General Forum

Thought I would start a fresh thread so we dont get to far off topic on the others intended purpose. C2 and I got talking about scanning slabbed cards. My brand spanking new all in one I just bought (well six months ago) is great except slabbed cards are always blurry, I have scanned two total to the site so far and are poor at best. After a bit of discussion I decided to do a bit of snooping online and found out some rather important info for any of you out there that are better with a hammer than lets say technology. =) There are two types of scanners made, first is CIS and the second is CCD. For us folks into collecting things a CCD scanner we should have!! They are roughly the same price it seems for scanners only but all in ones do seem a bit pricey. The differnce is this (in my attempt anyway) CIS scans only what touches the glass surface, so the edges of the slab are perfect but everything else is fuzzy. CCD on the other hand uses a different tech and has the ability to scan depth as well so it will see raised surfaces just as good as ones touching the glass. Not sure how much depth but the other threads I found online says that for collectibles a CCD scanner is the way to go. So as of today the shopping begins, if I find a fantastic buy I will give one a go. If I have made any errors in this post and somebody wishes to correct me or add to it by all means please do but I thought it best for all to know that there is a difference in scanning tech that we might want research before we spend ($200 on a new all in one here) money unwisely.

Great info for us!! Thanx for your investigating skills!!! Unfortunately, I use the local library to scan cards, and I too have found any that are slabbed are not quite as sharp as flats. Guess my next investment is a scanner!!

Fancy new look for the boards, slowly the place is a changing ......... anyhoo .... found two very inexpensive 8.5x11 CCD scanners on eBay. Look for either an Epson V37 or  a V370. They are the same except for one has built in stuff for doing negatives and slides. Don't forget to use the links on here if you are going to buy that way!! =) I can get one at my local Staples (the 370) for $8 more than eBay and no waiting neccessary! Now I just have to decide if it is worth it for a few slabbed cards and if I do, then convince the wife =O ............. we shall see. Just thought I'd pass along the info.

Main reason I bought my scanner was so I could scan all my carousels of slides and binders of negatives. Try that excuse.

Hey Guys..You must have missed my post or did I send a PM????......anyway I have 4 functioning printer/scanners [not sure why, other than I like new stuff?]. To the point, I would trade any to you for some cards....or once again off to ebay, someday. Send PM if interested for details. ~BOB~

Well C2 you have either dated yourself or you collect really old stuff! =) My dad has negatives and slides that I will convert someday. So you obviously have a CCD scanner or maybe your just yanking my chain. Can never tell with you. LOL And as for the offer to trade a scanner for cards Bob I am way up in the tundra remember, not worth the shipping sadly. =( But thanks for the offer.

Yes its CCD with 4800 dpi resolution. Too bad I can only use 250 dpi for card scans; due to the site's 1MB limits.

Good research. I have 3 scanners, two Epson and one Canon. The Canon has no depth of field at all. It also can't pick up neons. The Epsons can do neons and has great depth of field (I once scanned a Hot Wheels size car, and it worked!) but both of mine have issues. The first is that it dates to 2005 and my new computer doesn't recognize it; the second one got messed up somehow and the scans need to be manually recreated due to lots of dust and stuff stuck to the bottom of the glass, plus the glass is also delaminating, it looks like.

As a bonus the Epson can scan the Upper Deck cards from 1997-99 that scan with lines across them on a Canon scanner...I have a whole box full of them waiting for me to get a new Epson scanner.

I also collect coins and the Canon cannot do them at all. The Epson can with ease.

Yeah the articles I read say that CCD (Epson has lots of them) style scanners are great for coins and metal objects (like buttons) and the works, wish I would have known that but an all in one CCD is a bit pricey. I also bought that business card reader that the manufacturer says works for scanning sports cards, it does not too bad but the instruction manual is a disaster and have not played around with it too much, did scan a jersey card though so its not too bad.

So a couple of things ...... went with not telling the wife but forgot I had it delivered to her office as Epson would not deliver to a PO Box ...... ooooops!! Went with eBay as it (refurbished model) went on sale for $59 USD (75 CDN) and flat rate of 15 CDN for shipping ..... $90 bucks for a CCD scanner not bad. Am downloading and setting up right now, I will scan a slabbed card fisrt off and compare. I will upload the results for all to see this weekend.