Scanners

[hobbes]

I realize most everyone is busy searching for eggs right now, but I would like to change topics briefly. I am looking for a recommendation on scanners that can handle a 10"x13" page in a single pass. This is for digitizing multiple (old) spiral-bound photo albums. Yes, there are services that will do this, but from what I have found, the fee will be $1000+. For the service fee, I can probably buy a scanner (maybe used), hire an intern, and then possibly sell the scanner or donate it to a local school.

Thx!

...

I just came across the Mustek A3 USB 1200 Pro, which is fairly inexpensive (<$200). Anyone have experience with it?

[McDuff]

I am looking for a recommendation on scanners that can handle a 10"x13" page in a single pass. This is for digitizing multiple (old) spiral-bound photo albums.

We needed something similar for scanning old documents and pictures for our museum displays and publications. Our usual provider - who normally favors HP - recommended the Epson GT 15000. We did some research and ended up with that machine. That was a bit more than 2 years ago; we're very happy with it, a seriously good machine.

More information you can find on
http://www.epson.co.uk/products/scanners/GT-15000.htm

Amazon has some with interesting price reductions.
http://www.amazon.com/Epson-B11B160011-GT-15000-Professional-Scanner/dp/B0000YT61U

If I were you, I would keep such a machine. They work a lot better than multi-functional psc machines or most smaller scanners. The one drawback we have with it is the size, and if you see the original box it gets shipped in you seriously get a heart attack wondering what the ... you ordered or they send you. Mind you, most of it is foam packing.

If you want to donate any A3 scanner after use, our US support organization could use it for their museum and other community stuff. However, as said, personally I would keep it.

[hobbes]

Thanks McDuff. I had been looking at the GT15000, but it seems like potential overkill if the Mustek is good enough. If this was a commercial job vs. personal photos I would certainly consider it though.

You don't indicate what your US support organization is. However I would probably donate it locally (I'm in a rural area) as I know they can use one as well, and it would also save me the shipping charges. Feel free to let us know about your organization however and what it's needs are.

[McDuff]

Feel free to let us know about your organization however and what it's needs are.

Once the sites are up and running properly, I will post some more info in the "open discussion" section. For now, have a look at "czechfriends org" for the US organization (which I work for as well). The websites for the Czech organization are a mess and under reconstruction, but something is visible under "ruze ekomuzeum cz"

[hobbes]

As a follow up, I did get the Mustek scanner, actually two of them as the first was not working right. The reason the Mustek is so much cheaper is that it has a much less tolerant sensor. Unless what you are scanning is flat against the glass, it will come out blurry. Scanning decades old photo albums wasn't going to cut it as the pages were no longer flat. In the end I returned the Mustek and got the GT-15000 2 weeks ago, which has worked quite well.