Microtek Press Release 04/10/04

Microtek ScanMaker i900 Wins Hot1 Award from Professional Photographer Magazine

NEW YORK - (Business Wire) - Oct. 4, 2004 Microtek(R) today announced the ScanMaker(R) i900 among the select group of 2004 Hot1 Award winners from Professional Photographer Magazine. This is the second consecutive year that Microtek has garnered the award, with the ArtixScan 120tf multiformat film scanner achieving this honor in 2003.

The ScanMaker i900 is a 3200-dpi, Dual Media flatbed scanner offering a host of exclusive technologies, including Microtek’s PictuRescue(TM) system with DIGITAL ICE Photo Print Technology and ColoRescue(TM). DIGITAL ICE Photo Print Technology reconstructs surface-damaged photos by eliminating rips and scratches, while the ColoRescue automatic color recovery system renews faded colors in both prints and film to their original vibrant tones. With PictuRescue, what normally takes hours of painstaking work now takes only minutes.

Plustek Inc Press Release 21/09/04

Plustek Launches Pro Film Scanner; Professional resolution and fast scans—the OpticFilm 7200 is Plustek’s powerful pro film scanner for slides and negatives

LOS ANGELES—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Sept. 21, 2004—Plustek Inc (www.plustek.com), a leading manufacturer of consumer, prosumer and professional scanners, today launched the OpticFilm 7200 professional-grade film scanner, offering the market’s highest film-scan resolution (7200 x 7200 dpi) in a consumer device. Until now, due to the high cost, film scanners with professional resolution were nearly exclusively purchased by service companies, high-profile photographers, and ambitious amateurs/prosumers. This era has passed with the introduction of the OpticFilm 7200, the first consumer-priced high-resolution 35mm film and negative scanner. User-friendly and affordable, the OpticFilm 7200 is ideal for organizations or individuals who wish to scan their work and share it on the Web with fellow photographers or anyone wanting to digitize and archive their slides and negatives onto CD - to create their own photo albums or digital slide shows. Users can easily preserve their work and valuable memories onto compact disc for easy access and retouching in the future. Launched earlier in the year in Germany, the OpticFilm is already the winner of the coveted “foto MAGAZIN GUT award” and the “PC Direkt Budget Kauftipp! award.” Priced at $199, the OpticFilm 7200 will begin shipping in the U.S. in September.

Canon UK Press Release 21/09/04

Aspheric lens gives new flagship CanoScan 9950F the edge

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of the new flagship to its CanoScan scanner range: the 4800 x 9600 dpi 48 bit colour depth CanoScan 9950F. The world’s first flat-bed scanner to offer 30-frame capacity for 35mm filmstrip, the 9950F also incorporates an aspheric element lens - Canon’s own ‘Super-Toric’ lens - for unsurpassed levels of clarity, contrast and image quality.

Canon?s new range-leader features FARE Level 3 - the ultimate infra-red film correction and enhancement system for precise, automatic dust and scratch removal, colour resaturation, plus grain and backlight correction. QARE Level 3 offers a similar correction and auto-retouching functionality for photo prints. A fast scan engine, moving backlight FAU, extremely efficient light capture system and USB 2.0 Hi?Speed / IEEE1394 FireWire connection combine to deliver super-quick 3.6 second previews and exceptionally fast scan times. The slim contours, aluminium hairline finish and robust build of the 9950F are consistent with its position at the top of the CanoScan range.

“New sensor, lamp and lens technologies introduced with the release of the 9950F are indicative of Canon?s commitment to producing superior solutions through Research & Development in scanning technology,” said Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland, Malcolm Hills. “With its capacity to scan a full roll of 35mm film in one operation, Canon expects this scanner to be the new first choice for serious professionals.”

The Canoscan 9950F will be available from November 2004 for £339 RRP inc.VAT / EUROS 489 RRP inc. VAT

Canon UK Press Release 21/09/04

Canon’s new CanoScan 8400F: fast track to exceptional professional film scans

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of the CanoScan 8400F - a premium film and document scanner. Featuring a 3200 x 6400 dpi CCD sensor, a 12-frame FAU (Film Adaptor Unit) and advanced FARE Level 3 technology, the 8400F delivers exceptionally detailed and accurate professional film scans.

Replacing the CanoScan 8000F, the 8400F is designed for maximum productivity with its new super fast scan engine. The moving light source within the FAU and a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connection add to the scanner’s blistering speeds. A fast warm up time enables scanning within 20 seconds of powering up, while previews can be viewed in just 2.1 seconds.

The CanoScan 8400F will be available from November 2004 for £179 RRP inc. VAT / EUROS 259 RRP inc. VAT

Canon UK Press Release 21/09/04

Canon’s new CanoScan 4200F makes 3200 x 6400 dpi scanning affordable

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of the low cost, high performance 3200 x 6400 dpi CanoScan 4200F.  With a price tag similar to that of many entry level scanners, the 4200F features 48 bit colour depth, class-leading 2.6 second preview time, a film guide built into the FAU (film adapter unit) for quick and easy transparency scanning and a rapid warm up time of approximately 15 seconds.

A super fast scan engine and USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface combine to deliver 2.6 second preview times, 12 second scan times (A4, full colour at 400 dpi)  and fast transfer of large hi-resolution images to the PC. The 4200F also features QARE Level 2 automatic retouching function for restoring old or damaged photographs.

A sleek design, smooth curves and granite-like finish match the scanner?s commanding performance and challenge the appearance of much higher priced models.

“The 4200F represents high-end scanner performance at an entry level price,” said Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland. “With such exceptional price and performance, Canon expects this ground-breaking product to redefine the first-time scanner buyer market.”

The CanoScan 4200F will be available from November 2004 for £99 RRP inc. VAT / EUROS 143 RRP inc. VAT

HP UK Press Release 14/09/04

New HP Scanner to Convert Photos into High Quality Digital Images and Restore them to Full Glory

Users can scan photos easily with the HP Scanjet 4070 Photosmart digital flatbed scanner

LONDON, UK, 14 September 2004. HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) today unveiled the new HP Scanjet 4070 Photosmart digital flatbed scanner, a stylish device, with a unique photo door to hold photos in place and make scanning simple.

Specially designed for photo scanning, the HP Scanjet 4070 Photosmart digital flatbed scanner has an easy access photo zone with a photo door holding up to 12 10 x 15cm photographs, keeping them in place for the right result the first time.  Users can scan multiple photos at the same time and save the images as separate files easily.

A built-in Transparent Materials Adapter (TMA) holds up to four slides and two strips of negatives, helping people to convert a range of materials into digital files.  One-touch ?Scan Photo? or ?Scan Negative? buttons make scanning photos and negatives simple, at the touch of a button.  Users can scan large photographs and A4 size documents using the software that is included with the scanner, while a 10 second preview speed helps people scan documents and photos quickly.

HP UK Press Release 14/09/04

A Versatile, Ultra-slim Photo Scanner for the Home

Home users can scan photo quality images quickly and easily with the compact HP Scanjet 3770 digital flatbed scanner

LONDON, UK, 14 September 2004.  HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) today unveiled the new HP Scanjet 3770 digital flatbed scanner, a stylish device with a super-slim scanner lid. Offering versatile scanning of a variety of materials, this scanner has a built-in Transparent Materials Adaptor (TMA), for high quality scans of a range of media.

The HP Scanjet 3770 digital flatbed scanner offers outstanding photo quality with up to 1200 x 2400-dpi and 48-bit colour, producing crisp, true-to-life images every time.  With this scanner people can scan multiple photos at the same time and the digital images can be saved as separate files.  For scanning more than just photos, built-in CCD technology allows users to scan materials of all shapes and sizes, including 3D objects such as framed pictures and open books.  The scanner can also scan and copy standard documents and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) lets users convert text into editable documents, saving the time and effort of re-typing.

BIOS magazine have just reviewed Epson’s latest flatbed scanner, the Epson Perfection 4180 Photo.

“Epson’s latest A4 flatbed scanner is targeted at amateur photographers and home photo enthusiasts. The scanner sits towards the top-end of Epson’s Perfection line and offers an impressive optical resolution of 4800x4800ppi. It also comes with three clip-on adapters for scanning negative strips, slides, and medium-format transparencies, and supports an optional multi-photo feeder and ADF for batch scanning. As with all new Epson scanners, the Perfection 4180 Photo also includes colour restoration software to help restore faded photos and film, as well as dust removal functions that remove ‘dust’ and scratches from scans. Quality is key though, and the Perfection 4180 Photo doesn’t disappoint. It’s very slow when scanning at its highest settings, but you’ll be hard pushed to find such a capable scanner for under ?200.”

Website: BIOS - Epson Perfection 4180 Photo Scanner Review

Canon USA Press Release 10/09/04

Canon’s Two New Scanners Deliver Unparalleled Performance and Quality for Professional and Home Use
 
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Sept. 9, 2004—Canon’s New CanoScan(R) 4200F and 9950F Color Image Scanners Deliver Fast, Clear Scans With the Ability to Support Film, Negatives and More

Some of the most poignant memories of the past have been captured on film or printed in documents, prompting consumers and professionals alike to preserve slides, printed photos and documents. Canon’s new CanoScan 4200F and 9950F scanners produce clear, sharp and exceptional color that provides consumers with a simple and high quality solution for conserving and restoring old images and documents.

“Canon’s history as a leading imaging technology provider has been the backbone for our understanding of the products that will meet the needs of today’s consumers and professionals,” said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the consumer imaging group at Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE CAJ). “Whether scanning old family photos or documents for a presentation, Canon’s newest scanners deliver exceptional color and provide ease of use with features such as outstanding speed, advanced Z-Lid(TM) Expansion Top, and an easy one-touch push button design.”

PCMagazine have just reviewed the new CanoScan LiDE 35 flatbed scanner.

“Photo scan quality was just short of excellent. The only thing that holds the overall photo rating to very good is that the tool for removing scratches and dust specks didn’t have any noticeable effect on our test image. But the tool for restoring faded colors works well and doesn’t slow down the scanner.”

Website: PCMagazine - CanoScan LiDE 35 Review

Xerox Press Release 07/09/04

New Xerox Scanner Helps People Easily Archive Favorite Photos and Restore Heirloom Prints

Xerox 6400 Scanner Offers Image Quality, One Touch Ease-of-Use and Restoration Software Bundle All for $199

PLEASANTON, Calif., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/—The Xerox 6400 scanner, announced today, is a high-quality flatbed scanner for photo enthusiasts who want a complete archiving solution for photos, negatives and slides in a single piece of hardware.

The desktop scanner delivers outstanding results with its true 3200 x 6400-dpi resolution and built-in slide and filmstrip adapter for conveniently making duplicates or enlargements from 35mm slides and negatives. The scanner also features 48-bit color depth for remarkable color accuracy and a fast Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface for scanning photos, text and graphics with ease. The photo restoration software bundle was custom created for the Xerox 6400 and includes automatic photo-enhancement features and powerful text effects. The Xerox 6400 is the first Xerox flatbed scanner designed with the image-driven consumer in mind. It is a premium quality scanner at an affordable price of only $199.99.

The Epson UK press release below mentions a new film scanner, the Epson F-3200. I’ve not heard of this model before, so a quick Google search revealed that the “I Love Epson” Japanese website have a new F-3200 section. The Epson F-3200 scanner seems to have negative holders for all film sizes, including 5x4”, a DPI of 3200 and a built-in LCD screen. There is also a memory card slot that accepts MemoryStick, Compact Flash, SD and xd-Picture memory cards. So expect to see another press release soon!

Website: I Love Epson.jp - Epson F-3200 Film Scanner

Epson UK Press Release 01/09/04

EPSON introduces new scanner for amateur photographers and home photo enthusiasts

The EPSON Perfection 4180 Photo is the perfect partner for the photo enthusiast. Whether you want to make enlargements of your favourite images, digitise old films and photos or add new life to faded memories, this scanner is the ideal solution.

September 2004: EPSON unveils the latest addition to its comprehensive range of scanners, the EPSON Perfection 4180 Photo.  Aimed at amateur photographers and home photo enthusiasts who are looking for professional quality and performance, the Perfection 4180 Photo is ideal for those needing high-quality output from a cost effective device. The sleek, compact design adds style and performance to any desktop.

Epson Press Release 15/08/04

Epson Wins Prestigious EISA Award for its Market Leading Scanner

- TOKYO, Japan, August 15, 2004 - Epson announced today that it has been awarded this year’s European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) Award for one of its premier products, the Epson Perfection 4870 Photo. The Epson Perfection 4870 Photo has been voted the European Scanner of the Year for 2004-2005. The scanner was recognized by the 50 leading Photo, Video, Audio, Home Theatre and Mobile Electronics magazines from over 18 European countries for its outstanding innovation and technical excellence.

Every year, the EISA Awards applaud the new products that combine the most advanced technology, the most desirable features, the ultimate expression of design, the most satisfying ergonomics and, of course, the greatest value for money. In short, EISA recognizes the features most likely to be appreciated by an enthusiastic public seeking high quality and creative products.

Described by the judges as ‘beating all competitors in this price range,’ the Epson Perfection 4870 Photo offers the power and quality of a film scanner with the flexibility of a flatbed, without sacrificing the scan quality. Incorporating an unrivalled optical resolution of 4800 x 9600dpi, new DIGITAL ICE Technology and a moving TPU (transparency unit) lamp, this scanner challenges the traditional film scanner manufacturers on both quality and price.

PC Magazine has reviewed the Canon CanoScan 3000ex flatbed scanner, which features a maximum optical resolution of 1200 x 2400 dpi and an enhanced resolution of 9600 dpi.

“Photo scan quality was a bit better than good. Prescans for 4-by-6 and 5-by-7 photos took 11 to 39 seconds, depending on how much the scanner had to warm up. At resolutions of 300 to 400 ppi, the 3000ex took 18 to 20 seconds to scan to the bundled Arcsoft PhotoStudio and save the scans. That’s slower than some other scanners, but faster than our current Editors’ Choice, the Microtek ScanMaker 6100 Pro.”

Website: PC Magazine - CanoScan 3000ex Scanner Review

Epson UK Press Release 03/08/04

EPSON brings effortless and easy film scanning to amateur film photographers

EPSON launches the EPSON Perfection 2580 Photo, featuring new film scanning capabilities that includes the first automatic film loader for digitising 35mm film.

1st August 2004: The EPSON Perfection 2580 Photo is the first scanner to include Auto Film Loader features for digitising 35mm film. Filmstrips can now be scanned effortlessly with just one click. The EPSON Perfection 2580 Photo also includes high optical resolution for picking up minute detail and creating large prints from film.  Furthermore, EPSON’s unique photo restoration tools are included for repairing and rejuvenating old photographs.

Richard Baylis, Sales and Marketing Manager, Consumer Product, EPSON UK says, “This new scanner offers users a higher resolution, improved photo restoration and fast film scanning solution. The revolutionary auto film loader will make film scanning easier and quicker for amateur film photographers by automating the loading process.”

RRP inc VAT £99.99

The technology website bios have just reviewed the very new CanoScan LiDE 35 flatbed scanner.

“The CanoScan LiDE is no speed demon either, taking a whopping 7m 55s to scan an A4 colour document at its highest resolution (36.6MB scanned file) and 2m 49s to scan a colour 6x4in. photograph (7.62MB scanned file). A black-and-white business letter (A4 size) took 29s to scan before it was ready for editing. A low price means compromises though and the scanner lacks support for a transparency module, film adapter, or even an automatic document feeder, so photographers and high throughput users should look at Canon’s F series or Epson’s Perfection line.”

Website: bios - CanoScan LiDE 35 Review

Thom Hogan has just reviewed the Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 ED film scanner.

“Unlike Digital ICE on my old Coolscan LS-30, it works better on the Coolscan 5000. The slide we’ll look at in a moment has a faint scratch on it that the latest iteration doesn’t quite completely remove, but I also don’t find any destruction of details as I found in previous iterations. Moreover, Digital ICE doesn’t do anything about film grain (that’s GEM, which I find to be too slow for what little effect it manages). I now run Neat Image noise reduction on every scanned image in addition to Digital ICE—the grainless, dustless, mostly scratchless results are impressive to say the least. “

Website: Thom Hogan - Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 ED Review

Canon USA Press Release 12/07/04

Canon’s Three New Scanners Deliver Quality, Ease-of-Use and Simplicity at Affordable Prices
 
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—July 12, 2004—The need for creating digital libraries of everything from household bills and documents to old family photographs has drawn new customers to digital scanning. Canon’s new CanoScan(R) 3000 ex, CanoScan 8400F and CanoScan LiDE 35 Color Image Scanners provide consumers with quality, ease-of-use and simplicity at entry-level price points.

“Canon’s leadership in the digital imaging category has grown as a result of continued research of existing and potential customers,” said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the consumer imaging group at Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ). “With features including the Z-Lid(TM) Expansion Top, simple push-button design and automatic multiple-scan driver mode, Canon delivers the scanning solutions consumers are demanding.”

Epson UK Press Release 01/07/04

EPSON brings effortless and easy film scanning to the home

EPSON launches the EPSON Perfection 2480 Photo featuring amazing one-touch photo restoration from this 2400dpi film and photo scanner

1st July 2004: The Perfection 2480 Photo provides excellent features and high specifications at an entry-level price.  This model will be the natural successor to the EPSON Perfection 1670 and EPSON Perfection 1670 Photo.  The new scanner is targeted at home users who want to scan film at home but may be daunted by the prospect.  The scanner has been designed with this in mind and ease of use is a key feature.

Richard Baylis, Sales and Marketing Manager, Consumer Products says, “This new scanner offer users a high resolution, improved photo restoration and fast film scanning.  At the same time, we have ensured that it is incredibly easy to use, film negatives can be easily scanned to make high quality enlargements at home.”