Canon RS40 vs Epson 680 Scanner for snapshots

Summary

In this video, Wayne Fox compares the Canon RS 40 scanner with the Epson 680 and 640 scanners, focusing on their performance in scanning old snapshots. He emphasizes the importance of color restoration, maintaining order, and ease of scanning large quantities. Fox finds the Canon scanner lacking in several areas, including its inability to auto-rotate images, its failure to distinguish between blank and printed photo backs, and its subpar sequential numbering. The Epson scanner is praised for its superior color restoration, better handling of photo backs, and more reliable software features. Despite the Canon's lower price, Fox ultimately recommends the Epson for its overall better performance and user experience.

Takeaways

• 📈 The Canon RS 40 scanner is cheaper than the Epson 680 and 640 scanners, but its performance may not meet expectations for certain tasks.
• 🖼️ The Canon scanner has issues with color restoration, often resulting in over-saturation and incorrect color representation compared to the more natural colors restored by the Epson scanner.
• 🔍 The Canon scanner lacks an auto-rotate feature, which can be inconvenient when scanning a large number of photos that may not be perfectly aligned.
• 📂 The Canon scanner does not automatically number images in a numerical sequence, which can lead to confusion when trying to match front and back scans of photos.
• 🖋 The Canon scanner software does not effectively distinguish and ignore faint print on the back of photos, which can lead to unnecessary scans.
• 📚 The Epson scanner provides a more robust and user-friendly software experience, including better handling of double-sided scans and sequential numbering.
• 💾 The Epson scanner allows for attaching to a Wi-Fi network, which can be a useful feature for scanning without the need for a direct computer connection.
• 📉 The Canon scanner's output tray management is not as smooth as the Epson's, which can lead to jamming and the need for more user intervention.
• 🔗 The Canon scanner's software lacks some of the advanced settings and control that the Epson scanner offers, particularly for non-snapshot scanning tasks.
• 📷 For scanning old snapshots, the Epson scanner is generally more reliable and provides better color restoration and overall image quality.
• ⏱️ Despite being slower, the Epson scanner is recommended for its superior image output quality and feature set, making it a better value for the time invested in scanning.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The video is a comparison and review of the Canon RS 40 scanner, focusing on its performance in scanning old snapshots and its comparison with the Epson 680 and 640 scanners.

Why does the reviewer not recommend the Canon RS 40 scanner for scanning old snapshots?

The reviewer does not recommend the Canon RS 40 scanner because it has issues with color restoration, does not auto-rotate images, has problems with numbering and organizing scanned images, and provides lower scan quality compared to the Epson scanners.

What are the key features that the reviewer looks for in a scanner for scanning old snapshots?

The key features the reviewer looks for are color restoration, maintaining the order of scanned images, ease of scanning a large number of photos, and the ability to scan the back of photos if there is valuable information.

How does the Canon scanner perform in terms of color restoration compared to the Epson scanner?

The Canon scanner tends to over-contrast and exaggerate colors, which does not result in an accurate or pleasing color restoration. In contrast, the Epson scanner provides a more natural color correction and better color restoration.

What is the issue with the Canon scanner regarding the numbering of scanned images?

The Canon scanner does not number the images in a sequential order that corresponds to the order of the original photos. This makes it difficult to match the front and back of scanned images, especially when the back contains valuable information.

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What is the reviewer's opinion on the physical design of the Canon RS 40 scanner?

The reviewer mentions that both the Canon and Epson scanners have similar footprints, but the Epson has a more robust design with a fold-up feed tray. The output tray on the Canon scanner is easier to manage, but the reviewer experienced issues with jamming.

Does the Canon scanner have Wi-Fi capability?

The video does not provide a clear answer to whether the Canon scanner has Wi-Fi capability. The reviewer did not delve into this feature as it was not a priority for the scanning tasks discussed.

What is the reviewer's suggestion for those who cannot afford the more expensive Epson scanner?

The reviewer suggests that individuals who cannot afford the Epson scanner might consider joining a club or group where multiple people share the cost of a scanner. They could then each use the scanner for a month or two before passing it on to the next person.

What is the main issue the reviewer has with the Canon scanner's software?

The main issue is that the Canon scanner's software does not effectively distinguish between blank and non-blank pages, it does not auto-rotate images, and it does not provide the same level of control and features as the Epson software for managing and restoring scanned images.

How does the reviewer describe the scan quality of the Canon scanner?

The reviewer describes the scan quality of the Canon scanner as lacking, with too much contrast and poor color restoration. The scans often do not improve upon the original photos and can even exaggerate issues like color fading.

What is the reviewer's final recommendation for scanning old snapshots?

The reviewer's final recommendation is to use the Epson scanner over the Canon RS 40 due to its superior color restoration, better image numbering and organization, and overall higher quality scans.