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ZombiePhysicist

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May 22, 2014
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What is the best batch photo scanner that has a Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) and that can do 1200dpi optical resolution?

So far, the closest thing I found is the Kodak PS50 and PS80 (I cannot tell the difference between them except that the PS80 seems to scan faster at 300dpi, but the same speed at 600dpi). And the batch feeder in the PS80 can hold 50 (instead of 25) photos in its feeder.
https://ezphotoscan.zendesk.com/hc/...dak-Picture-Saver-Scanner-PS50-PS80-Equipment

The problem with those scanners is they can only do 1200dpi interpolated but not optically. I know most of the 'experts' have said that 300dpi color is enough to capture full quality photos, but I have proven, to myself, that is false. I've done tests on flatbed scanners and determined that you can detect (albeit subtle) differences in quality up to 1200dpi (particularly with good black and white photos), and above that, there seems to be no describable difference (to me).

I need this high quality because I have a lot of physical photos I want to scan. They are deteriorating just sitting in books/boxes, and I want to get them in the best quality possible, so that if the originals get destroyed, I won't care.

The only other thing I've found was an ancient discontinued Epson Perfection 3590 Photo scanner and it does over 1200dpi (3200dpi):
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?oid=53540927

With an optional ADF multi photo reader:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...ap=y&c3api=1876,52934714882,&is=REG&A=details


Has anyone found any modern solution that can do 1200dpi, or is the now ancient Epson 3590 the best I can hope for?

Thanks for any help!
 

waloshin

macrumors 68040
Oct 9, 2008
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There are no modern options for ADF scanning at 1200 DPI. Automatic document feeders are for documents and scratch photos. The only modern way is to use a flatbed scanner. The epson attachment only allows 4x6 photos as well.

I run my own Archiving business. I am the only one around offering 1200 DPI scans of photographs. The reason? I hand scan photographs while everyone else use the PS50/80.
 

ZombiePhysicist

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May 22, 2014
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There are no modern options for ADF scanning at 1200 DPI. Automatic document feeders are for documents and scratch photos. The only modern way is to use a flatbed scanner. The epson attachment only allows 4x6 photos as well.

I run my own Archiving business. I am the only one around offering 1200 DPI scans of photographs. The reason? I hand scan photographs while everyone else use the PS50/80.

UG, that's depressing. Not your business (sounds like a great service), but that there is no modern offerings. Just baffling really.
 

dwig

macrumors 6502a
Jan 4, 2015
908
449
Key West FL
...For the life of me I cannot understand why they dont do 1200dpi optical.
...

There's not much point in higher scanning resolution for scanning photographic prints. Classic wet-process color photo paper doesn't hold image detail much past 200ppi. 300ppi is overscanning a modest amount and 600ppi doesn't resolve any additional image detail compared to 300ppi. Classic B&W is a bit higher resolution than color, but still there is no real value in scanning at higher than 600ppi.
 

ZombiePhysicist

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May 22, 2014
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There's not much point in higher scanning resolution for scanning photographic prints. Classic wet-process color photo paper doesn't hold image detail much past 200ppi. 300ppi is overscanning a modest amount and 600ppi doesn't resolve any additional image detail compared to 300ppi. Classic B&W is a bit higher resolution than color, but still there is no real value in scanning at higher than 600ppi.

Im not sure when I did the tests. You might be right on the color. But I guarantee you that on black and white photos you can see more detail than 600dpi, and I made multiple scans/test where I could see detail up to 1200dpi, and beyond it, see no further detail.

Mentally I just made a shortcut that 1200dpi is what I needed, but your comment raises an interesting point. I should test it with color and assuming you're right (you probably are) maybe I get one of these for the color scans, and then just separately hand scan the black and white photos (which are probably fragile enough to warrant that anyway).
 
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ZombiePhysicist

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May 22, 2014
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It’s sad but there still are no 1200dpi batch color scanners. I may be forced to get a flat bed and do this tediously and manually. Arg!
 
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