Hi all - I'm looking at scanners and will be restoring old family pictures using one. Some of these pictures are close to 100 years old and not in the best of condition. Which scanners will give me the best results? Opinions please! Cindy

Hi Cindy.
I have been scanning photographs for restoration also. I have a Xerox all in one (printer, copier, fax machine and scanner.) It does a wonderful job for what it does. But, it is not a flatbed scanner. The problems I find with older pictures, is that the texture of the photo paper does not allow the wheels of the Xerox to grip the photo. This type scanner has to roll the photo through the scanner. Also, some of the papers are much thicker and will not bend to go through this type of scanner. I also have purchased a flatbed scanner for my older photographs. With the flatbed, the photograph does not move so it is much better for fragile photos. It is much slower, but the phtographs are safe. Good Luck, Judy

A basic flatbed scanner should do the trick. You don't need to spend big on this.

Flatbed scanner is best for photos and for most of things, i bought new scanner to myself (Canon N1240U) and it is my fourth scanner and best i ever have had. there is differences between scanners (image quality) and i have not so good experiences about most cheapest scanners.

I have a cheap Canon flatbed (FB63OU). It has served me faithfully for 2 years now, and never let me down. Image quality is excellent.

ps - but obviously it is always recommended to buy the best you can afford (or meet halfway in the middle).

i guess that buying "unknown" cheap scanner has lack of quality, seems that something like canon, hp, etc... has good quality in even lower price scanners =) and of course most expensive one is not most best, there is good scanners in cheap/low price category too (like Grimtwist seems to have)

Pay a lot of attention to the software... some may fit your style of working better than others. I'm still using an old Microtek Scanmakeer E3 I bought about a hundred years ago, because I love the interface. If I ever replace it, it will have to be with another Microtek so I can retain my way of working. Also pay attention to the physical interface to your machine: scsi, USB, whatever.

I'm seriously thinking of starting a part time business doing photo retouching and restoration since I've been doing it for free for a while now. If I do, I think I'll get the Epson 2450 (about $400 US). From everything I've read about it in forums and reviews it appears to be an excellent scanner. Rich

And, I add from every day experience, for projects that you don't want to take any lucky guesses, there are always places where people that make a living out of scanning photographs (and a lot more), using the best equipment available. I do not know international prices, but when my A4 scanner (which was, by the way, a Heidelberg (?) that set me back something like $ 2500 three years ago), is not up to the job. Or I am not satisfied, I am the first to hand out my photograph to an external specialist that does the scanning for, like, $ 25. There is a reason why there are still scanners being sold for prices that reach far beyond what anyone of us would want to put on our desk. Better results. If someone wants the best (that would be you then), get them the best. A good price for good work should provide room for buying a good scan. I think.

A Canon scanner I would definetly suggest. I bought a Canon LIDE20 recently and it does the job nicely. Oh and Cinema1954 Microtech doesn't make consumer scanners anymore

Really? According to their website (www.microtekusa.com) they do.

laughs - I think we've only managed to confuse the originator of this thread....

I have a UMAX vista scanner. Cost me less than 100 bucks (2 years ago) and has worked fine for everything I've needed it for. Purchased at Best Buy. I think I paid like 89 for it.