Canon CanoScan 5000F Scanner Review

I was able to set up the scanner with no difficulty on my 2.4GHz/512MB P4 system. It took about 20 minutes I guess to install the software and plug in the scanner.
I have used the scanner primarily for photos. The multi-scan mode is GREAT. I have scanned 4 pictures at a time and they are put into 4 separate files. That's a huge time saver, and it works EVERY time for me despite what the editorial review said. I would never buy a scanner without multi-scan mode. The quality is good too. I settled on 600 dpi as the optimal resolution setting (good detail scanned within a reasonable amount of time without files that are too large).
I tried scanning negatives once. It worked well, and the quality was better than scanning photos. My only complaint was that switching the scanner back and forth between regular mode and film mode is a little flimsy. I'm afraid that sliding the white shield too many times would wear it out. It slides on a groove made of poster board type material. But I don't plan to scan many negatives.
I also scanned a magazine page and that worked great.
This scanner is a great choice for a multi-purpose scanner at a reasonable price.
Canon CanoScan 5000F Scanner Feature
- Sharp 2,400 x 4,800 dpi hardware resolution, 9,600 dpi interpolated
- Rich 48-bit color depth
- Built-in 35mm film adapter
- Fast, convenient USB 2.0 interface
- PC and Mac compatible
Canon CanoScan 5000F Scanner Overview
The CanoScan 5000F USB flatbed scanner is loaded with advanced Canon performance features to meet your demanding scanning needs - at a less than demanding price. The 5000F scanner delivers up to spectacular 48-bit results for over 281 trillion possible colors and up to 2400 x 4800 dpi resolution to take your film and photo scanning to a new level. A USB 2.0 hi-speed interface enables incredible scanning speeds - up to 2.5 times faster than USB 1.1. And you can preview them quickly in approximately 7 seconds. For added speed and convenience, multiple photos can be scanned at once using the Multi-Scan mode. A built-in 35mm film adapter scans 3 negative frames or 2 mounted slides at a time.Four external easy buttons automate the entire scanning process. With a single touch you can copy, scan, e-mail or file to PDF your photos. Innovative software even allows you to save your favorite photos or negatives directly to CD in just a few easy steps. The Canon exclusive FARE (Film Automatic Retouching and Enhancement) technology is designed to automatically and precisely remove much of the dust and scratches that may appear on your original slides or negatives - so final scans of dusty and/or scratched film can look better than the original. The 5000F scanner with its sleek metallic exterior is the perfect compliment to any home or office desktop.
Canon CanoScan 5000F Scanner Specifications
Boasting sharp 2,400 x 4,800 dpi resolution, rich 48-bit color, and a fast USB 2.0 interface, the Canon CanoScan 5000F makes an ideal general-purpose scanner. Plus, it sets up quickly, includes a generous software bundle, and has a built-in 35mm film adapter that scans three negative frames or two mounted slides at a time.
Installation of the scanner was fast and flawless. To set up the CanoScan 5000F, we followed the Quick Start Guide to load drivers and optional software, to unlock the scanner, and to connect the power and USB cables. Next we placed a document on the glass, pressed the copy button, and retrieved a copy from our printer. The entire process, from opening the box to holding a finished result, took only about 10 minutes. (To save time, we did not install all the optional software.)
We scanned a variety of documents and photos using default settings. Results appeared sharp and clear (and fast too, thanks to full USB 2.0 support). Colors were bright, and skin tones were natural, with only modest speckling that was easily removed in software.
Only one test was disappointing. Multi-scan mode lets you scan several photos at once into separate files. Unfortunately, the ScanGear CS driver had difficulty consistently recognizing individual pictures, often combining two small photos into one big one, even when they were well-separated on the glass. We saw improved results as we reduced the number of photos from four to three and still more improvement from three to two.
The CD-ROM contains the ScanGear CS and WIA drivers, CanoScan Toolbox, ArcSoft PhotoStudio and PhotoBase, ScanSoft OmniPage SE, NewSoft PageManager and BizCard (trial), Adobe Acrobat Reader (and support for scanning directly into PDF files), and various software user's guides. Given these ample titles plus sturdy construction, easy setup, and Canon's generous InstantExchange warranty, the 5000F makes an excellent value for the serious home user. --Mike Brown
Pros:
- Flawless, fast setup
- Large, useful software bundle
- Solid, fast performance
Cons:- Multi-mode feature doesn't always work
- No printed manual
What's in the BoxCanoScan 5000F scanner with built-in film adapter, USB cable, AC power supply and cord, setup poster, Canon Documentation Kit including CD-ROM with the following: ScanGear CS (Windows/Mac) CanoScan Toolbox (Windows/Mac) ArcSoft PhotoStudio, ArcSoft PhotoBase, ScanSoft OmniPage SE
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 24, 2010 18:20:03