Best Book Scanners | Flatbed, Overhead, Handheld.
What is the best book scanner? The answer to this question depends on what your priority is. There are three types of book scanners: flatbed, overhead, and handheld options. The flatbed scanners like the Plustek OpticBook A300 effectively remove distortion and shadows at the binding and are not dependent on ambient lighting. However, they can damage fragile books and are less convenient to use compared to other types.
Overhead book scanners like the CZUR Aura-B use a desktop lamp with LED lights, a mat, and the scanner. Such devices capture images without touching them and generally offer a number of useful features. Of the three types, this one is the best for scanning books. And finally, there are portable handheld models, such as the iSCAN, that you can easily carry with you. When you roll the unit across the book, it scans pages and automatically saves the images into the microSD card. Handheld book scanners are the least efficient but, at the same time, the cheapest option.
1. CZUR Aura, The Smart Portable Personal Scanner Made with an adjustable desk lamp and a 2-inch viewing screen, it scans pages under A3 in just 2 seconds. The scanner can flatten the curved sheet using proprietary technology and includes image-improvement software. | |
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2. CZUR Aura-B Book & Document Scanner, Auto-Flatten & Deskew This device flattens the book curves more efficiently and can handle A3 sheets. It is more compact, foldable, and weighs just 3.3 lbs. A stylish lamp is made from aluminum and has 32 LED lights and 2 extra side lights. | |
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3. Fujitsu PA03641-B305 ScanSnap SV600 Overhead Book Scanner Designed for professional use, it has high-quality optics, advanced capture technologies, LED illumination, image flattening and enhancing options. It automatically detects page-turning, allowing you to scan continuously. | |
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4. CZUR Professional Document Scanner ET18-P This professional-grade book scanner combines portability and small weight with advanced scanning techniques. It scans up to 1.5 pages per second and uses laser image flattening. The unit captures images of up to A3 size. | |
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5. Portable Scanner iSCAN 900 DPI A4, Handheld Easy to carry around, this battery-powered portable scanner is ideal for users on a budget. It doesn’t require software. Depending on the resolution mode (300, 600, or 900DPI), it scans at a speed of 3 to 10 sec. per page. | |
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What Types of Book Scanners Are There? Flatbed, Overhead, Handheld
Basically, there are 3 main types of book scanners available on the market: flatbed, overhead, and handheld scanners. Deciding on which option to choose depends on your needs and tasks. When choosing your book scanner, make sure that it is easy to use and allows you to comfortably scan numerous pages within a short period of time. Another thing to consider is how many extra features the device has. In this regard, an overhead book scanner is a more advanced option as it has more functions.
Flatbed book scanners
This is the most widespread type of book scanners. One of the advantages of such devices is their ability to remove distortion and shadows at the binding. What makes flatbed book scanners different from conventional flatbed models is the platen glass moving up to the edge of the scanner. The downside is that a flatbed scanner will occupy some extra space on your desk and is not portable enough compared to other options.
A great example is the high-end Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus A3/Tabloid Size Book Scanner. This 600DPI device can scan up to 200 pages in 20 minutes and features a special book-edge design. It comes with software allowing the device to automatically cut, rotate, and save the scanned pages.
Overhead book scanners | Best for scanning fragile and valuable books
This type of scanner looks like a desk lamp with a mat. Generally, it is more flexible, functional, and comfortable to use in comparison with other options. The majority of overhead scanners are packed with features, which is one of their strong points. The device is versatile as it can scan not only books of different sizes but also magazines and 3D objects. All you need to do is to lay the book under the camera and open it. However, some people find it inconvenient and they have to hold down the book edges.
Overhead scanners are particularly beneficial for scanning fragile and valuable books as they use the non-contact technique. While being reasonably priced, these products are very fast and do the job well. The weak point of this option is that the device cannot be used near the source of bright light, whether it is a lamp or a window.
You may try the CZUR ET16 Plus Advanced Book & Document Scanner that can flatten the curved page, recognize and crop your fingertips. Equipped with a 16MP Sony camera and 10 LED lights, it can scan as many as 300 pages in just 10 minutes.
Handheld book scanners | Compact & Cheap
The main benefit of handheld scanners is portability as they are compact, lightweight, and can fit any bag. You can easily carry them with you to scan books and magazines in libraries or any other places outside your house or office. A handheld scanner is easy to use: just roll it across the book and the device will automatically save the scan into the microSD card. These models are the least efficient on the list. But if you are ready to sacrifice scanning quality for mobility, a handheld book scanner is the best bet for you. Another advantage of this option is a lower price in comparison with other types of scanners.
For example, the battery-powered IRISCan Book 5 Wifi Wand Portable Scanner measures 10 inches in length and less than 2 inches in width. It weighs as little as 13 ounces and features a 1. 5” color screen. You can choose between three scanning resolution options: 300, 600, and 1200 DPI. This model is claimed to be the fastest portable autonomous scanner in the world as it can scan one page per second.
Best Book Scanner Review
Below, you will find a review of the best book scanners at a price ranging from $50 to $500. Whether you occasionally need to scan books or need an advanced scanner for professional use, this review offers the most appropriate options for any purpose. There are versatile overhead scanners that can capture images of up to A3 size and portable foldable or handheld models allowing you to scan books anywhere you need.
CZUR Aura, The Smart Portable Personal Scanner | Best for Page Sizes Under A3
Using proprietary technology, the scanner can quickly change the curved 3D sheet into a flat page. It scans the material with 3 laser lines while the software processes and improves the image. The product includes a scanning device with a 2-inch viewing screen and a multi-use desk lamp. The latter is an adjustable smart lamp with several lighting modes that can be changed via the app. The CZUR Aura works super fast as it takes just 2 seconds for the device to scan one page.
Once the page is scanned, it can be converted into the text in editable formats, such as Word or PDF. The software works with over 180 languages and ensures high accuracy. The scanner handles books, newspapers, drawings, and all sorts of documents. The only disadvantage we would like to highlight is that it can only scan sheets less than A3.
Almost 60% of the buyers rated the product five stars. They say that it works well with hard-bound books and handwritten documents, producing top-quality scans. It does flatten curved, curled, and folded pages.
CZUR Aura: Check the current price
CZUR Aura-B Book & Document Scanner, Auto-Flatten & Deskew | Best for A3 Pages
Unlike the previous item, this one can capture an image as large as A3. The device utilizes a revolutionary AI algorithm to flatten book curves without the need for unbinding them. It scans at a speed of 2 seconds per page and can convert images into different formats, including text ones. The CZUR Aura-B has a benefit atypical for overhead scanners. With a weight of just 3.3 lbs, it is foldable and portable, which makes it more beneficial for the everyday user. You can use a foot pedal that comes with the device to operate it hands-free.
Made from aluminum with a stylish finish, the unit comes with a powerful lamp that is equipped with 32 LED lights plus 2 extra side lights. The lamp is so bright that you can use it not only for scanning but also for reading. Depending on the purpose, you can set a natural light mode, a reading mode, a computer mode, or a night mode. The special technology allows the CZUR Aura-B to detect sound to brighten or dim lights.
Customers say that the product is great for home use and basic needs but has some limitations. For example, if your edit is wrong, you cannot undo it. Instead, you have to re-scan the page, which is time-consuming. Besides, it is hard to flatten the book even with holders, and leveling the book is also a problem.
CZUR Aura-B: Check the current price
Best Professional Book Scanners: Fujitsu vs CZUR
As you can see, the above-mentioned scanners work well but meet only basic needs. For professional use, you should opt for more sophisticated devices. Below, we will review the most popular professional book scanners from different brands.
Fujitsu PA03641-B305 ScanSnap SV600 Overhead Book Scanner
Packed with multiple beneficial features, the Fujitsu SV600 is made with high-quality optics, advanced capture technologies and LED illumination. It does not damage books and can automatically detect page-turning. This is pretty convenient as you can scan continuously, without having to press the button each time you turn the page. The fingertips can be removed and the curves at the spine of a book can be flattened via the included software. You can use this tool to crop and straighten images, too.
What makes this device particularly useful for professionals is the feature allowing for multiple document detection with automatic cropping. It quickly digitizes bound books, scanning one page in less than 3 seconds. While this book scanner is compact and just 15 inches high, it is pretty weighty (6.6 lbs).
One of the buyers says that it can scan nearly everything flatbed scanners can’t. However, there are downsides. The device is not good at identifying the borders of pages, meaning some manual editing will still be needed.
Fujitsu PA03641-B305 ScanSnap SV600: Check the current price
CZUR Professional Document Scanner ET18-P, Fast Recognition
In comparison with the Fujitsu SV600, this model is more compact and lightweight. It measures approximately 14 x 14 x 6 inches and weighs 4.4 pounds. In addition, it works faster, scanning up to 1.5 pages per second. The 10 built-in LED lights plus two extra lights provide enough illumination and eliminate shadows. Equipped with an 18MP Sony HD camera, the device handles sheets of up to A3 size and can convert the scans into a variety of formats. Designed for professional use, it ensures perfect scanning results.
Like other CZUR models, it uses an advanced technology called Laser-based image flattening. To achieve a flat image, the laser beam forms a horizontal line on the curved page. While having approximately the same price, the CZUR ET18-P is more popular with customers than Fujitsu SV600. One of the buyers says that with this unit, he managed to scan over 940 pages in less than one hour. More importantly, he did it at a normal pace, realigning the book when needed. Previously, when he tried to scan that book with another scanner, it took as much as 2 hours and the quality was significantly inferior.
CZUR Professional Document Scanner ET18-P: Check the current price
Portable Scanner iSCAN 900 DPI A4, Handheld | Best Budget
The combination of low price and mobility makes this device an ideal choice for students. Your visits to libraries will be more productive and will take less time. Easy to use, the iSCAN starts to work with the press of a button. The scanner does not require any software, all it needs to operate is a memory card and 2 AA batteries. It takes several seconds for the device to scan an image, which is slower compared with the performance of desktop scanners. That said, the iSCAN has 3 different resolution options ranging from 300DPI to 900DPI. Once scanned, the image can be stored in the Jpeg or PDF format. You can connect the device to your smartphone or computer via a USB port.
Now, let’s see what makes this product so convenient to use and carry around. First, it is super lightweight and weighs only 10 ounces. The unit is 12 inches long — just like a folder and — 4 inches wide. Customer opinion seems divided. Some buyers say that it does the job and scans well even at low resolution while others claim that it has many disadvantages. For example, the device forgets settings when turned off, has poor battery life, and needs a steady hand.
Portable Scanner iSCAN 900: Check the current price
10 Best-Selling Book Scanners Comparative Table
Customers' Choice
CZUR Aura-B Book & Document Scanner, Auto-Flatten & Deskew Powered by AI Technology, Foldable & Portable, Capture...
- Laser + AI: Three laser-lines embeded in Aura use a revolutionary AI algorithm to straighten book curves. Digitize books without unbinding them
- Fast & Multi-Format: Ultra-fast scanning speed of just 2 seconds per page. Output files to JPG, Word ,PDF Searchable PDF and TIFF.
- Scanner + Smart Lamp: Glare-free, Non-flickering and Easy-to-Eyes 4 color temperature settings. Controlled by CZUR APP. Sound-control Technology, no Wifi and Bluetooth connection needed.
- 32 LED Light+2 Supplemental Side Light: Giving the best lighting condition for both scanning and reading.
- Support both Windows and Mac OS plus 1 year warranty.
Best Value
iOCHOW S3 Book & Document Camera, 17MP High Definition Professional Book Document Scanner, Auto-Flatten & Deskew...
- Flattening Curve Technology: This book & document camera has excellent page flattening algorithm performance and finger removal function to output a flattened page. Timer function available for automatically start continuous shooting after turning pages.
- Excellent Performance: The iOCHOW document camera has a 17 megapixel camera to support ultra-high definition real-time demonstration, capture and display images up to A3 size. 9 built-in LED lights provide high brightness and are not affected by the dark environment.
- A Multipurpose Scanner: The functions of video recording & real-time projecting available to make music scores or e-books, modern teaching, and meeting content sharing,etc, ideal for offices and classrooms.【*Only supports Windows operating system. *Not compatible with Mac OS.】
- Practical Software: The iOCHOW portable scanner equipped with the latest technologies, such as intelligent continuous shoot, leading OCR (with an accuracy of up to 95%), SDK & TWAIN, automatic correction & filling the broken edge of the scanned page, automatic image segmentation, automatic merging of the two sides of the scanned ID photos, erasing the remaining parts, etc.
- Excellent Design and Easy to Use: The document scanner is designed for foldability and portability. We deliberately increase foundation weight to make it more stable in use. As a well-designed scanner, it is is very easy for the users to install and operate.
Most Popular | Most Discussed & Reviewed
CZUR ET16 Plus Advanced Book & Document Scanner, 2nd Gen Auto-Flatten&Deskew Tech, 16MP Sony Camera, Capture A3,...
- Patented Flattening Curved Book Page Technology: ET16 Plus applies CZUR’s latest technology to flatten the 3D curved surface after pixel transformation to complete flattening of the book page.
- 16MP Sony Camera, Easy and Fast: Embedded 16MP Sony Camera and with the 1.5 S/P scanning speed, ET16 Plus can easily finish scanning a 300 page book within 10 min, which is 10 times faster than traditional scanner.
- Capable of scanning multiple items: Books & Binder Documents, Business Cards and Vouchers and even Physical Objects.
- 10 LED Lights +2 Supplemental Lights: sufficient light exposure, making scanning document shadowless, for best scanning results.
- Life Free OCR Software + 1 Year Warranty: Life-time FREE SOFTERWARE, able to read 186 languages, allowing you to edit your scanned materials right after scan (crop, adjust sharpness, contrast, thickness, etc). Any materials can be converted into EDITABLE PDF,WORD,TIFF and automatically stored. You can even use our SOFTWARE convert and edit imported document materials. For an open book, the software can automatically separate or combine the 2 open pages after scan
Best Trusted
Fujitsu PA03641-B305 ScanSnap SV600 Overhead Book Scanner,Black
- The best overhead scanner for your books, journals, and delicate papers. Scan without damaging your documents.
- Page turning detection - scan automatically when you turn a page, without having to hit the scan button each time
- Image flattening software corrects for curves at a book's spine. Software also allows for easy removal of scanned fingertips
- Multiple document detection with automatic cropping allows you to scan several documents at once (business cards, photos, newspaper clippings)
- Versatile imaging technology includes a deep depth of field lens, allowing the scanner to generate clean, smooth images on all of your documents
Other Popular book scanners
CZUR Professional Document Scanner ET18-P, Fast Recognition Scanner, 18MP High Definition, A3 Size Capture, 186...
- Patented “Laser-Based Image Flattening” Technology provides High-quality scanning results for professional use. Digitizing books without unbinding them!
- Fast & High-definition: Scanning speed is up to 1.5 page/second, and Image Resolution is 18MP
- 10 LED Lights +2 Supplemental Lights providing sufficient light exposure, making scanning document shadowless, for best scanning results.
- Convert paper materials to PDF, editable Word and TIFF.Scan a wide range of documents and objects up to A3 size
- Support both Windows and Mac OS and 1 year warranty.
CZUR Aura, The Smart Portable Personal Scanner and Desk Smart Lamp. Innovative AI Technology for Enhanced...
- Proprietary Technology:“Book Curve Flattening”technology utilizes three precise laser lines for incredible scanning accuracy and image clarity. This gives the Aura the ability to scan and exactly replicate the individual flat pages of curved books.AI technology incorporated in the software makes scanning and image processing smarter and simpler
- Fast Scanning Speed+Supplemental Side Lights: Ultra-fast scanning speed from Aura’s high configuration software. Only 2sec/page for both single sheets and double page books. Able to scan any size material smaller than A3. 2 Supplemental Side Lights are included to create an enhanced light environment to avoid reflection on glossy papers.
- Auto-Detect Page Turn and Auto Scan:Intelligent software auto-detects page turn and can trigger scan automatically for effortless scanning.The convenient foot pedal can also be used to trigger scanning, while it frees your hands.
- Multifunctional Desk Lamp: 4 color modes for both family and office use six brightness levels. Dual color temperature LEDs prevent eye fatigue.
- Smart, Sound-Controlled Lamp: Aura Smart Lamp is designed as a Sound-Controlled device, No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection needed. NOTE, the sound-control function could be influenced by environmental noise and distance (Within 10 ft). Make sure it is relevant quiet and keep your Smart Phone Speaker Loud enough to let Aura “hear” the command.
Best Budget
IRISCan Book 5 Wifi Wand Portable Scanner, Ultra Speed sheet fed scanner Battery Lithium,1 Click scan to...
- Mobile Scanner, especially convenient for sales rep & product marketers, press article, flyers, ads, product competitor specs
- 300/600/1200 dpi scanning resolutions for perfect images results, scanning speed: 1 Sec. For a B&W document/ 2 Sec. For a color document, directly scan to PDF and JPEG
- Save scans onto the micros card (included), 1. 5" color screen (be safe your scan correctly). scan up to 100 documents daily, powered by a USB rechargeable battery
- Real time appearing of your scans to "instant result wife" iOS & Android apps. By wife, Real time appearing of your scans on PC, state-of-the-art OCR software suite read iris Pro & iris compressor Pro
- Convert any paper document, PDF, or image file into editable Office documents, word, Excel, outlook, pages, numbers and many others
- CONVERT YOUR OLD PHOTOS INTO DIGITAL FILES - Scan documents and photos in color or black and white as PDF or JPEG files
- ARCHIVE AND ORGANIZE YOUR SCANS - Connect your scanner to a computer (Windows or Mac OS) using the included USB cable and a microSD card up to 32GB (SD card INCLUDED) to view and transfer your files
- INCLUDES BONUS OCR SOFTWARE - Optical Character Recognition software allows you to convert saved documents into text editable and searchable files compatible with popular word processing and spreadsheet software (software is Windows ; compatible with Mac OS)
- SCANNING SPECS - Plug-and-play device scans documents 8.27 inches wide and up to 98 inches long in as little as 3 seconds, with resolution choices of 300DPI, 600DPI, or 1200DPI
Best Cheap
Portable Scanner iSCAN 900 DPI A4 Document Scanner Handheld for Business, Photo, Picture, Receipts, Books,...
- Note: No software installation is required. You need 2 AA batteries (not included) and a memory card (not included) to use it directly. Scan mode: Press and hold "Scan" for 2 seconds to turn on the device, and then press "Scan", the green light is on. The scanner moves to scan the file until the green light turns off automatically (or press the "Scan" key and the green light goes out). The number shown on the display increases by 1 to indicate that the scan is complete.
- Portable Scanner scans images or pictures quickly: Store JPEG/PDF files within seconds, scan images or pictures quickly, plug and play, no need any software preinstalled. Compatible with Windows XP/7/Vista/Mac OS 10.4 or above version.
- Lightweight and travel-friendly: Stored in Micro SD card directly, support read data on your computer or phone with USB connected. Powered by 2pcs AA batteries, Compact Design, it is convenient to carry outside.
- 3 Image Resolution: 3 modes of resolution for your options: 300dpi/600dpi/900dpi, you can save it at the clearest way, picture and document are showed clear as it is. Freely choose your favorite resolution.File Format: JPEG/PDF format is all available, Great storage capacity as it supports 32G Micro SD card(Not included),total meet your need for business trip or daily use.
- Widely Used: It is applicable in bank, insurance business, real estate agency,home, office, library or outdoors. suitable for lawyer, businessmen, students, travelers and amateur archivists. Scan your important files and save them immediately, no struggling in finding a printing shop, keep it confidential.
iCODIS X9 Book & Document Camera, 21MP High Definition Professional Book Document Scanner, Auto-Flatten & Deskew...
- Flattening Curve Technology: This book & document camera has superb page flattening algorithm performance and finger removal function. Automatically start timed continuous shooting after flipping a page. The book scanner has an automatic correction function to output a flattened page.
- Excellent Performance: The iCODIS document camera has 21 megapixel to support extremely high definition Real-time instant presentation, captures and displays up to size A3/A4, and built-in LED 9 lights provides high brightness to make it work perfectly in a dim environment.
- A Multipurpose Scanner: The functions of video recording & real-time projecting make the document scanner suitable for various occasions, like making music scores or e-books, teaching, and meeting,etc. 【*Only supports Windows operating system. *Not compatible with Mac OS.】
- Practical Software: The iCODIS portable scanner equipped with the latest technologies, such as intelligent continuous shoot, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), SDK & TWAIN, automatic correction & filling the broken edge of the scanned pages, automatic image segmentation, automatically merging both sides of the scanned ID photo, and erasing the excess parts, etc.
- Excellent Design and Easy to Use: The document scanner has a high quality aluminum alloy fuselage. It is foldable and portable. We deliberately increase base weight to make it more stable in use. As a well-designed scanner, the scanner is very easy for the users to install and operate.