The Fuji C-550 Lanovia (Agfascan XY-15) flatbed scanner may be the best flatbed scanner yet made.

If you choose either the Creo EverSmart, the Fujifilm C-550 Lanovia or the Agfascan XY-15 flatbed scanner you may never have to buy any other scanner again.

Several years ago we began the search for the ideal scanner, the dream scanner that would scan everything from rare books to 3-D objects to hundreds of slides (simultaneously).

If you were allowed only to buy one scanner, what would be the absolutely best choice?

A drum scanner will do great for 35mm film or slides, for medium format and large format transparencies, and anything on a single sheet (that can be loaded into the drum). But try scanning a rare book in a drum scanner. Also, what if your flatbed scanner has a sunken plate? This means you cannot lay a book flat on the scanner surface.

What if your scanner moves its bed into a holder like some Umax scanners? This means you cannot scan any object thicker than cardboard. Again, no books, no framed drawings or paintings. With the Fuji Lanovia and AgfaScan XY-15 it was possible to scan a section out of a giant Guatemalan Maya textile (pictured here). The original textile is about 8 feet wide by 9 feet long (size of a bedspread but somewhat thicker).

35mm slide scanners are essential, I have several of them, but how do you handle 40 slides at a time? Even an automatic feeder on a Nikon CoolScan is a challenge to use if you have thousands of slides (we have over 40,000 35mm slides that need scanning). The Fujifilm C-550 and Agfascan XY-15 as well as the Creo EverSmart can hold 40 slides all at the same time on its ample sized surface.

And how about scanning 3-dimensional objects? Linotype-Hell flatbed scanners do an excellent job, but we have not yet had the opportunity to test one in our facility or with 3D objects.

The Fuji C-550 can handle 13.8 x 18.5 inch reflective originals or transparencies at up to 5000 optical dpi. 5000 dpi is more than some entry level drum scanners. There is no sweet spot... most scanners can handle their claimed dpi only on a narrow strip down the center. The Fuji and Creo both offer full 5000 dpi across the entire 47 x 35 cm surface area.

In summary, if you can afford only one scanner, consider the Fuji C-550 or the Creo EverSmart Supreme. In my consideration, the Screen Cezanne,, Fuji C-550, and Creo EverSmart Supreme are the three scanners that can honestly be advertised as suitable for demanding professional prepress use. Downside of the Creo Jazz is that you can get that cheaper from Microtek; Microtek manufactures the Jazz for Creo . Further downside of Creo scanners is their inability to handle any object, not even a flat textile. A Creo scanner is only for negs, slides, or a paper print.

Creo EverSmart Supreme arrives at FLAAR test lab for evaluation. We tested an earlier model Supreme in our office in Germany several years ago. We were so impressed as asked to test the current generation on Macintosh OX X software.

The Agfascan XY-15 is the same scanner as the Fuji C-550 Lanovia. The advantages of the Agfascan is that Agfa is better equipped to handle sales and service in Latin America (for example). In some parts of the world Agfa is the leading supplier of prepress scanners and Fuji is virtually absent, so it is better to select the Agfa version. We know this from personal experience since in the USA it was virtually impossible to get anyone from Fuji to answer any questions, even for people who wanted to buy the Lanovia. Same in Latin America, we noticed that in Guatemala the best prepress shops prefer the Agfascan XY-15 since they get better service from Agfa in Central America.

Fujifilm originally had three classes of scanners: an outstanding drum scanner, a top of the line C-550 flatbed (my absolute favorite since it could do 3-D objects too), and two FineScan models.

At PhotoPlus 2003, and again at an early 2004 trade show in the US, the word on the street was that Fujifilm was backing out of flatbed scanners. When we heard this from three sources, we naturally assumed this was the situation, especially considering the statements were very specific.

Thus during May, at DRUPA 2004, a huge prepress trade show in Germany, we were pleasantly surprised to meet a team of Fujifilm scanner people that were showcasing their FineScan 2750XL and Lanovia Quattro professional flatbed scanners.

Since FLAAR is a photography institute for over 30 years, and since we are now also dedicated to fine art reproduction, we are directly and personally interested in any scanner that can handle 35mm, medium format, and large format. We also cover scanning for prepress, proofing, creatives in graphic design, and in-house design departments relative to our emphasis on input for wide format inkjet printers such as Epson. Thus we are considering updating our coverage of the Fujifilm FineScan models as soon as we can have one for in house testing at our university. So return to this page later in the summer in case we have a Fujifilm scanner by that time.