Canon CanoScan D1250U2F USB Flatbed Scanner

The features of this scanner are amazing for the price. I was sold and ready to purchase until I saw that it doesn't support Macintosh. Truly asinine on Canon's part.

Never used a scanner before...or even seen one in action. Read the specs on the Canon..I liked what I read. Used it now for 4 months with absolutly no problems with terrific quality. Have scanned several hundred slides with 1000's more to go. Quality wonderful

Attn: Amazon, please delete my "Going back in the morning" review currently in the 5 day review/processing.

Initially did have problems with the worst scans ever seen that both Photoshop Essentials and PaintShop Pro (I'm more adept with) couldn't correct. Muddy background, no fine details, and blotchy skin tones. Compared to so Epson scanners, Canon wasn't even in the running. While intending to take back in AM, when deleting scan's from harddrive, noticed how small the files were compared to the identical Epson scans. Reviewed the twain setting, and sure enough the Canon defaulted to 75 dpi, while the Epson were 300 dpi. Canon's instructions didn't indicate to review/set the dpi so was easilly overlooked.

Rescanned the original 4X6 photo @ 300 dpi for "like" comparisons. What a difference. I originally consided the Epson 1650 scan to be 'excellent' - just had software issues downgrading the scanner. This Canon matched it, easilly. Without touching up eather, fine detail in branches,leaves, strands of hair, and sweater knit. Crisp edges on clothing that was blurred with the 75 dpi scan. No dark blotches on skin that looked like 5:00 shaddow on guys or a female in desperate need on makeup. Between the two, neither matched the original, but that is normal with any 'first generation' copy. Both had a more reddish cast compared to the original that tended to enhance skin tones, but the Epson was more extreme in it's red bias, while the Canon was closer to natural.

Speed - excellent with USB 2.0. Software, no problem, but dated. OmniPage v9 provided, while v12 is in the stores and costs as much as the scanner. Seems like both Epson and Canon should update the disks with the most current drivers and 3rd party software versions at each scanner production run. I don't think that is asking to much. Hate to 'try out' Canon's 5000 scanner released this week just to update the OCR software - then take it back with store return policy!

Only continuing problem that I have with both scanners is printer specific. Since it is a Canon printer, I hoped it would be resolved with a Canon scanner. The copy utility with both Epson and Canon doesn't adjust for the 1/4" mask that the printer creates, shifting the copy 1/4" further from the left side and lopping off on the right side. Requires changing printer defaults to 'borderless' then reducing the scan copy to 97% to offset the printer enlarging for borderless. Took me a while to figure that one out.

Overall, this one is a keeper. While neither are replacement for true photoprocessing, both lead the pack on scanners. With the Canon $50 cheaper, it is a steal.

After UMAX left me orphaned (no driver support for windows XP for my model) am forgetting the cheap models and sticking with namebrand. Tried Epson 1250 and 1650 Photo, just bought the Canon 1250U2F. The worst scan quality of the 3. Lack of crisp detail when compaired same pictures from other scanners to the original. The Epson 1650 clearly the best. Returned it primarilly to check out Canon - same brand as my printer, but the Epson also had software issues. Since the return, Epson has released the 1660 which added USB 2.0 and apparently resolved some of the software issues as few reviews note software problems. Interesting review on the Epson 1660 vs Epson 2400 - not worth the price premium as the 1660 excels.

We ordered this scanner through a special priced Amazon.com "gold box" offer for under $. We wanted to be able to make prints from old negatives, and the Cannon was highly rated. We are thrilled! We're having loads of fun!

--The colors scan very true.
--It scans a bit slower than my old H-P scanner, but this is just home use, not for production. And it is compatible with the new, faster USB2 connection, but I haven't yet sprung for the USB2 installation (I think it's around .
--The adapter is for 35mm negatives and slides, but I've even been able to make prints from old 110's. These very old, small negatives take more treatment in Photoshop to get them to look acceptable, and the finished product is not quite as good as the 35mm, but I don't think that Canon even claims that the product will handle these old odd-sized negatives.
--The software that comes with the Canoscan is worth the price of admission! It comes with Adobe Photoshop Elements, plus programs for storing photos in digital scrapbooks, showing them as a slide show, and a handy printing program which allows you to quickly and easily arrange any number of photos on a page for printing.

I've been able to scan in old photos that were too dark to display, and using Photoshop Elements, remove imperfections, tweak the colors, and balance the brightness and contrast and end up with a fine picture enlarged for framing.

Thanks to Canon for making a fine product, to Adobe for a great, easy to use program for working with negatives and photos, and to Amazon.com for bringing it to me at a great price! Quickly!