Best Photo Scanner 2018 For Mac
There's no secret ingredient in determining the best scanner for your Apple desktop or laptop, as the factors that make a Mac-friendly model great are, by and large, the same as those that set the. The quality of their photo scanning varies widely, depending on hardware and software, though most fall well short of single-function scanners in terms of scan quality and/or photo-centric features.
Digitize Your Precious Photos
Both photo buffs and family archivists often turn to photo scanners to digitize their prints and film. Most such scanners provide photo-friendly features, such as high resolution and the ability to scan transparencies such as slides and negatives in addition to photo prints. Many include software to help retouch scans and remove scratches.
Though they are geared to photo scanning, most photo scanners can also be used for general-purpose scanning, and some include optical character recognition (OCR) software. This is a niche segment of the hardware market; you will see relatively few models of photo scanner on the market, and they tend to have very long shelf lives.
Flatbeds: The Rule for Photo Scanning
One feature shared by nearly all true photo scanners is a flatbed design. In these scanner designs, you lift a lid to expose a glass platen, onto which you place your photo to be scanned.
We strongly urge you to avoid making a habit of scanning photos (or any delicate originals, for that matter) through a sheet-fed document scanner. It works in a pinch, but it risks damaging your originals, even if they're enclosed in a protective sleeve. A notable exception is the Epson FastFoto line of sheet-fed photo printers, the latest of which is the FastFoto FF-680W. The FastFoto models are built specifically for scanning shoeboxes full of photo prints and are engineered to treat the prints gently.
Finding the Right Features
Photo scanners are available in a wide range of prices and capabilities. As a rule, low-cost photo models are limited to scanning photo prints. Many do a very good job of this, generally for less than $100. Starting in the $200 range are scanners that can handle slides and/or film negatives. Such models come with holders that fit multiple slides or negatives and secure them in place during scanning.
Most scanners offer basic and advanced modes, accessible through their driver or scan utilities. A scanner software's basic mode, typically, will select the scan settings for you, while the advanced mode will let you customize the settings.
Many scanner drivers also have dust- and scratch-removal capabilities. The dust feature sometimes works well, but effective scratch removal really requires a hardware-based solution. To pinpoint this, look for something called Digital ICE technology, which is generally built into some photo higher-end scanners.
Is an MFP Enough?
Though most people who scan a lot of photos will want a single-function scanner, nearly all multifunction printers (MFPs) include a flatbed that can scan photo prints and other material. The quality of their photo scanning varies widely, depending on the hardware and software involved. Most fall well short of single-function photo scanners in terms of scan quality and/or photo-centric features. (See our picks for the best multifunction printers.)
A few models, which we call home photo labs, can scan slides and negatives in addition to prints, and have a variety of photo-centric features, as well as providing the normal MFP functions (printing, copying, and—in some cases—faxing). They're worth considering if you're a scrapbooker or a photo buff in need of a versatile photo scanner that can print and make copies, as well.
Best Photo Scanner Software For Mac 2018
Ready for Our Recommendations?
The models we highlight here run the gamut from inexpensive consumer units to scanners aimed at serious photographers, be they professionals or advanced amateurs. What all these products have in common is that they're the best photo scanners in their respective categories on the market today.
For more on what to look for in a scanner, check out our top overall scanner picks. And if you have an Apple computer, our guide to the best scanners for Macs is worth checking out. Also, before you start that big digitizing project, you'll also want to check out our top tips for preserving your photos.
Best Photo Scanners Featured in This Roundup:
Photo Scanners For Mac Computers
Epson Perfection V800 Photo Review
MSRP: $739.99Pros: High-quality scans for photographic prints and film (including slides). Scan modes range from full auto to full control over settings.
Cons: Doesn't come with a photo editor or any other application program.
Bottom Line: The Epson Perfection V800 Photo scanner delivers top-quality scans for photographic prints, as well as for film (positive or negative) as large as 8 by 10 inches.
Read ReviewCanon CanoScan LiDE 120 Color Image Scanner Review
MSRP: $69.99Pros: High-quality photo scans. Color restore. Scans to searchable PDF format.
Cons: Extremely limited software with no photo editor.
Bottom Line: Microsoft excel for mac 2018. If you want to scan photographic prints without paying for a film-scanning feature you don't need, the Canon CanoScan LiDE 120 Color Image Scanner should be your top choice.
Read ReviewCanon CanoScan LiDE220 Color Image Scanner Review
MSRP: $89.99Pros: High-quality photo scans. Image enhancements include color restore and dust removal. Scans to searchable PDF and editable text formats.
Cons: Extremely limited software. No photo editor. Inconsistent commands from one choice for scanning to the next.
Bottom Line: If you need to scan photographic prints and an occasional short text document, but don't need to scan film, the Canon CanoScan LiDE220 Color Image Scanner is our top pick.
Read ReviewEpson FastFoto FF-680W Review
MSRP: $599.99Pros: Quickly scans stacks of photo prints. Decent as a document scanner. Scans to searchable PDF. Solid OCR performance.
Cons: Somewhat pricey. Slower at photo scanning than its predecessor.
Bottom Line: The Epson FastFoto FF-680W is a sheet-feed desktop scanner that excels at scanning stacks of snapshots while doing a credible job at document scanning.
Read ReviewEpson Perfection V39 Review
MSRP: $99.99Pros: High-quality photo scans. Fully automatic mode for easy scanning. Scans to editable text and searchable PDF formats.
Cons: No film-scan capability. Lacks bundled applications.
Bottom Line: The Epson Perfection V39 flatbed scanner is an excellent choice if you want to scan photographic prints, as well as short documents to searchable PDF and editable text formats. It's our top budget pick for high-quality photo scanning.
Read ReviewEpson Perfection V550 Photo Color Scanner Review
MSRP: $199.99Pros: High-quality scans for a flatbed scanner at its price. Can scan slides, negatives, and medium-format film as well as prints. Digital ICE hardware-based dust removal for film. Can upload scans directly to Facebook and cloud-based services.
Cons: Lacks photo-editing program. Not ideal for document scanning.
Bottom Line: The Epson Perfection V550 Photo Color Scanner makes high-quality scans from both photos and film, and can scan directly to Facebook and cloud-based sites.
Read ReviewEpson Expression 12000XL-PH Review
MSRP: $3429.99Pros: High-resolution, wide-format scanning. Scans slides, negatives, and transparencies, as well as reflective photos and artwork. Highly accurate color and detail.
Cons: Expensive. Big and heavy. Transparency unit comes uninstalled.
Bottom Line: The Epson Expression 12000XL-PH is a large, tabloid-size graphics arts and photograph scanner that is compatible with a large array of media and produces excellent output.
Read ReviewPlustek OpticFilm 8200i Ai Review
MSRP: $499.99Pros: Optical resolution rated at 7,200 pixels per inch. Hardware-based dust and scratch removal. Automatic color calibration.
Cons: Scans only one slide or frame of film at a time. Little automation in software.
Bottom Line: The Plustek OpticFilm 8200i Ai film scanner offers high resolution, hardware-based dust and scratch removal, and simple color calibration for scans.
Read Review