If you want to buy a scanner, we recommend this Epson FastFoto FF-680W photo scanner. It has excellent image resolution. So you’re photos don’t lose their magic. You can scan in batches for super-fast photo scanning. And it can deal with photos of all sizes. It’s the best photo scanner for digitizing your photos. [Note: ExpertPhotography is supported by readers. Product links on ExpertPhotography are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. Need more info? See how it all works here.]
What Is the Best Photo Scanner?
The best photo scanners to digitize prints are in our list below. There are scanners for batch scanning, professional scanning, and portable scanning. And there are ones for film and negative scanning, and so much more! Before we discuss each scanner in detail, here is a quick roundup of our favorites and why we like them.
What To Look For in a Photo Scanner
Analog photography is in the midst of a revival. So many photographers are going back to film and analog cameras. As a result, more people are looking for the best photo scanner to digitize prints. And manufacturers have taken note and produced some excellent machines. Many photographers will be happy with a single-purpose scanner. These are dedicated to scanning and have no other functions, like printing or copying. All on our list are “flatbed” or “tray-fed” scanners. If you’re looking for a more versatile scanner, an all-in-one unit is what you need. A multi-function printer has printing abilities. But it’s also equipped with a flatbed scanner. They duplicate photos well. But the scanning quality usually isn’t as good as single-function scanners. Other models have more film-friendly features. They have hardware for scanning slides and film negatives. These home photo labs are for serious film photography buffs. And they often have printing capabilities too. If you can’t get enough film photography, read our list of the best film scanners. The price can vary a lot with scanners. Single-function scanners are often at the cheaper end of the spectrum. And as you add more features, the price tends to go up. But some specialist units can have high prices.
8 Best Photo Scanners
The Epson FastFoto FF-680W is a specialist photo scanner for home use. It’s one of the best batch scanners for digitizing your back catalog. And it’ll have your photo albums scanned and filed in no time. It uses a document feeder system rather than a flatbed for scanning. So it’s aimed at photos. But you can also use it for A4 document scanning. And Polaroid pictures aren’t a problem either. The automatic document feeder holds 36 photos at a time. And it scans the whole set automatically. You don’t have to insert a new print for each scan. It pulls the next photo through, scanning one photo after another. So it’s the fastest photo-scanning solution! The Picture Perfect imaging system improves old photos with color restoration and enhancement. The software also removes red-eye and dust spots for better-quality photos. And it’s a wireless machine. So you can scan directly to computers and mobile devices. You can accompany the FF-680W printer with the FastFoto app on your smartphone. It receives scanned photos. You can add text and effects. You can create slideshows. And you can share pictures directly on social media. Photo scanners aren’t more straightforward than the Plustek ePhoto Z300. It’s a basic scanner without complicated functions. This could be the right photo scanner for you if you want to digitize photos without investing in professional-level equipment. There are no options for scanning film. But it supports several photo sizes (3 x 5, 4 x 6, 5 x 7, and 8 x 10 inches). You can also scan letters and A4 documents. You need to feed each photo into the scanner one at a time. That might sound time-consuming. But it only takes two seconds to scan a 4 x 6 inch photo. So you’ll have full albums done in no time. And it has a scan resolution of 600 dpi. The software includes image enhancement functions. The simple interface lets you restore faded photos or enhance colors and details. And you also have options to do minor edits and organize your photos. The ePhoto Z300 is a simple and affordable solution to your photo scanning needs. And it’s compatible with both Windows and macOS systems. The Epson Perfection V600 is the best photo scanner for serious film enthusiasts. It’s a single-function scanner without printing or copying features. But it’s a versatile scanner for people with a passion for film. It’s a flatbed scanner, which allows you to scan A4 documents. But the main appeal is its ability to scan photo prints, slides, and film negatives. It has the option for 35mm and medium format (120mm) film. And once you scan the negatives, you have excellent options to enlarge them. The scan quality is superb, with a 9600 dpi scan resolution. And the scan quality is improved by digital ICE (image correction and enhancement) technology. It removes dust spots and scratches. And it’s for both photo prints and negatives. The software also has one-click photo fix options. It restores faded color in older photos. Combine this with the ICE technology, and you get pristine digitized photos. The Ready Scan LED light powers the Perfection V600. It’s energy-efficient. And there’s no warm-up time required. You can start scanning straight away to save time. The Epson Perfection V39 is a cheaper Epson Perfection model than those previously listed. It doesn’t have some features film photographers might want to see. But it’s still one of the best photo scanners for home use. The scan resolution is 4800 dpi. This gives you stunning digital versions of your photo prints. And you have color restoration and enhancement options in the bundled software. The Epson Photo Scan software lets you scan photos directly to Google Drive or iCloud. And the high-rise removable lid makes scanning larger media like books easy. The Perfection V39 scanner has a sleek and slim body. And it’s easy to hide away in any home office. The USB connection to your device powers it. So it’s a low-energy scanning option. The Epson Perfection V850 Pro is one of the best photo scanners for professional photographers. It has stand-out scan quality and fantastic photo-centric features. So it has everything a film photographer could want in a photo scanner. It works well as a document scanner, with a flatbed scanner big enough for A4 sheets. But the photo scanning is where the V850 Pro stands out. You get film holders for 35mm and medium format film. The scan resolution is 9600 dpi, with exceptional color quality and tonal range. And the high dynamic range brings out the detail in dark and light areas. So you get high-quality scans for both photos and film negatives. The digital ICE technology puts this in the league of professional-level photo scanners. Digital ICE fixes defects in your photos, removing scratches and spots. And it restores faded colors and detail with very impressive results. The Perfection V850 Pro uses patented ReadyScan LED lights and a Dual-lens system for scanning. It isn’t cheap. But it’s one of the best photo scanners for serious professionals. The Canon CanoScan LiDE400 is an excellent photo scanner for home use. It’s a slim-line scanner with a flatbed for scanning photos and documents. It’s simple and straightforward. And the scan quality won’t disappoint. Photo scanners aren’t much more streamlined than this one. It takes up very little space in your home office. Plus, it’s versatile. It scans photos, documents, and thicker media like books. And documents can be saved as editable PDF files. With a scan resolution of 4800 dpi, your digitized copies will look as good as the original prints. And it enhances colors and removes blemishes automatically. The different scanning modes are intuitive. And they make storing and organizing your photos easy. You have options for documents, photos, and customized scans. And you can direct the files to specific locations on your device. Or you can scan directly to OneDrive or Dropbox. The LiDE400 has an energy-efficient performance. It connects to your computer with a USB. And that’s all the power it needs! Plus, the photo scanner wastes no time warming up. The Doxie Go SE is the best portable scanner on the list. Its compact form allows easy transport. And the rechargeable battery means you don’t need to bring a power cable. We particularly like the Wi-Fi connectivity and expandable memory. It makes scanning on the go a breeze. Unfortunately, the 600 dpi resolution holds back its photo-scanning performance. This is why it’s not higher on the list. One key advantage of the Go SE is the sheet-fed design. This means you don’t need to continually open the scanner lid to change out the photos you’re scanning. It allows for bulk scanning, even if there is no automatic feeder. Maybe you don’t care about wireless connectivity. You can check out the Doxie GO version without Wi-Fi for a slightly cheaper option. The final scanner on our list is the Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300. It’s very similar to the first scanner, the Plustek ePhoto Z300. It has the same dpi. And it actually scans photos a little faster than the Plustek scanner. It has a space-saving design, automatic facial orientation, and red-eye reduction. Plus, it’s cloud sync enabled. The major drawback is the price. It’s approximately 50% more expensive for many of the same features. But the ScanSnap iX1300 deserves a spot on the list as it has some extra features. So you may find it’s worth the extra cost.
Conclusion: The Best Photo Scanner
Having researched hundreds of scanners, we’re happy to recommend all of the scanners on this list. They are each uniquely good at what they’re built for. The Epson FastFoto FF-680W is the best photo scanner on the market. With its batch-scanning features, you can scan whole libraries in no time. And its high-quality scanning means you will have glorious versions of your beautiful photos.
