Best Photo Scanner in 2023 (8 Models Tested)

This is a guide to the best photo scanners of the year to help digitize your prints and film for backup, viewing and sharing.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve got piles of old photo prints and negatives in a cupboard somewhere collecting dust…

Thankfully, you can use photo scanners to convert them all into digital files, so you have an online backup in case your house burns down… or maybe you want to order from an online photo printing service to get some prints or canvases.

After researching and testing, we’ve chosen one clear winner – the Epson Perfection V600, which we’ve named the best photo scanner for most people.

This product is perfect if you only have a few photos to scan since it’s what’s known as a ‘flatbed scanner’.

(If you’re looking to do hundreds of photos at once, we have a ‘sheet-fed scanner’ recommendation for you below. Also, see our other guide for the best film/slide scanner recommendations.)

Most of the best photo scanners offer general-purpose scanning with optical character recognition (OCR) for digitizing documents, while others allow you to scan film negatives – useful for when you’ve lost the original photo print.

While you can get all-in-one printers that can scan photos for the best in image quality, we recommend the dedicated scanners below.

(We’ve also included a handy FAQs section that answers all the most common queries.)

So dig out your old photos and negatives, and let’s take a closer look at the best photo scanners of the year.

What are the Best Photo Scanners in 2023?

Image	Product	Features
	Epson Perfection V600BEST OVERALL	Scan a wide range of photo and film formats Restore film and photos with DIGITAL ICE technologies Scan to multi-page searchable PDF High-quality 6400 dpi film and photo scanner	View Price →
	Fujitsu ScanSnap ix1500HIGHLY RECOMMENDED	Create files quickly One Button Simplicity Scan any document Versatile paper handling	View Price →
	Epson Perfection V39BEST BUDGET	High Quality scanning for photos and documents Scan oversized prints, documents and artwork Restore Colour to faded photos Ultra slim & USB Powered	View Price →
	Epson Perfection V850 ProBEST FOR PROS	Remarkable tonal range Exclusive dual lens system 6400 dpi resolution Automatically remove dust and scratches	View Price →
	Plustek Photo ScannerPOPULAR CHOICE	Intuitive user interface Automatic continuous scanning and processing Supports Windows and Mac OS Automatic and advanced image adjustment tools	View Price →
	Kodak Slide n Scan Film ScannerBEST FOR FILM	Instantly preview images Connect and display images on your TV One-touch scanning Continuous feed option for negatives	View Price →
	Canon CanoScan LiDE 400	4,800 x 4,800 dpi Auto Scan Upright scanning Scan to cloud	View Price →
	Kodak Mobile Film Scanner	Easy to operate Foldable cardboard stand Film conversion with your phone User friendly	View Price →

 

Epson Perfection V600 – Best Personal Photo Scanner

One of the more affordable and versatile flatbed photo scanner options, the Epson Perfection V600 is a great starting point for photographers who need high-resolution scans, but don’t want to fork out the money for the pricier high-end options.

It comes with trays for photo slides and negatives, OCR software for document scanning and editable text, and produces great results from both 35mm and medium format photos.

There’s also digital ICE technology for removing dust and scratches from both photos and film, which is a great help in restoring old photos – even the best photo scanner models don’t include this feature.

Sure, it doesn’t quite come to par with the top-of-the-range photo scanners out there, but for just a little over $200 you’ll get quality that will meet the needs of any but the most demanding of photographers.

It’s my pick as the best picture scanner for old photos at an affordable price for most consumers.

It’s also the best photo scanner for old photos that you need digitized in high quality.

• What is the best program to scan photos?

Fujitsu ScanSnap ix1500 – Best Scanner for Multiple Photos

If you’ve been wondering what the fastest way to scan old photos is, you might want to look into the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix1500.

Using its automatic sheet feeder, the ScanSnap ix1500 can ingest literally piles of photos at once – up to 30 photos at a time. It’s a full 5 pages faster than its closest competitor, making it the best photo scanner if you’re in a hurry! 

Even as such a rapid photo album scanner, its scan quality is surprisingly good. Photos come out quickly, even with an optical resolution of 600 dpi – a lower resolution than its competitors but enough for most users. (Here’s what DPI means.)

At about twice the price of the Epson Perfection V600, the ix1500 high volume photo scanner isn’t cheap, but if you have a huge photo collection, you can’t really go wrong.

High-resolution photo scanning has never been quicker than this, and it’s the best bulk photo scanner in this price bracket.

While it may not be the best scanner for old photos if you need high optical resolution (over 600DPI), it’s definitely good enough for most people.

• How can you scan a document on iPhone?

Epson Perfection V39

At just under $180, the Epson Perfection V39 is definitely one of the best budget photo scanners on the market.

It’s a bit lower resolution than the V600 and doesn’t do slides or negatives, but is a great low-price option if you only need to do photo scanning. It’s also a top-rated photo scanner on Amazon, with thousands of positive reviews.

Other features include the ability convert documents into editable text or searchable PDFs and to scan directly to Google Drive.

As long as you’re not needing a slide scanner or a particularly high scan resolution, the V39 is definitely one of the best budget options available.

Epson Perfection V850 Pro

One of the more expensive scanners on this list, the Epson Perfection V850 Pro was designed for pros who want quality and are willing to pay a little more to get it.

With a dual-lens system and what Epson calls “High Pass Optics,” the V850 Pro yields extremely high-quality photo scans with great accuracy and color depth.

For slide scanning, you can get up to a 6400 dpi optical resolution, which makes for a pretty impressive scan size from 35mm film. There’s even an extra pair of film holders for streamlining your workflow.

The only real drawback to the v850 (other than price) is the software that comes with it. It’s definitely not as user-friendly as the best scanner for photos should be.

Otherwise, this is one of the best photo scanners for photographers who really want pro-quality, high-resolution scans. It’s also the best scanner for old family photos at this price.

(If you don’t like the v850’s price, check out its lower resolution little brother: the Epson Perfection v800.)

Plustek ePhoto Z300 

Plustek ePhoto Z300 is one of the more popular budget photo scanners for those with lots of photos to scan.

It’s not the fastest sheet-feed photo scanner on the market – it uses a manual document feeder – but it’s certainly faster than flatbed scanners.

While its scan quality isn’t as good as it could be (300 dpi scan resolution), we found that it’s more than good enough for everyday household use.

You’ll be delighted at how easy it is to use and you won’t find a better price, despite it not being the best photo scanner for photographers with higher imaging demands.

With over 7,000 positive reviews on Amazon, many people tout is as the best batch photo scanner for home use.

Kodak Slide n Scan Film Scanner

If what you’re really looking to do is scan film, take a look at the Kodak Slide’n Scan Film Scanner.

A picture and negative scanner is a neat way to digitize all your old film media, making a backup that can last forever.

This handy little scanner beautifully converts just about size film you have into digital files. Everything’s convneintly saved onto an SD card or transferred through a USB cord.

Like it’s big brother the Kodak Scanza, the Slide’n Scan has a scan resolution of 14/24mp – more than enough for most purposes.

Scanning with this little guy takes mere seconds. Loading the film is particularly easy with its Quick-Feeding Tray technology. We also love the included software which is a breeze to use.

Though definitely not a pro-level photo scanner, the Slide’n Scan is definitely one of the best photo scanners for household and everyday use.

It’s also one of the best photo and negative scanners we’ve seen for the older generation, due to how simple the software is to use.

Canon CanoScan LiDE 400

Another popular option for photo scanning, the Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 is especially good for photographers with small businesses that need to do document scanning as well.

It’s not the quickest nor most powerful photo scanner out there, but it certainly hits the sweet spot for a combination of decent price, great out-of-the-box photo scans, and a simple setup.

A quick glance on the forums does reveal a few complaints regarding the software, but we were unable to find any issues when testing.

Definitely a worthy entry-level flatbed photo scanner.

Kodak Mobile Film Scanner

If you’re looking for a fun gift for your favorite film photographer, check out the Kodak Mobile Film scanner.

Built like Google Cardboard, this little film scanner is made from cardboard and collapses nicely back into a box when you’re done.

It’s fun, minimal, simple to use, and connects directly to your phone, so there’s no need for a computer or other device.

Lightweight and portable, the Kodak Mobile Film Scanner retails for around $40. Nothing more is needed beyond a couple of AA batteries.

A fun, cheap option for someone who wants to go super low tech.

Epson Photo Scanner Comparison Table

Since there’s some confusion between all the various Epson photo scanner models, here’s a handy table comparing some popular models:

Model	Resolution (dpi)	Bit Depth	Scan Speed	Connectivity	Price
Epson Perfection V19	4800	48	10 seconds per page	USB	$69.99
Epson Perfection V39	4800	48	10 seconds per page	USB	$99.99
Epson Perfection V550	6400	48	21 seconds per page	USB	$199.99
Epson Perfection V600	6400	48	21 seconds per page	USB	$229.99
Epson Perfection V800	6400	48	12 seconds per page	USB	$799.99
Epson Perfection V850	6400	48	12 seconds per page	USB	$949.99

 

Scanning Photos – FAQs

Where can I convert my photos to digital?

If you don’t want to buy your own photo scanner there are many professional online scanning services available. These will scan everything for you at a professional level. A quick Google search will reveal the best options in your area.

What is the best resolution to scan old photos?

This depends on what you want to use the photos for. For photo prints a higher resolution is ideal – no less than 300 DPI and ideally far higher. If you’re planning to use them on the web only, a DPI resolution of 72 to 96 will be enough.

How do I digitize photos at home?

1. Choose the photos you want to scan in this session
2. Clean off the photos and the scanner bed
3. Make sure the scanner is set to “color” (even for black and whites)
4. Review and select the settings for resolution, etc.
5. Scan the photos

See also: What is the best way to digitize old photos?

How do I digitize old photos on my smartphone?

You can digitize old photos onto your smartphone using the Google PhotoScan app. You can also use a photo scanner like the Kodak Mobile Film Scanner above.

Is it better to scan or photograph old photos?

While photographing old photos with your smartphone might be more convenient, you’ll get much higher image quality by using a photo scanner.

How do I digitize thousands of photos?

If you have the budget for it, take them to a professional service. Otherwise invest in a sheet-feeder photo scanner like the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix1500.

Is it better to scan photos as PDF or JPEG?

Saving to a Jpeg format is fine for anything online. PDFs are good for images that contain text. Saving as a TIFF will give you the best image quality.

What scanners are compatible with a Chromebook?

Chromebooks are designed to work primarily with cloud-based applications and do not support traditional USB photo scanners that require a driver or software to be installed on the device. However, there are some alternatives for scanning photos on a Chromebook, including mobile scanner apps, wireless scanners and web-based scanning services.

How much does a scanner cost?

A high-quality scanner can cost you anywhere from 80$ to 1000$, depending on the model and its features.

How to scan negatives with iPhone?

To scan negatives with your iPhone, all you have to do is follow the next steps:

1. Place the negatives in front of a source of light so they can be illuminated
2. Open your iPhone’s settings
3. Head to “General”
4. Tap on “Accessibility”
5. Select “Display Accommodations” and choose “Invert Colors”
6. Close the settings apps
7. Open the iPhone’s camera app
8. Hold the phone above the negative film and tap on the screen to focus, and there you go!

Does Walmart have scanners?

Yes, Walmart does have scanners in its stores.

Who sells scanners?

Various stores—online and otherwise—sell scanners. For example, you can find scanners in:

1. Amazon
2. Best Buy
3. Office supply stores
4. Brick-and-mortar stores like Walmart

Where to scan pictures to digital?

To digitize your pictures, you can either go to a local lab or camera store or search for online scanning services to scan the pictures and send them back to you via e-mail or upload them to a cloud.

What scanner works best with Mac?

If you need a scanner that works with Mac, you should consider one of the following: ● Epson Perfection V600

• Epson WorkForce ES-50
• Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1600
• Xerox D35

Photo Scanner Review | Final Words

So there you have it, this year’s guide to the best photo scanners on the market.

Any one of these models will help get you on the way to digitizing your prints and film for backup, viewing, sharing and anything else you can think of.

What do you think? What’s your favorite way to digitize old prints? What’s your pick of best old photo scanner?