What is the best scanner to use?
 

I have an HP Pavillion that I purchased in 2001. I would like to purchase a scanner that is high quality, scans transparencies and is under 700.00. I think this would be a great tool for sending clients skecthes, and also for building a web site. I would appreciate any advice from the artist "techies" out there.

Thanks, Vianna Szabo

Vianna,

Good to see you around after all these years!

I use the Microtek Scanmaker 8700. If you shop around on the web, you should be able to get it for $600-700. There's a Pro version, but the only difference is some software and I have yet to use it after many months.

It comes with different holders for different size film and the holder slides into a drawer.

I have yet to try the negative scanning capability, but have had good success with 4 x 5 transparencies. I still have trouble with some types of film in 35mm slides.

I wanted a scanner that did not require a SCSI card that I had to insert. When you scan with SCSI, it ties up your whole system during the scan. This scanner offers both USB and Firewire. I am able to switch from one to the other by changing which cable I plug into.

I also liked that this scanner has a larger bed of 8" x 14".

You can see the scanner at the Microtek site: http://www.microtekusa.com/sm8700pd.html

You can find some price comparisons at Bizrate.com: http://www.bizrate.com/marketplace/p...er%208700.html