Best Flatbed Scanner for Pros & Hobbyists 2022 | Comparison & Buyer’s Guide

What is the best flatbed scanner? In fact, there is no single answer to this question as much depends on what you need it for. Do you want to get high-resolution images or multipage documents? Are you going to digitize large-sized A3 sheets or, on the contrary, smaller slides and negatives?

Technically, flatbed scanners can be grouped into CCD like the Epson Perfection V600 and CIS models like the CanoScan LiDE220. While CCD scanners produce images of higher quality, CIS models are more energy-efficient, easy-to-use, and have no lens distortion.

In terms of application, flatbed scanners can be professional-grade like the Epson Perfection V850 Pro. They will give you sharper details, deeper colors, and can automatically improve the scan. If you need to digitize a variety of materials ranging from film and negatives to old photos and documents, such models would be the most appropriate for you.

For bulk scanning, use book scanners like the Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus designed specifically for this purpose. However, if you are dealing with multiple-page documents, models equipped with an ADF would be the best choice. For example, the Xerox XD-COMBO has a capacity of scanning up to 25 pages per minute.

Those who need to digitize large formats like A3 would benefit from models like the Plustek A3 Flatbed Scanner.

And finally, there are inexpensive flatbed scanners under $100, such as the Epson Perfection V39, that provide a good balance of price and performance.

Best Flatbed Scanners Compared

Advantages of Flatbed Scanners

While you can find different types of scanners on the market, flatbed models remain the most widespread. Why? There are several reasons for professionals and hobbyists to opt for a flatbed scanner:

• Flexibility. No matter how thick the paper is, a flatbed scanner can cope with it. You can scan a page out of a book or any other bulky thing like an album. There are models like the Epson Perfection V800 that can scan not only documents but also film of all sizes: 35mm, 120mm, and 4x5.

• Reduced Distortion. Since an uneven object can be held flat by the lid, such devices are good at eliminating distortions.

• Value for the Money. You can find a variety of flatbed scanners that are inexpensive yet provide good-quality scanning. Moreover, the quality has been increasing year by year.

• Higher Resolution. Basic models typically have a max resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi). More advanced flatbed scanners boast a resolution of 1200 dpi and can successfully scan more sensitive materials, such as photos and film. Besides, flatbed scanners come with software that allows the user to increase the resolution of scanned images up to 9600 dpi.

• Best for 2D/3D Objects. It is the easiest and most efficient way to digitize multidimensional objects, such as flowers or art canvas, given they fit well on the scanner’s surface.

• Independent from Ambient Lighting. Unlike overhead and portable scanners, this type of equipment is not sensitive to ambient lighting. You can place it near the window or near the source of bright light, without worrying that this would negatively affect the quality of your scan. Nor does it require you to set up studio lighting.

• Ease of Use. Generally, flatbed scanners can be used by anyone who has only a basic understanding of the process.

• Compact Design. This type of equipment can easily fit on a desk and does not take much space.

Different Types of Flatbed Scanners

CIS/CCD Flatbed Scanners

Technically speaking, there are two types of flatbed scanners: CCD and CIS. The former features optics with higher precision and high-density sensors, which illuminate the scanning objects with LED light. These advanced features of CCD scanners allow them to create sharper images with a higher resolution. Like old-fashioned digital cameras, they use an actual lens.

CCD scanners are good at capturing high-resolution details and offer a greater depth of field. They are also recommended for scanning folded sheets and thick objects. One of the examples is the Epson Perfection V600 that can achieve great productivity. It is versatile and can digitize different objects, including film, prints, slides, and negatives.

Contact image sensor (CIS) scanners like the CanoScan LiDE220 are more energy-efficient and boast a slim design. The technology is based on multiple fiber optic lenses that transfer information to a number of sensors. This type of equipment has several advantages. First, CIS scanners require less maintenance as they have no cameras to calibrate. In these devices, it is software that controls the sensors. Secondly, there is no lens distortion and the resolution is high enough, however, CIS scanners are quite sensitive to focus depth. Last but not least, they are generally less expensive and are a good value for the money.

Professional/Basic Models

Based on the number of features and capability, scanners can be categorized into professional and basic models. The choice is largely determined by the user’s needs.

If you are going to scan documents or some photos for personal use, without the necessity of color management, basic scanners would be the best bet for you. Some budget options like the Epson Perfection V39 have decent resolution and an expanded set of features.

Best Flatbed Photo Scanner for Old Photos

Professional-grade models like the Epson Perfection V850 Pro Scanner are more sophisticated. Not only do they provide higher quality scanning, but they also do a good job in terms of image enhancement. Using such a device, you will get scans with sharper details and deeper colors. The machine will automatically remove appearances of scratches and dust from the image as well as defects from film. One of the essential advantages of professional flatbed scanners is their versatility. They digitize not only photos and documents but also film, negatives, slides, and more.

A3 CCD Flatbed Scanner for Graphic Design, Artwork, Artists & Architects

While most flatbed scanners are meant to work with A4-sized documents, there are models, such as the Plustek A3 Flatbed Scanner, specifically designed for larger materials. They provide high-quality A3 scanning and generally come with a powerful software package. With a 17-inch maximum scanning area, the device can be useful for digitizing newspapers, scrapbooks, and artwork. It would be indispensable for libraries and universities to scan large books, building and architectural companies to digitize design projects as well as for home use.

With/Without an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)

Flatbed scanners are available with or without an automatic document feeder (ADF) like the Xerox XD-COMBO. The latter is a crucial feature for those who need to often scan multiple documents or pages at a time. The number of sheets scanned per minute typically ranges from 20 to 80. As for photos, such a device can digitize up to 160 images per minute. That said, they have a significantly smaller ADF size and a daily duty cycle compared to sheetfed scanners, which are made to deal with heavier scanning needs.

Flatbed Book Scanners

This is a separate type of flatbed scanners designed for digitizing books. They have a special book-edge design and can scan more than one hundred pages in less than half an hour. The speed is one of the factors to consider when choosing your book scanner as you will need to deal with large amounts of pages. For example, the Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus can digitize up to 200 pages in 20 minutes and has software for image processing. Using such models, you will get scans without distorted text and spine shadow.

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