List and product comparisons of mid-range to high range flatbed scanners (also links to drum scanners and 35mm slide scanners)

Complete listing and links for mid-range and high-end flatbed scanner models and manufacturers with buying tips.

Includes all well known scanners such as Linotype-Hell, Agfa, Umax, and Microtek, but includes less well known pro scanners from Creo , ScanView, Fuji, Purup-Eskofot, and Imacon.

If you need help deciding what high-end professional flatbed scanner to select, you can e-mail the senior reviewer at FLAAR, Nicholas Hellmuth. Just be sure to specify roughly your needs (what do you scan, 35mm, medium format, 4x5), what is the end product of the scan (posters, calendars, printed, wide format, or whatever), and your realistic budget. E-mail: readerservice@flaar.org. Dr Hellmuth will do his best to answer personally.

Sample scans of 35mm slides, scanned on a Fuji C-550 Lanovia flatbed scanner, ffei.co.uk. These images are part of a series of Ozark textures photographed by N. Hellmuth to use to print monochrome laser prints for a test of QMS laser printers. Leica R5, 100 mm Leitz lens, FLAAR Photo Archive.

For us to answer you personally, however, please do not ask a question that is already covered in the pages of the web site. Please check out the Directory of all scanner pages, before you contact us.

We would provide a phone number, but the FLAAR crew is either in Germany or Guatemala or checking out digital imaging equipment at a trade show in the USA. You can write in German, Spanish, French, Italian, or naturally English. No, FLAAR does not sell scanners (this is a non-profit institute) but we can definitely suggest reliable sources.

If you prefer the quality of a drum scanner, the FLAAR Photo Archive uses, and recommends, the ICG drum scanner,

Mid-RANGE Flatbed scanners
Manufacturer	Comments
Agfa	OEMs some Microtek models but with the superior Agfa software. Even better SilverFast now available. (http://www.afga.com)
AHT	Advanced Hi-Tech, Genesis Technology Division. Pixelcraft 1200 dpi flatbed, SilverFast software is now available. Pro Imager 2400 offers 42 bits (14 per channel rather than 8 for low end or 16 for high end) (http://www.aht.com)
Celare Technologies (Budde International Inc)	Samba 2036, 2000 dpi, dual-plate, ColorQuartet software. (http://www.budde.com)
Linotype-Hell	OEMs the Umax as the Saphir Ultra2 with the superior LinoColor Elite software; high-end models include Cumulus image base from Canto. For PC Windows a new scanner software is available, NewColor 4000. Contact Heidelberg CPS. (http://www.linotype-hell.com)
Linotype-Hell	Saphir HiRes, 3048 dpi down the sweet spot, 1220 over the letter size bed.
LinoColor CPS	Opal Ultra, 700 x 1400 dpi over 11x17 bed, 1400 x 2800 with dual lens over sweet spot 5.7 inches wide
LinoColor CPS	Circon, triple lens, 2400x2400 for sweet spot, 1200x2400 next size up, 800x2400 over whole bed 12x17 inches; includes Cumulus desktop image database, something you do not get with cheaper competing scanners. (http://www.linocolor.com )
Microtek	various; SilverFast scanner software now available. One model works with Vivid Image scan-to-print. (http://www.microtek.com)
Pixelcraft (see AHT)	SilverFast software now available for the AHT
Creo	Creo now offers a "top of the mid-level" scanners, the new EverSmart Jazz. The specs suggest this is potentially the best mid-range scanner yet offered. (http://www..com)
UMAX	Mirage II, 11x17 flatbed; SilverFast software. (http://www.umax.com)
UMAX	PowerBook III; SilverFast from LaserSoft-Imaging
X-finity	X-finity pro 48; better to stick with major brands. This scanner is outside of our review.
High-end flatbed scanners
Manufacturer	Comments
Agfa	AgfaScan XY-15, A3 format; SelectScan Plus, 8000 dpi; Agfa now also sells the Fuji C-550 Lanovia with Agfa software.
Fuji	makes what is probably one of the most exceptional flatbeds available, oversize, can handle 3D objects as well as 40 35mm slides at a time; this is the Fuji C-550 Lanovia flatbed scanner. (http://www.ffei.co.uk)
Creo	Renaissance Scanning System, copy dot system (somewhat outside the area of coverage of our web site) (http://www.Creo .com)
Heidelberg CPS	Saphir HiRes, 3048 dpi, 1220 over the entire letter size bed; might be considered top of the mid-range and/or entry level to the high-end. (http://www.heidelberg-cps.de)
Heidelberg Prepress	Topaz, autofocus; Topaz II Robat can feed 225 35mm slides overnight, also includes the Cumulus image database software. The highly regarded Topaz has now been replaced by the even better Nexscan. (http://www.heidelbergusa.com)
Howtek	Scanmaster 2500, $15,000+ for 1200 dpi would not be taken seriously by anyone today, especially with a density range at a rather low 3.4D (price was for '97; but not a misprint) and I am unsure whether this is seriously a high-end item or whether it should better be in the mid-range listing. The models for '99, however, appear fully high end. Howtek markets the ScanView Scanmate, which is definitely a professional pre-press system. (http://www.howtek.com)
Imacon	hybrid, upright rather than flatbed, but not PMT (not a drum, but quality in that direction). Despite being vertical, the Imacon can also scan flatwork, albeit not overly thick material. (http://www.imacon.dk)
Imapro Corp.	QCS-3200 (hardly ever hear of this company or product) (http://www.imapro.com)
Purup-Eskofot Inc	oversize flatbeds, EskoScan, up to 34x46 inches, web site a bit confused due to being under construction. Also visit eskofot.com .(http://www.purup-eskofot.com)
Scanview	ScanMate, in Europe sold also by Storm; in USA also by Howtek; or you can contact ScanView directly. (http://www.scanview.com)
Creo	EverSmart Jazz+, EverSmart Pro II, EverSmart Supreme. Creo thus offers the widest range in high-end scanners. See our reviews of Creo Flatbed products here. (http://www..com )
Screen USA	Cezanne FT-S5000, 13.4 x 20.9 scanbed, 5300 dpi with XYZ, with DustaLaVista. (http://www.screenusa.com)
UMAX	PowerLook 3000 might be considered entry level modest high-end, or end of the mid-range. Umax makes good equipment considering their rapidly falling prices. Be sure to opt for SilverFast software to enhance the Umax hardware. SilverFast may not be bundled together with the software but is easy enough to purchase afterwards, such as at Publisher's Toolbox. (http://www.umax.com )