Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:
OR
Log in using your WRAL.com account:



Wrong email/password combination.

Forgot password?

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:
OR
Register for a WRAL.com account using our web form.

12:52 p.m. • 5-19-13

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Today: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 78° F
  • Mon: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 76° F
  • Tue: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 81° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image

Published: 2012-04-24 17:00:00
Updated: 2012-04-24 19:19:45

Photo scanners digitize old photographs in seconds


Portable photo scanners can digitize old photographs in seconds and save them to memory cards or directly onto a computer
Portable photo scanners can digitize old photographs in seconds and save them to memory cards or directly onto a computer
print friendly

Portable photo scanners can digitize old photographs in seconds and save them to memory cards or directly onto a computer. Consumer Reports tested four models that promise to make moving photos into the digital age hassle-free.

The scanners all came with plastic sleeves to protect fragile photos, and at the lowest resolution testers were able to scan 100 pictures in 15 minutes.

However, some of the digital pictures had lines running through them, and some of the scanners cut off the sides of pictures with darker backgrounds. Consumer Reports found that the $80 Kodak P460 had the fewest problems with over-cropping and it can also scan negatives and color slides.

Even better, testers said, was to spend the same amount of money on a regular scanner. The resolution is higher and the quality is typically better, said Consumer Reports. The $80 Epson Perfection V300 photo scanner produced good results.

Another recommendation is an all-in-one photo printer. Consumer Reports likes the $140 Canon Pixma MG6120, which is a good choice for photos and wireless printing.


3 Comments


WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

View Comments 3 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments
If you have 1,000's of photos, hiring someone who can bring a scanner to your home and scan 30 photos per minute at high resolution is the way to go!

"Photo scanners digitize old photographs in seconds"

really?!! is that what a scanner can do? thank you, wral, for another life-changing article? man, i sure am glad i wasn't scanning pictures 15 years ago! thank you! thank you!!

[old man grumbles off, stage left, thinking of how dumb people can sometimes be...]

I have the Epson Perfection V300 and am very pleased with the quality it produces. I have scanned hundreds of photos and have had no problems with it. It's also very user friendly. For 80 bucks it's a great value.

View Comments 3 COMMENTS