading design and blue case, the OneTouch features several front-panel buttons for easy scanning directly to a copier, fax machine, e-mail application, or user-designated device. In addition, the scan button automatically begins your next scan, and the OCR button gives you direct access to the scanner's text-imaging capabilities. The 6.2-pound OneTouch 8600 has a 1,200dpi resolution and 36-bit color capabilities. The 3.7-inch high x 11.7-inch wide x 16.7-inch deep scanner seems a little flimsy, and the lid's hinges pull out of the unit a bit too easily. However, the unit comes with a decent software bundle, including PaperPort Deluxe 6, PictureWorks PhotoEnhancer 3.1, MGI PhotoSuite II SE, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and TextBridge Pro 8. Setup. Setting up the OneTouch was a snap for both the unit's parallel port connection and the USB interface, which is the one we used for our tests. We also like the amount of documentation that Visioneer ships with the unit, including a Quick Install Card, technical support contacts and guidelines, and a comprehensive Installation Guide with loads of tips and scanning help for inexperienced users. Performance. Scan times for the OneTouch 8600 are about average for this category, ranging from less than a minute to a minute, 12 seconds. The scanner reproduced above-average image detail and overall color reproduction, but the unit's dynamic range, or its ability to reproduce a wide variety of shades and hues, was less than desirable. Many of the darker shades in the images bled together and were not as rich and vibrant as the rest of the colors. Also, the OneTouch picked up only 25 distinct gray shades on the grayscale test, which is a bit below the average of 27, and the black-and-white test graphic is a little blurry around the edges. The text-imaging results, however, were superb, with nice, legible, accurately translated characters. If speed and text-imaging capabilities are important to you, you may want to consider the $233 OneTouch 8600. But if you plan to scan a range of color images and photographs, we suggest you try a model with a better dynamic range.
The only portable, sheetfed scanner in our review, the Visioneer Strobe Pro NT is an ideal companion for the professional on the go. It'll be especially useful at meetings, trade shows, and other events where quick, text-document scans are a must. With a 300 x 600dpi resolution and 30-bit color capabilities, the lightweight, 1 pound, 5 ounces Strobe Pro NT is designed specifically for scanning text-based documents measuring up to 8.5 x 30 inches. At 2 inches long x 2.5 inches high x 11 inches wide, the small unit can fit easily into a notebook's carrying case for easy portability. It conveniently has connections for serial, parallel, and USB ports. Accompanying scanning software includes PaperPort Deluxe, TextBridge Pro 8 (an excellent OCR program), and Adobe Acrobat Reader. And the MGI PhotoSuite II SE and PictureWorks PhotoEnhancer 3.1 programs let you perform basic image-manipulation tasks. Setup. Preparing the Strobe Pro NT for testing was easy; however, we ran into some problems organizing the cables after the machine was hooked up to our computer. Both the power plug and data transfer wire connect to the same cable, for example, and this made for an awkward tangle of cords. But we were pleased with the scanner's ample documentation. A comprehensive Installation Guide covers setup, scanning tips, and maintenance information. You will also find a Quick Installation card, technical support information, and a special calibration sheet to ensure you'll be operating the scanner in no time. Performance. Because the Strobe Pro NT is not designed for scanning complex color graphics, we didn't perform our usual battery of color tests on this unit. A Visioneer tech support representative explained that, although the Strobe Pro NT is technically capable of scanning color images, the unit is not recommended for that purpose. The scanner's real strength is in its ability to scan text documents quickly and efficiently. And to that end, it performed impressively. The text documents breezed through the Strobe in seconds, and the superior OCR software consistently recognized and accurately translated nearly all of the characters for our computer. The resulting text is clean, sharp, and extremely legible. Overall, the $219 Strobe Pro NT is a solid document scanner and the least expensive in the midrange category. Its small design and great text-imaging capabilities make it a peripheral worth considering for anyone who must scan text documents onto a portable computer quickly and easily.
In addition to the same image quality and speedy scanning times as the Epson 1200S, the Perfection 1200U PHOTO gives you a few extras specifically aimed at photographic scanning and manipulation. With an adapter for 4- x 5-inch transparencies and a film scanner add-on for inputting 35mm film, slides, and photographs, the 1200U can scan 8.5- x 11.7-inch documents and features a resolution of 1,200 x 2,400dpi and 36-bit color capabilities. Solidly constructed, the 9.91-pound scanner has an 11.3-inch wide x 16.8-inch long x 3.5-inch high footprint. But, as with the other midrange Epson scanner we tested, the unit's lid seems somewhat flimsy and comes off the base easily, which can be both beneficial and annoying. The scanner's software bundle was very nice. Using these programs, including Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition, NewSoft Presto! PageManager, Broderbund The Print Shop PressWriter, ArcSoft PhotoPrinter, you can perform most of the photo-manipulation tasks you need. Setup. With its USB connections, setting up the 1200U PHOTO was a breeze, as was installing the device's film scanner add-on. The unit also comes with enough documentation to make operating the scanner a fairly easy process. The comprehensive Scanner Basics guide has everything you'll need to learn your way around the unit, including setup instructions, advanced scanning tips, maintenance, troubleshooting tips, and tech support contacts. Performance. In addition to sharp detail and good color reproduction, the Epson also offers reasonably fast scan times, ranging from one minute, four seconds to a minute, thirty-two seconds for the largest color test image. Registering above average on our grayscale test at 29 distinctive shades, the scanner rendered clean lines and sharp graphics on the black-and-white image scan. The text scan was flawless, with crisp, legible characters. Overall, the1200U PHOTO performed just as well as the other midrange Epson scanner, the Perfection 1200S. At $284, this scanner is best suited to the consumer who wants a lot of flexibility for scanning various media. This general utility, combined with the unit's excellent image quality, user-friendly software bundle, and reasonable scan times, make the 1200U PHOTO one of the top midrange scanners in our review.  Imaging Insights. Selecting our Best Performer for the midrange category is a no-brainer. With adjustable color capabilities up to a 42-bit depth, the UMAX Astra 4000U offers the most in image detail, color reproduction, dynamic range abilities, and crisp, clean graphics. The software bundle could not be beat for manipulating images, and the documentation that came with the unit was more than adequate for users of any skill level. If you want the most scanner for the money, consider the $253 Epson Perfection 1200S. This Best Value award winner offers surprisingly accurate color reproduction and a decent dynamic range, as well as an above-average software bundle and fast scan times. It's a decent scanner at an affordable price.  by Lori Robison View Chart
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