General Forum

I know there have been a lot of threads asking about these scanners in the past, but I don't think this topic has been addressed. It's coming time for me to get a new scanner shortly, and I have some concerns. I've had two CCD scanners (the good kind) and two of the other kind, who's name I cannot remember at the moment. My first scanner was the absolute best- it could handle literally anything, including slides and negatives. Unfortunately, it is now too old for my computer to recognize, as I got it in 2005. But every card looked exactly like they did in hand when scanned. 

My second scanner, which was also a CCD...stunk. The scans color was always a little off, the glass began to delaminate after a year and a half, but the worst part of it was that while it could handle any kind of card, including depth, it could NOT handle any kind of holofoil...as you can see below, it put lines all over everything. (Note also that I did not correct this scan, thus the white spots all over it)  All foil generally scanned as black, as well.

I replaced that scanner with a new one that could handle holofoil, but could not handle simple things like Panini cards or many Upper Deck cards.

I bought a 4th scanner, the scanner I'm still using, in 2016 and it can handle most anything...here is the same card with the "new" scanner.

But the new scanner has no depth of field, and it cannot handle Stadium Club cards at all. 

I had been using the 3rd scanner to do the Stadium Club cards and the 4th scanner to do everything else, but my new computer will not recognize my 3rd scanner so that avenue is now lost to me. 

The 4th scanner is now nearing the end of it's useful time. I got almost 4 years out of it, which, considering how much I scan, is a lot. I can probably keep it going for a while more so it might hit the 4 year mark, which comes in May. (Scanner #2 lasted a year and a half, Scanner #3 three years). I have some cards and other things that I cannot currently scan because the scanner's depth of field is not deep enough, so I plan to get a CCD scanner the next time- but if if cannot handle the holofoils, like scanner #2, then it's pretty much useless. If I cannot be sure that I will not have that problem, I think I would rather just get another cheapish scanner that can do everything except Stadium Club cards, but can do pretty much everything else, as I put them through a lot of use and don't really want to spend a lot of money on something I will end up replacing in three years or so.

How do I make sure I get a scanner that can handle every card? 

I'm a big fan of the Epson V550/600s.  I haven't found a card or slide they can't handle, though some types require violating site guidelines to get a good scan.

When you say, "won't recognize", do you mean your new computer doesn't have the drivers preloaded?

LOL! My untrained eye can only see issues with the second scan. The rest look pretty damn good to me! CCD type scanner apears to be the obvious choice but not sure how holofoil will turn out (my Brother HL-L2380DW underperforms with foil cards). Below are some good ones.

• Epson V 300, V330
• Cannon 9000F, 8600F F5600F
• HP Office Jet 5740

For high volume scanning, check this out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8HkqF27YQM

We all have faith whichever one you pick, you'll get the most out of it.

Kyle, what do you mean about violating site guidelines? 

Chuck, won't recognize was probably the wrong choice of terms. I was able to download the drivers and the scanner turned on, but no matter what I tried- pressing the button on the scanner or manually clicking to scan via the computer- nothing happened other than the light on the scanner turning from green to red. 

John, this is what the #43 car looks like with a proper scan... 

click on This link to see how bad the Bulls team card looks up close, on my website.

The first one that was great, the current one and the really bad one are all Epsons. The one that put the lines across the Rusty Wallace card is a Canon, although I have not used any of the scanners mentioned here. The one that was the best is an Epson Perfection 4490 Photo.

Billy. I found a guide on another forum that someone had made about scanners. How to choose the right scanner for sports cards. The correct settings and all. I have it in a pdf format. Don't ask me what that means. I usually figure things out on my computer by accident. I'll do my best to put the link or what ever to post it here. I have an Epson V550 that a lot of people on different forums suggested. If I ever get brave enough to set it up and try to use it.

I hope this helps.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/elwz3cqzn86m1ka/Graded%20Sports%20Card%20Scanning.pdf?dl=0

Dave

Billy,

I'm sure Kyle was reffering to a high-res "camera" (technically not a scanner).

The proper scan you shared of the NASCAR card is a freaking sports card scanning Picasso! =)

Nope, not this time, my photography is nowhere near as good as the recent example.  However, some cards scan better elevated off the scanner glass, in an unscratched one touch or TPG slab.  Even better with the lid open in a dark room.

So, what you're saying is that they are still scans - which is precisely site guidelines. :)