# Recommend a Decent Flatbed Scanner **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 19, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387 "2009-10-19T20:40:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387/1 "2009-10-19T20:40:57Z")
I’m looking for a decent (quality) flatbed scanner for home use. Nope I don’t want a wand, nor one of those thingies where you insert what is to be scanned. Just a decent flatbed scanner for documents, magazines, books, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387/2 "2009-10-19T21:11:02Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > I’m looking for a decent (quality) flatbed scanner for home use. Nope I don’t want a wand, nor one of those thingies where you insert what is to be scanned. Just a decent flatbed scanner for documents, magazines, books, etc. Is photo-quality important? If not, then your world is quite a bit bigger. We bought a Canon MF-4350d, it’s a B&W laser printer with duplex printing, flatbed scanner, sheet feeder, and fax. I’ve played around with the scanner part and it works great. We bought it for $150 a Costco because the whole dang printer, PLUS the refill toner was cheaper than the two toner carts my color laserjet needed. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387/3 "2009-10-20T14:42:42Z")
Single bump. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387/4 "2009-10-20T17:26:00Z")
I’m quite pleased with the quality from my Canon MP540, which is a printer, scanner, and copier. But it only gets light use. Edit: it’s a colour inkjet, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387/5 "2009-10-21T01:44:12Z")
Thanks to the both of you. Unfortunately I’m not looking for a swiss army knife-tool. I’m looking for a decent, no frills, no extraneous doo-dads, quality flatbed scanner. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387/6 "2009-10-21T01:57:25Z")
Well that’s the problem. Most flatbed scanners are a part of a swiss army thing, or they’re a specialty photo scanner. I have NO clue what the quality is of a scanner such as this: > **[Amazon.com: Canon 2923B002 LiDE100 Color Image Scanner : Office Products](https://www.amazon.com/Canon-2923B002-LiDE100-Color-Scanner/dp/B001DJDGXA)** > > Product Description This is simple, high-performance scanning at its best. Four easy buttons automate the entire process, and the new Auto Scan mode makes it even easier: It actually detects the type of original you’re scanning - a photo,... ($57 in the kart) ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387/7 "2009-10-21T02:50:35Z")
I have a Canon LIDE100. It does a decent job with moderately heavy use. A few years ago there were dozens of models of flatbed scanners available. Now, only a handful as most scanners are also printers. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387/8 "2009-10-21T03:02:46Z")
You’re not local to Denver are you? I’ve got an Epson scanner I haven’t used for YEARS. I’d imagine you could still download drivers from epson’s site. Problem being, I’m not sure how well it’d stand up to shipping anywhere. But on that same note, have you considered craigslist? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387/9 "2009-10-21T05:50:28Z")
Just going to throw this out since you’re scanning magazines and newspapers. If you’re doing archival work and find yourself copying material at a library then the slim line of Canon scanners ([such as this](http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&tabact=ModelTechSpecsTabAct&fcategoryid=119&modelid=17103)) work great. You can carry them in your laptop case. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387/10 "2009-10-22T01:31:40Z")
> [@ataraxy22](#): > > I have a Canon LIDE100. It does a decent job with moderately heavy use. A few years ago there were dozens of models of flatbed scanners available. Now, only a handful as most scanners are also printers. Thanks, I’ll look into this one, and later models. > [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > You’re not local to Denver are you? I’ve got an Epson scanner I haven’t used for YEARS. I’d imagine you could still download drivers from epson’s site. > > Problem being, I’m not sure how well it’d stand up to shipping anywhere. > > But on that same note, have you considered craigslist? Nowhere near Denver. And nope, I won’t touch craigslist. > [@Magiver](#): > > Just going to throw this out since you’re scanning magazines and newspapers. Actually, I never said what I was scanning. I will look into you linked recommendation, though. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387/11 "2009-10-22T01:45:12Z")
I have an HP Scanjet. It’s an older model 5470c, 2400 dpi/48-bit color. Does a pretty good job and has an attachment for turning slides into prints (which is why I bought it). ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-decent-flatbed-scanner/514387/12 "2009-10-22T03:42:11Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Actually, I never said what I was scanning. I will look into you linked recommendation, though. Thanks. You mentioned magazines so I took a shot that you might be researching history. There is another scanner you might be interested in and that is the see through scanners HP made (4600 series). They’ve been discontinued but I think you can still buy them new. These are great for archival work. If I had a job I would buy one right now before they are gone. You should probably state your objectives because even the crapiest scanner is going to be 2400 dpi which is a crazy amount of information if you scan an 8.5"X11" sheet. If I were scanning an old B&W 8x10 I would never use more than 600 DPI. If you tried to scan something large at 4800 DPI you would need a military super computer to load the image. The higher resolution scan settings are for scanning 35mm film.