Whether you are scouting for a scanner for domestic or official purposes, you need to arm yourself with information about scanners. However, if you already have a scanner in mind, you need to know what it entails and what it can do for you.
There are all manner of styles and types of scanners found in the market today. Before making an impulse purchase, you need to merge it with the kind of work that needs to be done. If you are shopping for your company, it boils down to requirements, the bulk of work, and preferences.
In this article, we are going to do a comprehensive comparison between flatbed scanners and slide scanners. Let’s scroll down the page to read on s’mores.
Flatbed Scanners
This is a scanner that provides a flat glass surface for scanning documents. These could be paper documents or images being converted into digital format. This machine works by moving its head under the glass to scan multiple sheets of documents.
This versatile scanner is perfect for all your scanning needs. It has a lot of features designed to capture every detail and magnify the fine outlines to make the digital copy. It also saves the data electronically for future purposes.
Slide Scanners
This is a plug-and-play easy-to-use scanner. It is mostly used for medium format slides, films, and negatives. This scanner often scans 35mm scans but there are the high-end exclusive ones. This one gives you the best sans of your photos, negatives, and even films.
The scanner passes a highly focused beam on scans to digitally copy them. They then read the intensity and color of the light to convert the scans. This is a very easy-to-use machine as all you need to do is to insert the slide and press the scan button.
Flat Scanners VS Slide Scanners
In as much as there is a huge difference between the two scanners, they have undeniable similarities too. Each of the machines also has its fair share of pros and cons. Let’s dive right in to find out what each machine has to offer.
Flatbed Scanner Pros and Cons
As mentioned above, this scanner has its pros and cons. Let’s get into it and find out if it is worth spending on.
Pros
1. Works with All Scans
This is one of the most popular scanners available in the market today. It is mostly loved because of its efficiency and versatility. You can use this scanner to scan any kind of document you have at hand. This includes even the oddly shaped and the almost impossible ones.
2. Can Scan Pictures
This scanner has been improving over the years with the introduction of new progressive features. These features have made the machine more versatile and capable of performing different tasks. They can now scan photographs and medium format films with excellent results.
3. Photo Editing Features
This scanner features photo editing software for fine images digitization. This software comes pre-installed on the machine and you will not have to install any extra editing features. It also has an enhancement application to make your photos better. The best of it is its ICE technology.
Cons
1. Does Not Support 35mm Films
The average old-school flatbed scanner does not support 35mm films. This puts it at a great disadvantage. If you have some old films that need to be digitized, you might need to go for other options. However, the latest flatbeds have a great improvement.
2. Too Expensive
A good flatbed scanner with all the features that you need will almost cost you a tooth and an arm. If you are working on a shoestring budget, this might not be a good choice for you. However, if you must have good photos, you must cough up a good amount of money.
3. Time Consuming
A flatbed scanner will consume so much of your time. This is not to say that they have a low scanning speed. The problem is in the manual feeding of scans to the machine and turning over the sides. If there is a need for speed, think of other options.
Slide Scanner Pros and Cons
This is one of the best scanners available so far. However, there is always the flip side of every coin. Let’s take a look at its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
1. Designed for Photos and Films
This scanner is specially designed for photographs and films. They can also scan slides, negatives, and format scanners. Since they are exclusive, you will be sure to get the best of it. Your scans will come clear and excellent.
2. Perfect for 35mm Slides
If you are looking for a scanner for 35mm slides, look no further. The slide scanner is the perfect machine for it.
3. Professional Results
This machine is highly regarded and trusted in the industry. Since it is an exclusive machine, it produces nothing but the best. They focus on images for scanning for the best results.
4. Convenient and Time-Saving
This is the best type of scanner when it comes to this feature. Unlike the flatbed, it can handle a huge batch of work without a blink. For the flatbed, you will have to scan one document at a time.
Cons
1. Expensive
Nothing with good quality comes cheap. The slide scanner machine will give you nothing but the best scans. Be ready to spend some real money to take it home with you.
2. Exclusive for Photos
This machine is exclusively designed for photos and films. If you want a versatile machine that comes in handy for other documents, this slide scanner will disappoint you.
Final Thoughts
It all depends on what you want to do with the machine. Is it for photo and film scanning? Is it for general purposes? That your time to critically think before making a conclusive decision. If you want to specialize only in images and films, go for a slide scanner because it is specially designed for that purpose. However, if you need a machine for general purposes, go for the flatbed scanner because of its versatility.