Photo scanner test 2023

In the digital age, almost everyone now owns a digital camera so that they can quickly and easily take snapshots and impressive pictures on the go. Not so long ago, however, this was unthinkable, since people still took pictures with analog cameras and had to laboriously have the photos developed. But what do you actually do with all the analog pictures that you already have that you might like to show your friends or relatives on a big TV screen or that you just want to digitize? Exactly for this problem there are commercially special photo scanners. How such a device works exactly and what you should definitely consider when buying it is explained in our following purchasing guide.

The best photo scanners at a glance

How does a photo scanner work?

You have certainly heard of a classic scanner that is connected to a computer and enables the scanning of a wide variety of documents. A scanner for photos basically works in a similar way: A built-in sensor creates an exact image of the image carrier placed on it, which can then be saved in a digital version and viewed on a wide variety of end devices.

Different versions

If you look around the Internet for a photo scanner, you will quickly notice that the selection of devices is very large. In fact, it is not too difficult to find a suitable scanner for photos, because the devices are only divided into two common subcategories: the so-called flatbed scanner and the alternative scanner with feeder. Of course, both devices have their own advantages and disadvantages, which we will present to you in detail in this guide. But first, let's take a look at the two variants.

The flatbed scanner

A flatbed scanner is not only visually reminiscent of a scanner that is suitable for scanning a wide variety of documents - it also works on the same principle. It usually comes with CCD sensor technology and allows photos to be scanned quickly and easily. To do this, the image to be scanned is simply placed on the glass plate provided for this purpose and the device creates a perfect digital copy with a scan head attached underneath. In addition to classic flatbed scanners that are powered by electricity, there are now also compact versions with integrated batteries on the market, and some manufacturers also offer devices that work overhead. The latter have the advantage that they can be placed directly on a photo album, for example, and the image to be scanned does not have to be removed from it first.

Flatbed scanners: pros and cons

Photo scanner with feeder

A good alternative to the classic flatbed scanner are photo scanners with feed. These are devices in which the owner does not have to place the photos to be scanned individually - instead they are drawn in one after the other via an attached recording slot. In contrast to a flatbed scanner, photo scanners with a feeder are often equipped with a built-in mini display that can be used to view the scan result - this way you know directly whether the scan was successful or whether it needs to be repeated. Just like the flatbed scanner, a feeder scanner also converts the scanned photo into a digital file that can be used in any way you like.

Fed scanners: pros and cons

Which photo scanner for which purpose?

Which photo scanner is the best choice depends primarily on how many images are to be scanned with it. Anyone who only wants to digitize images from time to time is usually well advised to use a classic flatbed scanner. On the other hand, if you want to transfer complete image collections into the digital age, a scanner with feeder is a better choice, since such a device automatically processes several images one after the other.

However, the material and the quality of the images to be scanned also play a major role when choosing a photo scanner: The scanner with feeder works particularly well with smooth images, which ideally are all the same size. On the other hand, if you also want to scan wavy images or documents, the flatbed scanner is the better choice, as it delivers significantly better results here. If you also frequently want to scan colored book pages or pictures directly from a photo album, we recommend that you use the flatbed scanner here as well.

In addition to the flatbed scanner and the scanner with a feeder, there are two other variants that we would like to briefly introduce to you here: the mobile photo scanner and the multifunction scanner.

Mobile scanner

Mobile scanners are small and compact and can therefore also be used on the go. However, those who attach great importance to the best possible scan quality should prefer to use a classic scanner, since the so-called hand scanners usually only come with a very manageable scan resolution.

Multifunction scanners

Multifunction scanners are scanners that are suitable for scanning a wide variety of objects. These devices can not only scan images, but also create high-quality scans of slides or film negatives, which can then be used digitally. In comparison to simple photo scanners, however, multifunction scanners are significantly more expensive to buy.

You have to consider this when buying a photo scanner

The resolution

The resolution of a photo scanner is specified in the unit dpi. How high this resolution is varies from device to device: Some scanners offer 1.200 dpi, while other devices have 4.800 and more. However, don't be tempted by the tempting-sounding XL resolution: 900 dpi is usually quite sufficient to enable a flawless scan. Many manufacturers also specify so-called interpolated values, which are also often used to advertise compact digital cameras. During this process, an image is artificially inflated, which ultimately affects the image quality and, in particular, the depth of field. The highest resolution is not always automatically the best.

Also important: the higher the resolution, the larger the final scan. With high resolutions, it can happen that a scan is 10 MB or larger. However, such a size is only really necessary if you want to print out the scan in large format.

The scan format

When choosing a new photo scanner, be sure to pay attention to its maximum scan format. Almost all flatbed scanners allow scans up to a size of DIN A4, some models also up to DIN A3 or DIN A2.
On the other hand, some scanners with infeed methods only support the classic 13×18 image format, so you should definitely consider the question of how large the images to be scanned are in advance.

The scanning technology

Photo scanners are available with two different scanning technologies: CCD and CIS. LEDs are used in the CIS technology, so that such devices prove to be particularly energy-efficient. But there is also an important disadvantage: The technology has its problems in the field of depth of field, which is particularly noticeable when scanning wavy images. The CCD technology is much more convincing in terms of depth of focus, but is also significantly more power-hungry due to the conventional scanning lamps.

The way of working

Most scanners connect to the computer using a USB cable. However, if you don't have a PC at all, you can now buy a so-called stand-alone scanner in stores. Such devices work completely independently and trigger the scanning process via a built-in control panel. The scanned images are conveniently stored on an SD card that is previously inserted into an integrated memory card slot.

Conclusion

If you have a lot of old pictures lying around that you always wanted to digitize, a modern photo scanner proves to be a very good investment. However, before you decide on one of the numerous devices available in specialist shops, you should definitely consider the question of whether you really only want to scan photos or also pages from books - because not every photo scanner is equally suitable for every task.

If you only want to scan a few images every now and then, we recommend using the classic flatbed scanner, which is also quite affordable in terms of price. If, on the other hand, images are to be processed in batches, it is worth investing in a high-performance scanner with an integrated feeder.

Although it is a bit more expensive to buy, it saves a lot of time and gives good results during the scanning process. If old slides or photo negatives are also to be digitized, a versatile multifunction scanner is the ideal choice. On the other hand, you should keep your hands off compact handheld scanners, as these usually only deliver a manageable scan quality.