Which scanner? Need a hand folks...

swizcore

swizcore

Help Guide Coordinator
Im getting a new scanner this week and would like opinions/experiences with scanners IN OSX. Which ones work well, how loud is it, which one APPEARS that it will be supported by OSX 10.1 natively when software arrives.

The short of it... Which scanner should I get? I am planning to spend about $300.

The more advice the better. thanks bro's! (and Mac sis's :) )
 
I bought an UMAX 6400 firewire scanner. There are no drivers for it, but UMAX has stated to myself (and others) that drivers are on the way.

This is the only scanner I considered because it is the only reasonably-priced firewire scanner on the market.

I use the scanner in two different ways. Most often, I will use it to scan a few images for web sites. I also use it as a photocopier (by scanning to the printer). This works well under OS 9. For this functions, I use the buttons on the outside of the scanner (which requires the control strip module to be active). One button goes to the printer and another into photoshop.

I know other people have had issues with the control strip, but I have not had any problems myself.

Unfortunately, this does not work under OS X because there are no drivers at the moment.

The other way in which I use the scanner is to scan many photographs at once. I do this less often, but I do scan many images. I just finished scanning 150 images. I have another 300-350 images that I will need to scan soon.

Since there are no drivers for OS X, I bought VueScan X. I was truly surprised at how much better the color looks when using VueScan! For that alone it is work the price. VueScan also has better autocropping and runs faster.

There are also options for batching that I have not tried. However, you are supposed to be able to store raw CCD data (for faster scanning) and then do the processing on those files at a later time.

The biggest drawback to VueScan is the lack of an interface (an usable interface). They really need to get preferences into a real preferences window. They also could put a real GUI on some of the batch functionality. All in all, the software is excellent simply because of the superior color, better speed and because it runs natively under OS X.

The scanner's biggest drawback (to me) is the lack of a document feeder.

Personally, I think that FireWire is the only way to go. The scanner can be had from UMAX for $129 and from pricewatch http://queen.pricewatch.com/search/...194&CiCodePage=Windows-1252&cr=6400&qc="6400"*+AND+@ctd+6&catd=6&ct=Computer&cn=Scanners for under $100.

If I were you, I'd spend another $40 and get VueScan.

I miss using the buttons on the scanner, but even after UMAX comes out with drivers for OS X I will be using VueScan as my primary scanning software.
 
Excellent info, thanks alot.
So you can use the scanner while booted into X with Vuescan X but not in the classic environment?.
 
I can use the scanner in OS 9 by using UMAX's vista scan, by using the button in front of the scanner or by using the Classic version of VueScan.

I just don't want to use OS 9. I also don't expect UMAX drivers to be available soon enough to scan those 300-350 photos. Finally, based on VistaScan, I would not hold my breath for anything great from UMAX.
 
I hear ya, I have a UMAX S-12 (back from when I got my 9600/200 when it was THE shite :) ) and they stopped making drivers that worked well for it on the Mac OS about a year after I got it so I had to find some other software to run it. UMAX seems retty lax in their Mac development. Thanks for all the useful insight!
 
OK, so Im wandering around online stores and whatnot and i'll be dipped if the Microtek scanners arent the coolest looking scanners out there! Anyone use one of these things ever? They list as being Mac compatible (not X yet of course). And the scary part that makes me think they are maybe poop is that they all come with some sort of free hardware! Cameras, portable CD players...

Someone let me know if these are poo, decent, good or naaawwiiiiiccccccce
 
I have a Microtek ScanMaker X6 SCSI. It is actually listed as a Mac scanner, though I use it with my SCSI PC (using NT at the time), way before I got my Mac. Really nice, too. I used to have a Umax and would never buy one again. It died shortly after warrenty expired, and they said sorry, that I would have to pay to have it fixed, which would cost more than a new scanner. So I got the Microtek at my friend's recommendation. Once Photoshop comes out for OS X, I will either get a new USB scanner or a SCSI -> Firewire adapter to use with the X6. I just looked at the Epson site and really liked what I saw about OS X support, even though presently they ae supposerted only under Classic mode. That same friend just got a new scanner: Epson Perfection 1650. He did a lot of research and said reviews loved it. He neede support for WinXP.

Anyway, good luck.
 
Originally posted by hazmat
I have a Microtek ScanMaker X6 SCSI. It is actually listed as a Mac scanner, though I use it with my SCSI PC (using NT at the time), way before I got my Mac. Really nice, too. I used to have a Umax and would never buy one again. It died shortly after warrenty expired, and they said sorry, that I would have to pay to have it fixed, which would cost more than a new scanner. So I got the Microtek at my friend's recommendation. Once Photoshop comes out for OS X, I will either get a new USB scanner or a SCSI -> Firewire adapter to use with the X6. I just looked at the Epson site and really liked what I saw about OS X support, even though presently they ae supposerted only under Classic mode. That same friend just got a new scanner: Epson Perfection 1650. He did a lot of research and said reviews loved it. He neede support for WinXP.

Anyway, good luck.
Click to expand...

Cool! Thanks. So do you like the Microtek scanner?
 

Cool! Thanks. So do you like the Microtek scanner?
Click to expand...

Overall it's a really nice scanner. I would like the scans to be sharper, but the X6 was pretty cheap. What I want is probably only in much more expensive ones. I imagine that the newer ones are better, though.
 
Just an update which should help others in their scanner quest.

I bought the Epson Perfection 1650 and hooked it up to my Keyspan USB PCI card.

Launched Vuescan X and oila!!!
Perfect scan, no restart. Native in OSX 10.1

Beautiful!!!
 
Yup, excellent actually. Much better than the Umax I have used for four years. In Vuescan X I had waaaayyyyy off color until under the "color" tab I selected:
1. Color balance= None
2. Color Space= Device RGB

After that. Perfection! Just like the scanner says. :)

It truly does match the original images EXACTLY. Never seen anythign like it. Im stoked !
 
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