Product Description

Ultimate Scanning Performance. Scan like the pros, right at home. The powerful CanoScan 9950F Color Image Scanner delivers the ultimate in scanning performance and quality. It handles a wide range of originals, from photos and documents to transparencies and negatives up to large-format 4 x 5 inch. You'll simply be amazed at the quality of your scans. The 9950F scanner achieves a spectacular 4800 x 9600 dpi color resolution (max.) and 48-bit color depth for over 281 trillion possible colors. An available USB 2.0 Hi-Speed1 or FireWire2 connection ensures the highest possible transfer rates, which is especially important on large files, and previews are available in about 3.6 seconds. For added convenience, four easy buttons - Copy, Scan, PDF and E-mail automate the scanning process, so your projects can go much faster. Just position your original, select the use for the image, and in seconds it's ready to go. The Hyper CCD IV is Canon's first 4800 dpi CCD sensor for flatbed scanners. In combination with a Super Toric (ST) Lens and the scanner's dual light system, the Hyper CCD IV is able to produce visibly clearer results with finer details. The ST lens also has a large aperture to pick up more light than conventional lenses, a factor which leads to faster and brighter scans. Re-touch that old film automatically. Are some of your most precious images on old slides and negatives worn and collecting dust? Canon has a simple solution: ... Read more

Features

• 4,800 x 9,600 dpi maximum optical resolution, 19,200 dpi interpolated
• Rich 48-bit color and subtle 16-bit grayscale
• Batch scanning of up to 30 35mm negatives
• Scan documents, negatives, slides, 35mm film, and large format 4-by-5-inch film
• USB 2.0 interface (PC/Mac), FireWire (Mac only)

Product Description

Pixma MP760 Photo All-In-One Printer, Print/Copy/Scan ... Read more

Features

• USB, Direct Printer Port, camera card slots; PC/Mac
• Prints photos, copies, and scans in one convenient unit
• 4,800 x 1,200 optimized dpi color, 600 x 600 dpi black resolution
• Up to 17 ppm color, 25 ppm black, 4-by-6-inch photo in about 36 seconds
• Large 2.5-inch LCD for easy viewing, editing, and printing

Reviews (7)

Some points not covered by others.
Let me start by saying my previous printer was an HP 540 bought ten years ago and I do not own a digital camera nor a scanner.

So why did I buy it? Because of the good reviews I have seen for the Pixma family, because people complaining about how the new HP printer family software installation is a bear, and complaints about Epson print heads clog if not used both here and on usenet. I bought it for home, and I have only needed to fax about twice in the last ten years, but I (we?) often need to copy, and I wanted a color printer, separate print cartridges, two paper trays. I hemmed and hawed and decided to pay the extra to get the MP760 features over the sheet feeder of the MP750. A digital camera will probably be next electronics purchase.

First some notes
- Another website said this printer has a parallel port. It does not. Not a big deal.
- It works over USB 1.1. Not as fast, but if you are like me and would rather put the money for a USB 2.0 card into a new PC, you are not out of luck. You do need a USB OS. I am using XP Pro.
- You do not need the PC turned on to copy or print pictures from memory cards OR from negatives or slides! But, when printing from negatives it will NOT let you print to plain paper. I don't know about scanning then printing, I would have to try it out.
- The slide and negative holders are stored in the underside of the scanner lid. When you unsnap this carrier it exposes a white strip that appears to be a light source for scanning negatives or slides.
- The memory slots come up as removable disk drive under XP, one does not have to use them for just digital picture files. Its a nice feature for me, since my home computer's USB slots are in the back and both are used. I have a SanDisk MobileMate SD to USB converter, I can put files on it at work, then take the memory out and upload with the MP760.
- No thick all encompassing manual, but rather printed quick start guides and the full manuals installed in HTML format on your PC.
- Two TWAIN drivers are installed. One limits you to 600 DPI when scanning. Need to be scanning negatives or slides to get to 2400 DPI (someone correct me if I am wrong).
- Two paper trays - one is a cassette down at the very bottom, the other is an automatic sheet feeder from the rear.

Random blathering opinions ---
- The print quality is great, but I don't have alot to compare it to.
- Reasonably quiet. Other manf's models made beeps. I don't want to wake up the kids when printing at night.
- Big. And you need even more room with the sheet feeder in the rear and the door to open in the front for finished prints to come out.
- I would rather have the manuals in PDF over HTML.
- Getting at and installing the print head and cartridges is harder than the Deskjet 540. There is some sort of prop rod, that needs to be unlatched to get it back down, and two doors in front of the print cartridges.
- A consumer magazine states that each photo print costs about $0.85 on an MP780, and at the store near me its $0.29 for digital prints. But then again I can make a print right NOW if I wanted to.
- Manual says you should not to just drop the power to it, you have to press the ON/OFF button and wait. Annoying, and what happens if the power goes out? What about when it is in sleep mode? Would be nice if the PC powers down it assumes it should power down, or at least be an option.

I can personally vouch that it copies color or grayscale, scans with PC color or grayscale, prints directly from film negative to photo paper, prints from PC, and no software problems thus far. Everything else I either can't test it (like the PictBridge) or have not had the time.

Overall, I'm glad I waited this long to buy an MFC and I'm glad I waited a bit longer for the MP760.

Does itfax?
Could any one please tell me if this machine does scan to fax??? I have fax program in my XP.There were so many good reviews about this AIO, so it is hard to let go, but I need to use fax at least once a week.I have also considered MP780, but it doesn't come with the negative slide,thanks.

Which Canon Multifunction is right for you?
First off, if you're in the market for a printer, you can't go wrong with a Canon.Canon printers consistently beat out the competition in independent tests for print quality.Their items are elegant, well designed, and most importantly, ink is affordable.

We all know the razor and blade scheme: sell the printer below cost and make it up with pricey cartridges.Canon, however, saves you a lot of money by including the print head with the printer and not on each cartridge.Because of this, genuine Canon cartridges can be had for around $12, while 3rd party cartridges, which many claim work just as well, can be found for as low as $2.

If you've already decided on a Canon multifunction, lets see which model is right for you.Canon's current market list is as follows:

MP130 - New model, and the most affordable yet.
Copy/Print/Scan
18ppm black, 13ppm color
2 ink tanks
No auto sheet feeder!
Card slots

MP390 - Has a fax, About half the cost of the MP7xx's.
Copy/Print/SCan/Fax
18ppm black, 12 ppm color
2 ink tanks
card slots

MP750 - Older model - exactly the same as mp780 but no fax.
Copy/Print/Scan
25ppm black, 17 ppm color
5 ink tanks
Built in Duplexing

MP760 - New Model - geared towards photo enthusiasts.
Copy/Print/Scan + Special Photo Features
25ppm black, 17 ppm color
5 ink tanks
No auto sheet feeder!
Built in Duplexing
*Unique photo features:
2.5 inch lcd screen
Built in film adapter for 35mm slides or negatives
can print directly from negatives
Card slots

MP780 - Does it all except for the mp760 photo features.
Copy/Print/Scan/Fax
25ppm black, 17 ppm color
5 ink tanks
Built in Duplexing

Now, let's look more closely at some key differences between these models:

*Fax: The first thing you should do is decide if you need a fax or not. If you do, you should choose between the MP780 or the MP390.If not, don't rule those two out just yet, they may have have other features you can't live without.

*Note: There is NO auto fax/telephone switching on these models if you wish to use the same line for faxes and voice calls.

*Number of ink tanks: The next important thing you should look at is whether you want to be able to replace each color individually or not.The MP750, MP760 and MP780 all have 5 individual ink tanks (photo black, black, cyan, yellow, magenta), while the MP130 and MP390 have only 2 (black and tricolor).The cost of each cartridge is about the same, but you will waste some leftover ink by throwing out the MP130 or MP390's color cartridge when just one color runs out.

*Photo printing: If you're planning on printing a lot of photos, you should probably go with an mp7xx.These have a superior print head, as well as the 5 separate ink tanks.The MP760 is especially noteable with all the features Canon has added specifically for photos.These come at a price however, as the MP760 does not share the auto sheet feeder of its MP750 and MP780 cousins, or the fax of the 780.

*However - If you plan on printing directly from memory cards, beware!The mp750 and mp780 do not have card slots!The 2 cheaper models and the mp760 do.

*Auto sheet feeder: The mp130 and mp760 do NOT have an auto sheet feeder.All 3 of the others do.An auto sheet feeder is very useful when doing a lot of scanning or faxing.

*Duplexing: The mp7xx models each have built in duplexing.

*Size: The mp7xx models weigh around 30 pounds and are quite big.The MP390 is a smaller, and weighs 18 pounds.The mp130 has a tiny footprint for a multifunction printer, and weighs 14 pounds.

Some features that all of Canon's current MFPs share:

*Copying: Each of these models has a copy function, and all have the same resolution (600x600 black, 1200x1200 color).
*USB 2.0 connection
*Pictbridge direct photo printing support
*All 5 models are great looking and will complement almost any decor.

My recommendations:

If you want a great price on an excellent printer and don't need a fax: MP130

If price is an issue but you still need a fax: MP390

If you can afford an MP700 series and don't need a fax, card slots, or the MP760's photo features: MP750

If you need its exclusive photo features (but no fax or auto sheet feeder): MP760

If you can afford an MP700 series and need a fax (but no card slots and none of the MP760s photo features): MP780

You will be glad you bought it
I have had this printer for a couple of weeks and it does everything Canon's description says and it does it well.The included software gives you options for printing photos and scanning that range from fully automatic (simple) to using wizards (need to make some decisions) to full control of everything (got to read the manual).Pictures come out looking great and text is sharp.It has two paper sources so that you can switch between different papers without having to fumble with a paper tray, built in two-sided paper printing (duplexing) and a real plus, it has a built-in memory card reader so you can print directly or easily and quickly transfer info. to your computer from most any kind of memory card.

The only problem I have had, and that you may also have, has somthing to do with how the printer uses my computer's USB2 ports.I have a laser printer connected to one of these ports and if it and the Canon are both connected when I boot up the computer, the computer's USB controller experiences some kind of conflict between these printing devices and resolves the conflict by disabling some of the Canon's functions.I called Canon's tech. support, which, by the way, is free during your warranty year. After going through a few prompts I was quickly connected with a support person (not outsourced!) who was knowledgeable and patiently helped me troubleshoot the problem.Tech talk: something to do with computer bios, the USB controller and how the Canon is programmed to use the USB hub.In any case, he said I would have to call my computer maker for help in changing computer codes.My quick, if not elegant solution, was to unplug the laser printer from the USB until boot up was complete and then plug it back in.Problem solved!This didn't work if I unplugged the Canon and instead left the laser printer connected during boot up.Hope this helps.

Bottom line...You won't go wrong if you get this printer.

Very impressed
So far, so very very good.This printer creates great photos on glossy paper and does very well with black tiny text on injet paper.But most of all, I'm impressed with its speed.It's the fastest printer I've ever owned (maybe that says more about me than the printer) so I'm extremely happy.

The only issue I have with this printer is that its front buttons (copy, scan, film, photo) do not work with my Macintosh.I use system 10.3.8 and pressing the buttons does *nothing*. However, everything works if you use the included (excellent) software.If I'm looking for other things to complain about, I'd say it's a bit heavy & large.It woudn't fit in the cabinet where my old printer did. ... Read more

Features

• 3,200 x 6,400 dpi maximum optical resolution, 9,600 dpi interpolated
• Rich 48-bit color with 16-bit grayscale
• Scans slides or negatives plus photos and documents
• 4 easy buttons to scan, copy, email, or create PDF files
• USB 2.0 interface, cable included; Windows compatible

Product Description

The CanoScan LiDE 500F Color Image Scanner combines sleek styling with heavyweight performance. One convenient cable provides both power and a USB connection, reducing the number of wires around your desk. A USB Hi-Speed interface* enables incredibly fast image transfers to your computer, along with the fastest possible scanning speeds. Previews of your scans are ready in seconds. For added convenience, four easy buttons - Copy, Scan, PDF and E-Mail automate the scanning process, so your projects can get done more quickly. Just position your original, select the use for the image and in seconds it's ready to go.You're going to love the results. The LiDE 500F scanner delivers a maximum 2400 x 4800 color dpi resolution and 48-bit color depth, for over 281 trillion possible colors. The unique Doubled-Hinge expansion top lifts approx. 1 inch vertically and lays flat on the page to help ensure clear, sharp scans with minimal light distortion.Here's a simple solution for all those old negatives you've got sitting in boxes, just place them in the LiDE 500F's film adapter and press the Scan button! These valuable images can be archived on your computer, safe from heat, humidity and dust, and then printed for family and friends. FARE (Film AutomaticRetouching and Enhancement) Level 3 is a built-in film retouching technology that automatically removes much of the dust and scratches that may appear on your originals. The result? The final scans of dusty and scratche ... Read more

Features

• USB interface; PC and Mac compatible
• 4,800 x 2,400 dpi optical resolution, 19,200 dpi interpolated
• 48-bit color depth, 16-bit grayscale
• Double-hinge expansion top for scanning bulky items
• Scans negatives and positives with included film adapter

Reviews (5)

This was a bit of a let down
Scans photographs OK, but there are blurry areas on other images, around the edges. I've been using scanners for many years, was tempted by the slim design...just didn't work out.

The best portable scanner available today
I looked hard at the Canon Canoscan LiDE 20 through LiDE 80 series and found much to admire. Even though I am a committed buyer of older-and-proven tech products, I paid a bit extra to get the newer Canon LiDE 500F. Why? Great design, great portability, great scanning resolution, great software - all for a great price. The LiDE 80 has these too, but the latest evolution of the Canon LiDE concept embodied in the 500F goes much further.

I'm a freelance writer, and I needed a slim and portable platen-based scanner powered through a fast USB 2.0 port to avoid a separate power supply for the scanner. I have a sheet-fed scanner built into my trusty old HP OfficeJet T45, but it's only good for documents neatly printed by PC printers, not odd-sized info from books and magazines that require a platen-based scanner. I use the Canoscan LiDE 500F to "copy" info when gathering research, both with my office desktop PC and in remote locations with my laptop. I use ABBYY FineReader 7.0 optical character recognition to recreate the original document or article's text (complete with the original graphics and layout) saved in Microsoft Word. The offsite alternative to this is a crude, time consuming, and expensive hassle using a local library copier.

The LiDE 500F's double-hinge expansion top design enables the platen lid to fold away flat, so any book or magazine covers the platen for scanning without having to deal with the platen lid at all. The Canon software is quite comprehensive, covering the gamut of customized scanning needs from simple office automation to highly complex scans for graphics. A built-in stand enables the LiDE 500F to stand on its edge in the office, enabling space-saving efficiency and convenience, with it's software-automated buttons for "copying" to a printer, scanning to a bitmap file, scanning to an Adobe PDF file, and inserted a saved scan into an email as an attachment. You will especially love the one-step convenience of inserting a bill or invoice into the scanner while mounted on its edge, and having the scanned item automatically print directly to whatever default printer you preselect. The software also well supports the external film/slide adapter up to the 48-bit 2400x4800 max - including the vaunted FARE Level 3 (Film Automatic Retouching and Enhancement) built-in film retouching technology that automatically removes much of the dust and scratches that may appear on your originals. Canon's FARE Level 3 works, and works quite well to my eyes.

Is this the ideal scanner for the graphic artist or photography enthusiast? No. Desktop-only scanners dedicated to these pursuits are far superior in every way, only lacking the portability and all-round usefulness that the LiDE 500F offers for the price. The LiDE 500F reminds me of why the Olympus DS-330 is such a great voice recorder for both workstation-docked recording of telephone interviews and on-location voice recordings: a combination of great design for both stationary use and mobile use, and great software that handles every contingency for both the professional writer or general corporate user.

Drawbacks? The LiDE 500F is larger than the LiDE 20-80 series, a bit heavier, and a bit thicker. Note that it is almost exactly the same size as an Apple 17" Powerbook, so an Apple neoprene laptop sleeve for that PC fits it perfectly for slipping into your briefcase (if your briefcase is large enough). Just make sure you lock the platen down with the switch on the back before moving it to avoid damage. I've heard that the LiDE 500F is "noisy." It's not, really - no more than any other scanner. Just a low hum when scanning that disturbs nobody in today's noisy libraries, and virtually unnoticeable in any corporate office. I read somewhere that it is "slow." All scanners are slow compared to a high-speed copier, but the LiDE 500F's USB 2.0 interface boosts its performance considerably compared to the earlier LiDE 20/30/35 models that use a slower USB 1.1 interface. The speed of the LiDE 80 should be about the same, as it also uses a USB 2.0 interface. The trick to fast scanning is to limit your scanned resolutions to 300dpi or less. The file sizes will be smaller, and there's less work for your PC to handle for each scan.

If the LiDE 500F is too pricey or fancy for your needs, be aware that refurbished LiDE 20's and LiDE 35's are available today (April/2005) for a song - $30-$50! But they are limited by a slower USB 1.1 interface, lower resolutions for your photos, and don't have the built-in edge-standing office convenience of the LiDE 500F. Note that I have not commented on the quality of the scanning, color faithfulness, or sharpness. I also cannot comment on its long-term durability. To me, the LiDE 500F performs quite well and exhibits none of the weird patterning and faint lines that seem to plague similar slim-profile models from HP. Truth be told, HP printing and scanning products seem to have suffered from shabby quality and design in the past five years, and are no longer the unquestioned "safe bet" they once were. In contrast, the LiDE 500F certainly seems to be a safe bet for those seeking an ideal balance of performance and portability that desktop scanners have never before offered.

Excellent performance for the price
This is the first scanner I have purchased. Setup was easy, the scanner driver software is simple to use and very helpful if you want to do multiple scans - just scan once - it sends the image to the calling application and then returns back to the scanning page. Repalce your items on the scanner and scan again for the next page - this is pretty helpful if you have to scan a lot of items. My friend has a HP scanner (6210) which does not have this feature.

My first scanner was a defective one (gave calibration errors), but Canon replaced it promptly (in 2 days).

The film adapter is also present for your 35mm scans.

Actually this is the only scanner in the market that has so many positive features

- self powered
- high optical scan resolution
- 35 mm adapter
- IR dust detection and correction (works quite well in the Medium setting)
- very sleek and small - can be easily put in a laptop bag
- has a LED based illumination system unlike other scanners - this means no need to wait for the 'warm up'

So far I haven't had a single problem. This is an excellent buy! 5 stars.

What more could you want?
I am quite impressed with this scanner.My last scanner was purchased back in 1999; this new one is in a different league!Scanning is fast and easy and I'm quite surprised by the quality of the images.I've scanned 20 year-old photographs and the quality of the scans easily matches the orginal prints!

Set-up was easy with the USB cable (no power cord needed); it is lightweight with a sleek design; and the software is quite usable.I spent a few hours reading reviews on the Internet before I purchased this and I am convinced I made a good decision.You're not going to do much better in this price range!

Feature rich, mobile, quality - produce good scans for the $
Summary
+ Very mobile (no power cord uses USB connection for power)
+ Good quality
+ Plenty of useful software to get you started
+ Good resolution
+ IR image correction
+ Scans negatives (a 6 frame strip at once)
+ Small footprint, and 3 ways to setup the scanner on your desk.
+ Good match with the i950 printer.
+ No waiting for warm-up, just scan away.
(...)
+ Well matched with my I950 printer

- Slower than some of the $90 bulky scanners.
- Lower resolution than some of the bulky scanners.

*************************************************************************************************************
I purchased this scanner the day it came out (Jan 31 2005).(...)

There were more features, it was a newer product.So I gambled with the 500f and returned the LiDE80.
The reviews were mixed for the LiDE 80 to begin with.It seems that it's biggest asset was the slim profile.This attribute is compounded in the 500f since it can be setup "vertically".The footprint is minimized on the desktop.

The LiDE technology allows the use of LEDs to illuminate the object being scanned.Other technology uses a cathode/fluorescent tube.The advantages of the LEDs are that there is no warm up and thus no waiting.The life span is much greater for LEDs, and they are not damaged by movement or vibration.Though most cathode/fluorescent tubes can produce just as good a sometimes much better image quality, their lifespan can be shorter and power requirements are much greater.This technology is best realized if you will be moving the scanner, using it adhoc, or if you don't want to wait for a warm-up.LiDE is also what allows Canon to make the thing so thin (1").

The 500f scanner is rather slow at higher resolutions 2-3 sec preview and 30 - 40 seconds full scan.Other tube type scanners offer higher resolution with faster scan speeds for less money.These scanners are fine if you are not interested in the space saving aspect, and don't mind an initial warm-up.

The scanner does a good job at correcting minor scratches and dust on slides and photos.I think the over all quality is fantastic, not to mention the price.

The unit operates pretty quietly and is a good match with my printer (Canon i950 - which is incredible by the way).

The software offered is complete and allows you to really use the scanner.There is a simple tool which scans and saves - a tool for photo editing (feature rich I might add)- a tool for assigning actions to the 4 buttons (mail, pdf, copy, scan).The copy is pretty cool if you want the image to scan and go right to the printer to be printed.You also get a program which scans and converts image to text.If you were to scan the pages of a book the scan would be converted to text.I have not used this text recognition software yet, but it could be useful at some point.

A nice feature of the 500f over the 80 is the fact that you can scan a 6 frame strip of negatives at once.The 80 requires you to manually advance 1 frame at a time.If you're looking to archive negatives, or perhaps make reprints of your negatives, this is a really cool feature simply made better on the 500f.Other scanners offer the 35mm negative functionality as well...

I'm very happy with the purchase of this scanner.People that may feel it is lacking is those who are not in the market for a $109 scanner.If you want a really high end scanner you're going to be paying more than 2 times that amount.However; there are some scanners for less money that produce scans just as good but lack the features.

The scanner is only going to be as good as your printer; and for what I do, its a real bargain. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

What can't you use a scanner for these days? Whether you're archiving old family heirloom photos or emailing a print article to a friend across the country, the Canon Lide35 scanner does what you need it to do, easily, without taking up much valuable desktop space. A patented Z-lid design allows you to smoothly accommodate thicker originals like magazines and yearbooks, even though the scanner itself measures just 1.5 inches thick. A stand is included to store it in an upright position, and a single cable supplies power and a USB connection. Even better, the cable's included in the box.

Both color and monochrome images come through cleanly, thanks to a 1,200 optical dpi and an interpolated resolution of 9,600 x 9,600 dpi. The included pack of scanning software provides you with plenty of options for storing, sending, and retouching; the scanner will automatically take care of scratches or lint on your originals, freeing your time to let you organize rather than repair them. Canon includes a one-year warranty covering parts and service.

What's in the Box
CanoScan LiDE 35 scanner, Z-Lid top, USB cable, scanner stand, CanoScan Setup CD-ROM, instructions, warranty information ... Read more

Features

• 1,200 x 2,400 dpi resolution, 9,600 dpi interpolated; 48-bit color
• Z-lid design accommodates thicker originals
• ArcSoft PhotoStudio and ScanSoft OmniPage SE OCR software
• USB 2.0 interface, cable included
• 1-year warranty with telephone support

Product Description

Pixma MP130 Photo All-In-One Printer, Print/Copy/Scan ... Read more

Features

• USB 2.0 interface, slots for digital-camera memory cards; PC compatible
• Print, scan, and copy from a single desktop machine
• Print up to 18 ppm black, 13 ppm color
• Scan with up to 48-bit color depth
• ArcSoft Photo Studio and ScanSoft Omni Page SE software

Reviews (2)

Home device
Just bought it to replace Lexmark X75.
Quality wice it is a little better.
Text printing much faster.
Photo printing seems in 3-4 times faster
and quality is better.
It is a little bit noisy.
Scanning software has some advanced features
for scanning photo but slow.
In general device initialization is slow.
Printing block comprises of printing frame and two
ink tanks. So ink is chipper but if frame will be
dust I have no idea if I can buy a new one.
Paper doc is weak. Still don't know if it supports
USB 2.0. TWAIN driver seems not universal.
Other Canon software shows it in a list but do not
recognize.
Can do copy without computer.
I general good device. Can not be beat for the price.

Which Canon Multifunction is right for you?
First off, if you're in the market for a printer, you can't go wrong with a Canon.Canon printers consistently beat out the competition in independent tests for print quality.Their items are elegant, well designed, and most importantly, ink is affordable.

We all know the razor and blade scheme: sell the printer below cost and make it up with pricey cartridges.Canon, however, saves you a lot of money by including the print head with the printer and not on each cartridge.Because of this, genuine Canon cartridges can be had for around $12, while 3rd party cartridges, which many claim work just as well, can be found for as low as $2.

If you've already decided on a Canon multifunction, lets see which model is right for you.Canon's current market list is as follows:

MP130 - New model, and the most affordable yet.
Copy/Print/Scan
18ppm black, 13ppm color
2 ink tanks
No auto sheet feeder!
Card slots

MP390 - Has a fax, About half the cost of the MP7xx's.
Copy/Print/SCan/Fax
18ppm black, 12 ppm color
2 ink tanks
card slots

MP750 - Older model - exactly the same as mp780 but no fax.
Copy/Print/Scan
25ppm black, 17 ppm color
5 ink tanks
Built in Duplexing

MP760 - New Model - geared towards photo enthusiasts.
Copy/Print/Scan + Special Photo Features
25ppm black, 17 ppm color
5 ink tanks
No auto sheet feeder!
Built in Duplexing
*Unique photo features:
2.5 inch lcd screen
Built in film adapter for 35mm slides or negatives
can print directly from negatives
Card slots

MP780 - Does it all except for the mp760 photo features.
Copy/Print/Scan/Fax
25ppm black, 17 ppm color
5 ink tanks
Built in Duplexing

Now, let's look more closely at some key differences between these models:

*Fax: The first thing you should do is decide if you need a fax or not. If you do, you should choose between the MP780 or the MP390.If not, don't rule those two out just yet, they may have have other features you can't live without.

*Note: There is NO auto fax/telephone switching on these models if you wish to use the same line for faxes and voice calls.

*Number of ink tanks: The next important thing you should look at is whether you want to be able to replace each color individually or not.The MP750, MP760 and MP780 all have 5 individual ink tanks (photo black, black, cyan, yellow, magenta), while the MP130 and MP390 have only 2 (black and tricolor).The cost of each cartridge is about the same, but you will waste some leftover ink by throwing out the MP130 or MP390's color cartridge when just one color runs out.

*Photo printing: If you're planning on printing a lot of photos, you should probably go with an mp7xx.These have a superior print head, as well as the 5 separate ink tanks.The MP760 is especially noteable with all the features Canon has added specifically for photos.These come at a price however, as the MP760 does not share the auto sheet feeder of its MP750 and MP780 cousins, or the fax of the 780.

*However - If you plan on printing directly from memory cards, beware!The mp750 and mp780 do not have card slots!The 2 cheaper models and the mp760 do.

*Auto sheet feeder: The mp130 and mp760 do NOT have an auto sheet feeder.All 3 of the others do.An auto sheet feeder is very useful when doing a lot of scanning or faxing.

*Duplexing: The mp7xx models each have built in duplexing.

*Size: The mp7xx models weigh around 30 pounds and are quite big.The MP390 is a smaller, and weighs 18 pounds.The mp130 has a tiny footprint for a multifunction printer, and weighs 14 pounds.

Some features that all of Canon's current MFPs share:

*Copying: Each of these models has a copy function, and all have the same resolution (600x600 black, 1200x1200 color).
*USB 2.0 connection
*Pictbridge direct photo printing support
*All 5 models are great looking and will complement almost any decor.

My recommendations:

If you want a great price on an excellent printer and don't need a fax: MP130

If price is an issue but you still need a fax: MP390

If you can afford an MP700 series and don't need a fax, card slots, or the MP760's photo features: MP750

If you need its exclusive photo features (but no fax or auto sheet feeder): MP760

If you can afford an MP700 series and need a fax (but no card slots and none of the MP760s photo features): MP780 ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

A film scanner that allows you to easily preserve negatives, the Canon LiDE 80 is a remarkably slim unit that's ready to meet big expectations. Don't let the 1.5-inch height fool you--Canon's Z-lid design allows it to perfectly accommodate originals up to one inch thick.

48-bit color and a 16-bit grayscale provide rich tones and clear contrasts; the 2,400 x 4,800 non-interpolated resolution handles the rest with clean, crisp detail. USB 2.0 interface means there's a single cord that supplies both power and connection, as well as a speedy transfer of data.

Bundled with the scanner is an impressive array of software for both Windows and Macintosh OS systems that will allow you to convert, smooth, and organize your images in a variety of ways. Perfect for home use, the Canon LiDE 80 is backed by a one-year warranty with Instant Exchange service.

What's in the Box
Canon LiDE 80 scanner; power/USB 2.0 cable; instructions; setup poster; warranty information; Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 CD-ROM; CanoScan Setup CD-ROM, including ScanGear CS (Windows/Mac), CanoScan Toolbox (Windows/Mac), Arcsoft PhotoStudio (Windows/Mac), ArcSoft PhotoBase (Windows/Mac), ScanSoft OmniPage SE OCR (Windows/Mac), NewSoft Presto! PageManager (Windows) and NewSoft Presto! BizCard (30-day trial version, Windows only) ... Read more

Features

• Up to 2,400 x 4,800 dpi hardware resolution for film and photos, 9,600 dpi interpolated
• 48-bit internal and external color depth, 16-bit grayscale
• Z-Lid design accommodates bulky originals
• Film adapter unit for negatives
• USB 2.0 interface, cable included; 1-year warranty with Instant Exchange

Reviews (15)

Nice for amateur photographer
Slick CanoScan LiDE 80 works well with documents and pictures where 600 dpi resolution is more then enough. Hi-quality full color slide scan with minimum 2400 dpi resolution - this is a real challenge for newly introduced CIS technology. IMHO Canon made it satisfactory with new LiDE 80 model. I don't want to go digital with my Canon Rebel Ti camera, but for inexpensive photo enlargements, graphic works and WEB design projects I need a good scanner, otherwise digital dark-room with powerful Adobe Photoshop post-processing will be unavailable for me. I do my photofinishing in Fuji minilab, "Frontier" can dump my digital images on CD-R in bulk (1840x1232 JPEG with 300 dpi resolution, price ~6$ per roll) - that's all you can get from advanced minilabs today :-(. As alternative, you can buy professional Nikon Super Coolscan with 4000 dpi - it will cost you 10 times more than SOHO flatbed scanner and you'll never be able to capitalize this investment in our "digital" future.

Today with CanoScan LiDE 80 I am in control of my pictures!

Software bundle is adequate and Elements 2.0 is a real bargain for Adobe Photoshop novice.

Good Scanner, Poor OS X Drivers
I got this scanner to replace a 1220U for the Film scanning and decent OS X drivers. Unfortunately the drivers on the CD are really bad, but the ones on-line (Tool Box 4.1.3 and LiDE 7.2.1.0 as of this writing) are better, so download them first. PhotoShop Elements is a great bonus but the OmniScan SE is a "classic" only app. Not Canon's fault but still disappointing. Also the film tray is for negatives, not slides so be aware of that. Otherwise it is a nice scanner, light weight, compact and combines USB and power in the same cable (down with AC adaptors!). Mac OS X people get the drivers from the website first.

Great and Easy to use.
Old scanner(4yrs. and it died) was a general HP not for pic's or slides. Decided I want to copy my pic's & slides onto CD. This scanner works great with a great price. And it has a nice software package. Cannot compare to a high price scanner but I am very pleased the the results that I am getting from my pic's, old negatives and slides. I am using the software with W98SE and I have the scanner plugged into a Belkin hup. I also have the Canon printer i860 which does very nice pic's.

easy for computer dummies like me
Short and sweet I'm just a guy with a computer no fancy computer job no fancy education in computers. I read the manuals but they are not my cup of tea. This scanner took me about 2 days to really get the hang of it. Which was a short time compared to what most of this stuff takes for me. If your like me just go to cannon on your menu open canno scan tool box, click save and start there.

Re:- Using 4-hub USB adaptor
I plugged my LiDE 80 into a cheap 4-hub USB adaptor and it is producing excellent quality scans.
My only reservation is that scanning via the single-touch button produces a reddish tinge, whereas scans to the computer seldom needs adjustment, but if they do, the desired result is easily obtained via Adobe 2.0 (supplied with the scanner).
Hope this helps! ... Read more

Features

• Prints, copies, and scans in one convenient unit
• Up to 21 ppm print speed, up to 1,200 x 600 dpi resolution
• Reduces and enlarges copies from 50 to 200% in 1% increments
• 1,200 x 2,400 dpi scan resolution, 48-bit color
• USB 2.0 interface, optional external print server; PC compatible

Features

• Up to 16 ppm black print and copy speed, up to 4 ppm color
• 1,200 x 2,400 dpi optical scan resolution
• 375-sheet standard input capacity plus 50-sheet auto document feeder
• 33.6 Kbps Super G3 fax; Windows 2000/XP compatible
• USB 2.0 interface, built-in 10/100 Base T networking

Amazon.com Product Description

One of the slimmest scanners on the market, the Canon LiDE 50 measures less than two inches high and includes a desktop stand for nearly invisible vertical storage. This doesn't mean it can't handle your originals--thanks to the Z-lid design, the LiDE 50 can accommodate items up to an inch thick while keeping them totally flat for absolutely impeccable scans.

48-bit color and a 16-bit grayscale provide rich tones and clear contrasts; the 1,200 x 2,400 optical resolution (9,600 x 9,600 dpi interpolated) handles the rest with clean, crisp detail. USB 2.0 interface means there's a single cord that supplies both power and connection, as well as a speedy transfer of data.

Bundled with the scanner is an impressive array of software for both Windows and Macintosh OS systems that will allow you to convert, smooth, and organize your images in a variety of ways. Perfect for home use, the Canon LiDE 50 is backed by a one-year warranty with Instant Exchange service.

What's in the Box
Canon LiDE 50 scanner; stand; power/USB 2.0 cable; instructions; setup poster; warranty information; Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 CD-ROM; CanoScan Setup CD-ROM with ScanGear CS (Windows/Mac), CanoScan Toolbox (Windows/Mac), Arcsoft PhotoStudio (Windows/Mac), ArcSoft PhotoBase (Windows/Mac), ScanSoft OmniPage SE OCR (Windows/Mac), NewSoft Presto! PageManager (Windows) and NewSoft Presto! BizCard (30-day trial version, Windows only) ... Read more

Features

• Up to 1,200 x 2,400 dpi resolution, 48-bit color
• Z-Lid expansion top for bulky originals
• Complete software bundle, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0
• USB 2.0 interface and power supply, cable included
• PC and Mac compatible; 1-year warranty with Instant Exchange

Reviews (25)

Cool design with no ON/OFF switch that went lights out.
I first pick this scanner because it was nice and compact looking, with an eye catching silver slim design. It had USB 2 and good resolution, but like most scanners doesn't have too many other features. It ran fine on my PIV XP laptop with 512mb, the driver and software install perfectly on the first try. People, who say they have software issues, should reformat their machine, because there are some software or memory conflicts from human error. Usually people install thing and erase system files improperly or accidentally.

Performances:
Scanning images on this machine is fast and the scans look great. Its actual scanning perform is a lot better then the machine that replaced it. The HP 6110 all-in-one scanned a lot slower and produced very grainy images. Canon's scans were much smoother quality.

Bad bulb that went lights out:
I like everything in this little scanner, but Canon cut corner on two major issues. The first, which was the reason I had to return it, is: there is no ON/OFF switch. The scanner power up through the USB cable when the computer turns on. Sometime I leave my laptop on for whole day, which also leaves the scanner on for a whole day: this is how I figured the light bulb died within the first month. At first, I unplugged the USB cable, but over time you forget or get careless. Maybe there is a setting to control this, but it was too late. Canon cut corner on the ON/OFF switch simply to save money. The other smaller problem, but annoying feature is the driver software doesn't let you customize scanning sizes. After using a HP for years, I would like to pick my own scan size, sometime like 72dpi or 350dpi. Canon preset dpi in increment of 100s is annoying.

The return to the store
Good thing the bulb died on the 28th day so I got to return and exchange for a more feature HP 6110, but with lesser performance rating. I stayed away from Canon's cool but cheaply constructed design, until the overly impressive Canon's I960 photo printer changed my mind.

Great Bargain
Since I purchased my first Canon color printer 2 years ago, I've had nothing but positive experiences with Canon products. This scanner is no exception. It's replacing a VERY old parallel port scanner and I must say, technology has come a long, long way.

To begin with, this scanner is incredibly fast. Connected to a USB 2.0 port, full page color scans at 300dpi take less than 30 seconds to complete. Most of the time, I use it to scan pencil sketches directly into Photoshop (extremely easy). In gray-scale mode, I can scan an entire page at 300dpi in ~10 seconds...blazingly fast! Top it off with easy setup, self powered USB (no power brick!), and sleek design, this scanner is a bargain.

Unless you're doing hardcore, ultra high-res, ultra high-quality, professional graphics work, this is the scanner for you.

Does NOT work at 1200dpi
The LiDE 50 will not scan at 1200dpi. I'm running a 1Ghz Athlon with 256MB of RAM and plenty of system resources in Windows 2000 Professional. The scans just "hang" at 20% or 90% and never finish. Also, parts in the internal mechanism of the scanner I recieved appear to have minor corrosion on them. Whether it is this or a compatibility problem that is the cause of the scanning problems I will never know because there is no way I'm wasting my time with another unit.

LiDE 50 on Linux a no go
If you plan to use the Canon CanoScan LiDE 50 on Linux, you're currently out of luck. Of the LiDE scanners, the Sane (Scanner Access Now Easy - http://www.sane-project.org/) project only supports the LiDE 20 and 30. That's why only 3 stars.

BTW, though this is labeled as a USB 2.0 product, it also works with USB 1.1.

Lide 50 Review: Consider Carefully
Well after accidently dropping and smashing my previous Canoscan 1240U which I was completely happy with, EXCEPT for the speed. Superb image quality, but painfully slow, I looked at the canon site to checkout the new range.

I considered 3 canoscans, the Lide20/30 and 50.
I selected the 50 primarily because it was USB2 and more than twice the speed of
my old scanner (the 1240U's are renovned for slow scans).

Unfortunately this scanner just doesnt live up to any of the hype or my expectations. I did expect the image quality to be as good as the lide 20 or 30.

The images as other people have also said are grainy and drilling down on a 600 or 1200dpi scan easily shows this. I am very dissapointed with the image quality.
The dust button must be enabled otherwise dust imperfections are shocking.

The speed is certainly faster especially on preview. But on some scans depending on what you are scanning at etc its not alot faster than my old scanner. I get the
feeling that this scanner is geared around the 300dpi, as some scans other than
300dpi eg: 150 take an unexplainable long time.

The updates of the scan software are nice, but not alot better in my view.
I did end up having to uninstall all of my older Canoscan software to be sure
that there wasnt some wierd software issue causing the poor quality.

If I had to choose again, I think i would again suffer the slow speed of the Lide 30 (updated 1240U) and choose it even the lide 20 is better quality than the 50.

Having said all this even though the scanner is usb2 capable i have it plugged into a usb1 only port, but this shouldnt make any difference. ... Read more

Features

• Fast FireWire and USB 2.0 connections for Mac, USB 2.0 only for Windows
• Supports FARE 2.0 film automatic retouching and enhancement technology
• Batch scan up to 24 negative frames at once
• Includes Adobe PhotoShop Elements 2.0

Reviews (5)

Mac users beware:nice scanner, terrible software, no support
I assumed that, having a Firewire interface, this scanner would have really good Mac OS X support. Boy was I wrong. The CD came with no obvious installer, but a bunch of unintuitively named installers deep inside folders with no clues about the order of installation. I was able to download better installers from Canon's web site, but even so, the installation was painful. The installer would actually install another installer and then launch Internet Explorer to give you instructions on what to do next. There were several pieces of software to install, each one using this Byzantine method. At least the instructions in IE were clear.

The scanner driver is quite bad. The layout of the interface is poor (not to mention ugly) and the software sucks up all available CPU power when idle (strangely, CPU power goes down to 5 or 10% during scanning). Also, the installers load daemons that watch for button presses on the front of scanner. These suck up 5 or 10% of the CPU when the scanner is disconnected and output error messages continually to the system log files (they to grow to hundreds of megabytes and it becomes very difficult to find anything useful in them.)

Now, scanner software has a reputation for being bad and I just assumed that if Canon's were terrible I would buy the fantastic VueScan shareware program. I should have done my homework: Canon uses a proprietary communication protocol with this scanner, so it will only work with THEIR awful software. I recommend checking carefully and only buying TWAIN scanners, unless you KNOW the software that the scanner comes with is good.

Finally, I keep having a problem where, in the middle of a scan, the driver tells me that it has lost communication with the scanner and to check the cable. Once this happens, only a reboot will restore communication. Disconnecting the scanner, power cycling it, changing the cable, etc have no effect.

I sent tech support queries to Canon several times about these problems and never received a response.

On the hardware side, the negative scanner insert is pretty flimsy (though it hasn't broken yet) and does not hold the negatives flat. The lid does not quite close all the way. I usually have to put a small book on it to get it flush with the glass.

The scans that I have made are quite nice. But the pain associated with them has meant I have not used the scanner as much as I intended and have spent far too much time making those few scans.

Versatility and power in scanning negatives & pictures
I bought this unit to scan old b/w negatives & pictures. I had to increase my RAM from 128M to 512M and upgrade my USB to 2.0. Once I did that, things worked better. However, I still couldn't save a bmp file directly without it crashing. After speaking with Canon tech support--which was far more helpful on the scanner side of the house than their copier side--I found that the ArcSoft software had some issues. I began to use the included Adobe Photoshop Elements program exclusively and, what a difference! The truly extraordinary ability of this program to take a faded, discolored photo and, via auto color correction, restore it to vibrant, rich colors is astonishing! Even b/w pictures can be easily enhanced with the auto contrast feature. Have been able to scan old box camera negatives (120, 620, 116 & 616 formats) using the carrier, to my great delight. One caveat, the large format carrier for negatives is not as robust as the 35mm negative carrier. My normal scans of positives is at 400 or 800 dpi. It's impressive that a photo the size of a quarter can be effectively enlarged with great integrity. I have pulled out subtle details in photos that had escaped my notice even with the aid of a conventional magnifying glass. If you scan your photos at a minimum of 400 dpi you'll be amazed at how much they can be enlarged with little to no visible pixelation. I haven't tried batch scanning. None of my local retailers carried this unit. As one explained to me, the general buying public tends to go for the cheapest, low resolution scanners. Am so glad I went for this more powerful, utilitarian unit. Its versatility to work with negatives from 35mm to large format 4x5, as well as 35mm slides, and photos or documents makes it a great choice. The Canon program Scangear is easy to use and even a novice can quickly master it in short order.

Bad software
This scanner has probably good hardware but you can expect big problems with software. The colors of photos scanned from negative film depend on the other shots on the same strip. Unfortunately even if you tell the scanner not to use color correction it does it anyway. Scanning 20+ negs with 3200dpi takes more than 5 hours. It was more or less acceptable for me if I could expect normal result. Unfortunately it happens often that after hours of waiting you have to delete pictures with heavy blue cast and put strips into the scanner in another order and hope that it will work (sometimes it helps).

I have asked from Canon customer care if there is another software or a way to configure this one somehow. They answered that I have to ask from Adobe. :-)

GREAT scanner, but....
I purchased this scanner for the purpose of scanning old B&W negatives (film size A116), color 35mm slides, and large format (Hasselblad) color negatives and slides...in addition to B&W and color photo scans and the occasional text scan.

I found the directions well written and the scanner and software easy to install on my computer. The test scan I took came out as beautiful as the original. Then, I randomly selected one of the B&W negatives for scanning...the picture that looked back at me took my breath away!!! It was taken 70+ years ago (and has been crammed into a metal matchbox for about the same number of years), and it was absolutely stunning...yes, this scanner was everything I had hoped it would be.

Then, I attempted to save this scan...and the problems began. It seemed that both of the softwares included were not happy with my computer set-up. I settled on using Photoshop Elements 2.0, because I was more familiar with it. I would load the software, do a preview (which brought up a large thumbnail), then do a final scan. After the final scan, I received an error message that said it could not perform that function. I then performed the scan a second time, and everthing was fine. I could then save the picture. However, if I tried to scan a second negative, the software locked up, forcing me to go into Task Manager applications and end the task. I discovered that if I closed Photoshop Elements after each saved scan, then restarted it, things worked okay. For me, this was NOT acceptable! My plan was to contact Canon tech support the following week...

Since this was a Friday, I decided I should take a second look at Canon's system requirements for the 9900F, since this had all of the earmarks of a memory (RAM) issue. I was running a Windows XP Pro (upgraded from Windows 98Me), a 1.4GHZ processor, 256MB of RAM...the minimum that Canon recommended for Windows XP (w/USB 2.0) is 566 MHz and 128 MB RAM! Hmmmmm... I figured that boosting the RAM would help, but the cost of the type of RAM I had was kind of high, so my son talked me into upgrading the entire system (new 2.4 GHz processor, new motherboard, and 1024 MB of RAM, and a fresh install of Windows XP). Well, now it works PERFECTLY...no problems.

I had heard prior to purchase there were software issues with the Canon 9900F, but I have been very happy with other Canon products I own, so I went for it! Maybe I was in need of an upgrade anyway...HOWEVER, I do believe that Canon's system requirements were way off with regard to the RAM required to use the scanner and effectively operate the software. I might have knocked half a star off for this, but I don't believe these shortcomings should reflect poorly on what is otherwise an OUTSTANDING scanner.

Wonderful Scanner
Perhaps the most versatile scanner yet. Has a true optical resolution of 3200dpi, which means it is very usable as a film (neg/trans) scanner. Canon includes neg/trans holders with the bundle, both for 35mm, medium formats, and 4x5. The software bundle includes Photoshop Elements, an OCR software, and some lesser programs. One great software program that comes built-in is the Canon FLARE 2 dust and scratch removal tool. Unlike ICE, FLARE 2 works on Kodachrome slides. It does not work on B&W. The one-button scanning ability is great if you do a lot of document scanning into Acrobat or an OCR program, but the single button film scanning really isn't useful, as you'll want to go into the Canoscan software and adjust the setting for most scans.

I have scanned both transperencies and negatives and the results have been very good. When compared to my Nikon Coolscan IV (a 2600dpi film scanner) the results hold up very well. Several newer Velvia trans looked very good at 3200dpi, even when compared to the scans from the Nikon. The scans are very slow from the 9900F, but the fact that I can scan multiple slide or negs at one time makes up for the lack of speed.

Scanning a 6x4.5 medium format neg the results were very sharp but a bit on the dark side. Note that I do not usually adjust for brightness during the scanning process and choose to wait until the image is dumped into Photoshop to do such work. Once adjusted, the scanned image looked excellent -- although the file was over 60mb in size.

About the only complaint I have is that Canon chose to make this scanner 8.5x11 instead of 8.5x14 -- having the ability to scan legal size, or oversize prints, would have been a plus.

I was very pleased with all of the scans I've done so far, including the 35mm and medium fomrat scans of negatives. The FLARE software really does work well, and is comparable to ICE. The 3200dpi scan gives some huge medium format file sizes, but that is what we want! An excellent scanner at a great price. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This CanoScan flatbed scanner delivers 600 x 1,200 resolution in a slim package, just over 1 inch high. It uses a single USB cable for both power and data from any compatible Mac or PC. This scanner offers 42-bit scanning with more than four trillion possible colors. It also has an external programmable button for fast, one-touch scanning.

Another handy feature is Canon's exclusive Z-Lid expansion top, which allows you to scan bulky items, such as books and magazines. Many other scanner covers lift only at an angle and become uneven and awkward when scanning anything that isn't completely flat; the N650U scanner cover includes a special expansion hinge that lifts up to 1 inch vertically and lies flat to create extra space. ... Read more

Features

• 600 x 1,200 dpi resolution, 9,600 dpi interpolated
• USB interface provides power, no AC adapter required
• 42-bit color depth, over 4 trillion possible colors
• Expansion top for scanning books and magazines
• Ultraslim, fits in most small office spaces

Reviews (40)

worse than i thought!
the GOOD: lightweight, small, cheap, no power cord...the BAD: scans the flattest paper, 99.9% paper only! horrible software! FOR: beginners and only those scanning the flattest objects!

i got the CanoScan N650U because of such overwhelming positive reviews, then i bought it and tried it - easy to install and started scanning. it is NOT AS GOOD as the majority online says it is. from the reviews i read, it was suppose to be quiet, fast and easy to use. well...it's not exactly that. i even contacted Canon, who said they would reply back with help in 2-3 days; it's been over a week.

it's almost louder than my old scanner, a Umax Astra 1220S and crashes alot more on Window2000! the N650U scans at a good speed, though i had hoped faster for USB. while i do admire it's size and design, i despise it's scanning program and even it's scanning ability, or lack of i should say.

the N650U only scans well if you have a perfectly flat object [99.9% paper material] on the surface. if u do not have a flat object and you scan, u will get the blurrest image!!! i'm talking about the slightest wrinkle in the paper, and the N650U will see it as a BIG blur! this scanner is ONLY for the flattest object, dont think of using it for magazines that are creased or such, you will get blurs at the crease.

compared to my 1220S, the N650U is a lost cause! the photos scanned do not appear as clear as my 1220S and have white specks on the scans, even after i cleaned the glass surface! while the N650U saves space, it doesn't save the user from agony and professional use. it is overall a waste of money unless you are a pre-beginner at scanning and only scan flat paper images, which turn out decent.

my 1220S does a good job of scanning everything! flat objects and 3D objects! the only reason i thought of buying another scanner is because i wanted to use the USB port rather than a SCSI port. and that my scanner is bulky compared to the N650U...but now that i've tried another scanner that seemed really nice but wasnt, i am definitely returning the N650U, then either stay with my old scanner or buy another brand.

while the N650U looks beautiful on your desktop, it's not quite useful enough for a true designer working with graphics, drawings, etc. and for under 100$, there is NO such thing as high quality in this scanner. better to try another brand [first] and compare the results.

Great basic scanner
I am very impressed with this scanner. It is my first, so I don't have much to compare it to, but it worked extremely well once I figured a few things out. One thing you should be aware of; since this unit is powered only through the USB cable, Canon strongly recommends that you do not use a longer cable than the one supplied with the scanner. It's about 5' long, which should be long enough for most. Also, as others have stated, it should only be connected to a direct USB port on your computer.(not a hub, or "daisy chained" with other USB devices). Instalation was easy. Just follow the instructions in order. The software is easy to learn if you have the time to play with it. I didn't, so I went to Arcsoft's web site and downloaded the manual. My first scan was a 3.5" x 5" color photo. I set the res at 600 dpi. It took a LONG time. Then I realized I had the scan size set at 8.5" X 11" (duh). It was scanning the entire flatbed. Once I adjusted the scan size, it scanned the same photo, at the same res, in only about 20 seconds. And it's whisper quiet. I have read others complain that that it won't scan 3-D objects well at all. It probably wont. It uses entirely different technology than older "brighter" scanners which need a separate power cord. I don't see this as a problem for me, as 99% of my scans will be photos or text pages. I would recomed this product to anyone.

worked great until the glass broke
I had this scanner for a couple years. I thought it worked really good. I used it mainly for scanning pictures, and they were very sharp. Then one day the glass shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces with no apparent explaination.

works OK but some limitations
Unlike some of the others with this unit, I had no trouble installing and using it (one I got the right drivers, that is -- J&R Music world initially sent me the wrong disk, grrr).

Though it runs a little slow, it does make reasonably clean scans, and makes MUCH less clutter on and behind my desk than most other machines, which is why I bought it.

People need to know, however, that the lens has crummy depth-of field, which means that anything that is not dead flat against the glass will look fuzzy. My previous scanner could make acceptable images of small three-dimensional objects; this one won't.

Also, the color balance is kind of off, too blue-tinged. With my Paint Shop Pro, I need to subtract a little blue and add a little red to the scans to make them look like real life.

I assume that both these problems (poor depth of field and color imbalance) come from the dim scanning lamp neccesitated by the low power available to the unit.

Canon N650U USB flatbed Scanner BOO
Would like to know if it is not to late to return as has never worked correctly! Keeps telling me not connected (never the twain will meet) when know it is! ... Read more

Features

• Up to 1,200 x 2,400 dpi resolution
• 48-bit depth for over 281 trillion possible colors
• 1 cable handles both USB and power
• Z-Lid expansion top accommodates bulky objects
• Scan, copy, or e-mail photos at the touch of a button

Reviews (83)

An Excellent Bang-For-You-Buck Scanner
Canon's new LiDE 30 is certainly a step up in overall image quality when compared to other slimline scanners, especially for under ... I was surprised at how good this scanner was for the price. Canon's adjustable Z-lid feature, a much-needed scanner improvement, is a must if you scan from bulky sources like books or magazines. All photo and text scans made were very crisp and accurate. (Poorer photos will need futher software manipulation to improve their quality beyond the originals.) No power cord--power drawn through the USB cable from the computer--and the lightweight portability of this scanner make it ideal for use with laptops. It can even be set up vertically if space is a problem. The only real drawback to the Canon LiDE 30 is that's it's a bit slow--20 seconds (approx.) for a 4" x 5" photo. Still, in this price range and for a 1200 x 2400 scanner, that's faster than most of the other models at this price. Like most included software packages, the software that comes with the LiDE 30 is adequate for most home uses--though no doubt some can benefit from other scanner software packages available in the aftermarket. If your scanning needs are modest-to-moderate, and your budget demands tight, this is definitely the scanner for you. The best, bar none, in terms of over all quality in this price range that's been offered to consumers up to now.

Amazing value for the money!
Even if you don't get the current rebate from Canon, this scanner is an amazing bargain.

Pros (besides the price):

The form factor is fantastic. It's small and light and saves desktop space, and is portable if you need that. And I really appreciate that it doesn't require a power adapter: one less cable and one less plug-in. It looks attractive (and goes very well with a PowerBook, by the way).

Great scans. I'm using Mac OS X and VueScan, a third party scanning software which works with a multitude of scanners, many times better than the manufacturer's software.

Acceptable speed. The speed isn't going to blow anyone away, but it certainly wasn't painfully slow, especially at 300 dpi, which is all I generally need. (Primarily digital presentations, web work, and the occasional old photograph.)

I'm using it to replace a very expensive, but several years old HP ScanJet. The ScanJet is just taking up too much space, and is overkill for what I really need.

Cons:
Materials to be scanned must sit flush against the glass, so it isn't designed to scan 3 D objects, if you need that capability.

Great Bang for the Buck
...The product itself worked as the manufacturer described it. Not a single problem occured during my installation (WinXP), and the included pieces of software more than covered all my scanning needs. The product lived up to its promise to EASILY scan and e-mail, edit, and convert the scanned image to word processing text.

It is extremely light and very easy to carry from location to location, and that was another great plus. It's ability to stand upright for those tight desk spaces is another feature I enjoy.

My only complaint (and I use that word lightly) is the noise the scanner makes when it scans. I've not been around many scanners, but the ones I've heard are quieter than this product. I'd say the sound level is comparable to an inkjet printer pulling paper from its paper tray.

Also, even after reinstalling the related software, the three buttons on the scanner don't work. I'm currently looking at the Canon website to see if I can get a more updated driver that would fix this problem. For now, I'm using the included software to do the scanning.

All-in-all, I highly recommend that you purchase this scanner if you're for a 'more bang for the buck' scanner and low on the budget. However, for those of you who are professional artist and/or photographers, you might want to consider looking at more flashy scanners for your requirements; this product wasn't exactly blazing when scanning full-blown colored graphics....Mine was also a brand new product too, not refurbished, used, or "like-new" either. Regardless, it's still worth the price for new scanner owners and/or practical/common use.

Highly recommended.

LIGHTEST, SLEEKEST, MOST EFFICIENT SCANNERS ON THE MARKET
Get Lide 80 if you need a really top-of-the-line scanner without buying a mountain of machinery, but even with the throw-away deal on Lide 30, you'll do just fine for home scanning needs.

Don't let the compact design fool you, Canon's Lide series blows the competition out of the water with its crisp, swift scans. It connects through a USB 2.0 connector, so you don't need an AC adapter etc, in English, this means no additional guzzling of electricity. The bundled software (ScanGear toolbox) installs easily and you can be scanning in no more than 10 minutes.

If you're looking for something equally excellent in quality but with a slightly lower price point, and don't mind somewhat healthier body, try Epson Perfection 1670, but otherwise Canon Lide series is among the best your money can buy.

Compact Good Scanner - Software is Crap
Compact with decent photo reproductions but the driver software
and packaged software are crap. You can always use your own photo editing
software to acquire the image from the scanner.
The only other drawback besides the software is that the scanner
can not reproduce metallic, foil, or chrome in images. Gold & chrome
actually comes out with a heavy PINK tint. Not a problem for the average
photo enthusiasts, but this is why I had to return this scanner for an HP scanner. The HP scanners have no problem reproducing gold or chome in images. ... Read more

Features

• Up to 600 x 1,200 dpi resolution
• 48-bit depth for over 281 trillion possible colors
• 1 cable handles both USB and power
• Z-Lid expansion top accommodates bulky objects
• Scan, copy, or e-mail photos at the touch of a button

Reviews (59)

Good little performer: fast, light, no AC adapter needed!!!
After setting this up in about a minute I was scanning. The software/driver package is average. Warm up takes only a couple of seconds becuase it is not a CCD/lamp scanner, it is a CMOS scanner which requires less power and less components. Hopefully it will bring more reliability. USB powered. Easy for people to "borrow" or bring to a friends house. Just remember to lock/unlock it when traveling and scanning. Images are average but the speed is awesome. Beats my UMAX 1220U (1998) scanner by far. I'll probably try out epson scanners next, the quality and speed on that is supposed to be really good. If you are looking for fast, simplistic, reliable scanner, the LiDE 20 fits the bill without paying a big bill.

Great Scanner For the Money
Like the previous reviewer (June 18), I debated on whether or not to get this scanner. But I figured the price was low and overall the reviews were very favorable. I'm glad I did. It is very easy to set up - just take it out of the box, install the software, plug in the usb cable and it is ready to use. Note: I only installed the drivers, not the image editing software because I use other programs instead, like Macromedia's Fireworks. It installed on Windows XP with no problems, and also interfaces with my image editing programs perfectly.

This scanner looks very good, and I like the slim design. I use lower resolutions because most of the scans are for the web or for viewing on a monitor - even at lower resolutions they look great. The biggest delay is when you make the first scan - it takes about a minute to calibrate. After that, the speed of the scans is relatively quick. It's nice not needing a power cord. Be advised that you will probably have to use a powered usb hub, not the one on the motherboard. I already had one so this was no problem.

Negative: when I scan multiple pictures, the software doesn't always recognize each picture - it sometimes combines more than one. Or, it chops off parts of the pictures. However, I might not be following the instructions so I'll give the scanner and software the benefit of the doubt here.

Overall for the price, this is an excellent value - good quality and good looks. I am happy with this purchase.

Nice Thin Space Saving Scanner That Gets The Job Done.
Upon opening the box I was suprised to see how thin this scanner really is. It is about a little over an inch thick. It is great for saving space on the desk because of it's non-bulky design. It has three buttons on the side one for scanning photos, one for making a copy, and an other one for misc. I really liked the copy feature because when I need to make a quick copy for a document I just put it in the scanner and press the "copy" button and walk away let it do its thing. It scans it and then automatically send its to the printer where I can pick it up in a minute. I didnt even have to touch the computer! I only have experience with using the Mac Software it is average software nothing spectacular in interface design but whatever. Images come out in good enought quality for me.

Goods:
-Small space saving sleek designed case.
-ONE usb cable for everything [power AND data]
-Canon reputation for good quality imaging.

Bads:
-Sometimes the software can be buggy and keeps my computer from waking up, but that happens only occasionally. [Mac software, dont know about PC]

Conclusion:
This is a great scanner with an incredible value for all it does. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good looking scanner with excellent quality scans from photos to text documents.

Needs trick to install OmniPage SE on Mac OS X
The scanner works great, but under Mac OS X some programs run in the Classic emulation box, instead of natively. In addition, the included OmniPage LE didn't want to install under OS X until I did the following:

1. Copy the folder "OmniPage" from the installation CD to the desktop of your hard disk.

2. Click once on the copy of "OmniPage" and select Get Info from the File menu. In the window that appears, expand out Ownership & Permissions, expand out Details, change all three Access settings to Read & Write, click Apply to enclosed items. Note: you may have to click on the padlock icon and enter an administrator password to open the padlock.

3. Close the Get Info window

4. Open the copy of "OmniPage" and then double-click on "OmniPage SE C Setup".

5. Delete the "OmniPage" folder from the desktop.

The above allowed the entire OmniPage application to install without any errors. Even better, the resulting installed copy of OmniPage runs fine, though it does run in Classic instead of as a native application.

Quick, easy and works great!
This scanner is a real bargain! I got it up and running in a flash. So far I've scanned and e-mailed photos and made copies for schoolwork. It works great and is about 1/3 the size and weight of my old scanner. Granted my old scanner is several years old, but it cost twice as much. I have windows XP and it works with nary a glitch. ... Read more