Best Flatbed Scanners

[D. Bergin]

For some reason my Epson V700 software stopped working about a year ago after a Windows update.

Didn't matter how many times I updated the drivers and the programs through the Epson website, it might work for 1 or 2 passes and then would crap out on me again.

I downloaded a program called "Silverfast 8", and it had a bit more of a learning curve then the Epson program I was used to using, but probably many more options to play with, and it's worked like a charm ever since.

Might have cost like 30 bucks or so, but it saved me from having to junk a $400+ dollar scanner.

[triwak]

Slightly off-topic, but does anyone know how to adjust a scanner to focus on the card, when being scanned inside a plastic holder (either a graded card, or in a screw-down)? I used to have an HP scanner that worked just fine. But my current Canon only focuses on the plastic actually TOUCHING the screen, thus making the card image blurry.

[lowpopper]

Originally Posted by triwak

Slightly off-topic, but does anyone know how to adjust a scanner to focus on the card, when being scanned inside a plastic holder (either a graded card, or in a screw-down)? I used to have an HP scanner that worked just fine. But my current Canon only focuses on the plastic actually TOUCHING the screen, thus making the card image blurry.

Get a CCD Scanner. Your current equipment has a microscopic depth of field

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by triwak

Slightly off-topic, but does anyone know how to adjust a scanner to focus on the card, when being scanned inside a plastic holder (either a graded card, or in a screw-down)? I used to have an HP scanner that worked just fine. But my current Canon only focuses on the plastic actually TOUCHING the screen, thus making the card image blurry.

It has to do with the type of scanning element used by the scanner (CCD vs CIS), not an adjustment of the focal depth. Generally speaking, scanners with CCD elements "see" more depth so that they can scan 3-dimensional objects (slabbed cards, books which do not lay flat on the glass, pins or buttons, even baseballs in some instances I've seen), whereas scanners with CIS elements generally require the object being scanned to be flat against the glass and are focused at that specific depth. I am not aware of any desktop flatbed scanner, of either element type, that allows the focal depth to be adjusted. Even with CCD scanners, if you wanted to optimize the scanning depth, you would need to raise or lower the object being scanned (as with the variable-height scanning trays for film scanning offered by betterscanning.com).

[triwak]

Thanks, guys.

[doug.goodman]

delete

[effe]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

For some reason my Epson V700 software stopped working about a year ago after a Windows update.

Didn't matter how many times I updated the drivers and the programs through the Epson website, it might work for 1 or 2 passes and then would crap out on me again.

I downloaded a program called "Silverfast 8", and it had a bit more of a learning curve then the Epson program I was used to using, but probably many more options to play with, and it's worked like a charm ever since.

Might have cost like 30 bucks or so, but it saved me from having to junk a $400+ dollar scanner.

I know you've already found a workaround, but I found an answer to this issue as I had the exact same problem. Try right clicking on the Epson scanning program and running it as an administrator. Hopefully this will keep someone else from scrapping their scanner.

[insidethewrapper]

I have a CanoScan 8800F. Seems to work great.

[Ronnie73]

CanoScan 9000F Mark 2. Never an issue. Works great for coins also.

[CW]

As of 9/23/2019, I just checked the Canon site and it appears they no longer make the Canoscan 5600F, the 9000F, or the 9000F Mark II. It looks like Canon only makes LiDE scanners which do not work well with slabbed cards.

You can find one 9000F and one 9000F Mark II on Amazon right now, but they are ridiculously overpriced.

For us card geeks, the Epson V series may be the only good option, other than finding a used Canon on eBay.

[Ronnie73]

I just searched eBay sold listings for the Cannon 9000F Mark 2 and its hard to deny how good they are based on the quantity and price they've been selling for. Many at $400+ each. Makes me wish I bought more when they were $105 new.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by CW

As of 9/23/2019, I just checked the Canon site and it appears they no longer make the Canoscan 5600F, the 9000F, or the 9000F Mark II. It looks like Canon only makes LiDE scanners which do not work well with slabbed cards.

You can find one 9000F and one 9000F Mark II on Amazon right now, but they are ridiculously overpriced.

For us card geeks, the Epson V series may be the only good option, other than finding a used Canon on eBay.

I didn't know they quit making them. I hope my 5600F doesn't go kaput. I love it.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I found a Brick and mortar computer store that still had 3 Canons in stock when I was looking to buy. Considered buying all of them. Probably should've.

[toledo_mudhen]

Originally Posted by Ronnie73

CanoScan 9000F Mark 2. Never an issue. Works great for coins also.

2nd that motion - Awesome Scanner!