Photo Scanners

[kstar]

Ok, here's the need!

I am about to embark on a project of scanning literally thousands of photos.

I already have an older all-in-one HP scanner that is capable of decent photo scans, but I was planning on updating it anyways. Using this scanner would take weeks or months to complete this job -> load in photo, preview scan, crop or auto-crop, hit scan button, save document, name document, file document . . . for each picture!

I need a scanner that can quickly scan photos and software that can take the scanned photo document, give it an arbitrary name, save it in a pre-set format (jpg, tiff, etc) and file away and be ready for next photo. The ability to auto-crop without the need for a preview scan would be great. I don't mind manually loading the photo and pressing a button, I just would like to eliminate some of the steps I would have to do on my older HP AIO model.

The machine to be used is a Mac running the latest Leopard release, FYI.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

Best,

Kurt

[trekkor]

How many pics? actual.

Is this for you or the job?

Let's say you have 1000 pics.
At 5 minutes per shot, it's two weeks if you work 40 hours a week.

Sounds tedious.


KT

[kstar]

Looks like the HP ScanJet 5500c may work - about $300 and has an auto-feeder that can handle 24 photos at a time from 3x5 to 4x6 - 15 minutes for each 24 photo stack at a decent resolution.

If anyone else has any leads, let me know!

Trek - some is business related, some is personal photos. I'm guessing 3,000 pics.

Best,

Kurt

[911Rob]

I was going to suggest an auto feed scanner; looks like you have it covered

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Aren't there places that will do this for you for a small fee? I'd much rather just pay someone to do it and not have to bother with (1) wasting my time or (2) having another electronic device sitting around that'll be worth 10% of what I paid for it in six months.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Aren't there places that will do this for you for a small fee? I'd much rather just pay someone to do it and not have to bother with (1) wasting my time or (2) having another electronic device sitting around that'll be worth 10% of what I paid for it in six months.

The shops do not do as good a job as you would with your old family photos. Besides I would never trust anyone with some of these old shots, which are irreplaceable.

I use a PrimeFilm scanner and like it. The auto feed feature is worth its weight in gold. My Father took a lot of photos and am scanning and saving them as you are doing and while it does take a while its time well spent.