mobile scanner with 4GB SD card and USB adapter. EasyStitch and StoryScans talking images software

Overall Rating: 9/10What I was looking for: I was looking for a fast, convenient way to scan old family photos (both loose and photo albums -- over 1000 total).What I considered:1) Epson Perfection 2450 Photo. This is an older legal-size flatbed scanner. Quality is superb.2) Flashpoint personal 4x6 photo scanner. Cheap, scans directly to SDCard. However, these scanners are prone to horrible banding problems that (for me) render the scan useless.3) Portable scanner (around $230-250 price range). These seem ideal for high-volume scanning, and I couldn't find any reports of the banding issues as seen with the cheap personal scanners. However, I chose the Flip-Scan because I will not have to remove the old photos from the photo albums and (very likely) damage some of the photos.How the Flip-Scan compares:As I already mentioned, it far surpasses the personal photo scanners. I then compared the scans against the Epson. I took several scans at 600 dpi on both scanner than then compared the photos at the pixel level. Resolution and detail were similar. The Flip-Scan appears to add just a bit of sharpening. The Epson appears to have a more muted appearance, but after color correction, it is very close to the scanned photo. The Flip-Scan scans are brighter, but colors are just a bit off. Not bad at all and only the a very discerning eye will see a difference. My wife and daughter preferred the Flip-Scan. Another bonus is that the Flip-Scan isn't as sensitive to scratches and dust and shows significantly less of both. However, the Flip-Scan introduces just a bit of "banding". This banding is actually very slight and really can only be seen at the pixel-level (remember, the photos were scanned at 600 dpi). Photos blown up to full-screen on my 1080p 46" television showed only the very slightest amount of "noise" due to this banding. Most people, myself included, would attribute it to the sharpening that the Flip-Scan applies (unless you have seen it at the pixel-level).Here are some photos for your comparison (copy and paste to your browser URL):[...]Overall, the scans are very, very good and more than suitable for archiving your photos!Scan times:A 600 dpi scan takes about 15 seconds. I find that I can scan about 100-120 photos per hour (this includes switching out photos).Other notes:- The software on the SDCard was not the newest version. Not really a problem as I don't plan on using it much anyways.- The scans are not auto-cropped or rotated. However, if you have a bunch of photos of the same size, you could easily batch process this (shameless plug: IrfanView is free and the best image viewer I've come across).- The scanner is pretty resilient to motion while scanning. Lightly bouncing/shaking the scanner while scanning a photo did not result in any distortion to the scan. However, this would not be true when scanning a photo that is bigger than the workspace.Overall:I love the fact that I can scan directly to the SDCard. This makes for an easy, convenient workflow. I can easily sit on the couch in front of the TV and scan away! The scan are more than acceptable and the scanner is reasonable fast. I spend about as much time switching out photos as I do actually performing the scans.

Have you ever gone to visit your grandmother and noticed that one-of-a-kind picture of Aunt Eula Mae hanging on her wall? You would love to have a copy of that picture.The problem is that picture is one-of-a-kind. It has been in that frame, pressed up to the glass, for over half a century.You could beg Grandma to let you take that picture with you to get a copy made. If she did relent, she would worry the whole time the picture is off the wall. And, what if something were to happen to it while it was out of Grandma’s sight?If you try to take the picture out of the frame so that you could get a clear shot of it, chances are very good that you will ruin the picture. Grandma would be devastated.You could whip out the cellphone and make a bad, grainy snapshot of it. We’ve all seen those. They usually come out with all sorts of glare and you really can’t tell what the image is when you copy a picture that way.Or, you could break out your handy Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner and scan it while it is still hanging on the wall. How great is that?All you have to do is take a series of overlapping scans and the software does the rest. It stitches the pictures using a program called EasyStitch.It stores it on an SD card. You can then take the SD card to a local photo outlet, pop it in their automated photo kiosk and out comes a near perfect copy of Aunt Eula Mae.You could even load it into your computer via an SD card port or the USB adapter that is included. That way you can share it online with your family and friends.You could also send it off to one of those discount printing services that makes your digital image into great enlargements, mouse pads, or whatever.One really great feature is the StoryScans software. Using this, you can record Grandma’s story of Aunt Eula Mae, in Grandma’s own voice. This is a treasure that cannot have a price put on it.The Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner is so easy to use even this old redneck can do it. If I can do it, you can do it. You don’t have to be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs to use this thing. Just click, scan, and enjoy. It is that simple.You can save photos, your grandkids’ artwork off their mama and daddy’s refrigerator, or even off the wall at their school when you go for open house. All the other grandparents will want to know where you got your Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner and how easy it is to use.The Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner is a must have for any genealogist. With it you can scan documents you find at the library or at a relative’s house (with permission, of course).You may even find yourself scanning pictures you have laying around your own house so you can archive them and back them up on your computer.You will find the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner to be the go to tool at the library when doing genealogy research. You find an interesting picture, use the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner. You locate an old military record, the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner can scan it. You don’t have to worry about damaging the original document. It can stay in its frame or in the scrapbook, etc.Do you remember those magnetic photo albums from back in the 70s? You can scan pictures from one of those without having to take the picture out of the album. This works great when dealing with newspaper articles (like obituaries) that have been saved in an old photo album.We did a test to check for color fidelity, comparing the iPhone 5s and the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner. Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner won. The color was truer to the color in the photograph on the scan than on the picture taken with the iPhone. The iPhone made the photo more warm-toned than it actually is. The baby is yellower and the carrier cover has pinkish tones in the iPhone photo.We love our Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner. It is worth many times the suggested retail price. You will love yours and you will find it so easy to use that you will tell all your friends.It is lightweight too, so easy to carry. You can get optional tote bags or just pop it in a large purse.You will want to always have your Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner with you wherever you go because you will find all sorts of opportunities to use yours once you have it.

This works great for scanning photos when you are on the go. Greatly surprised with how easy it is to stitch several pictures together into one photo.Updated Review: I have scanned lots and lots of photos for my genealogy family tree. I love being able to take this on trips to see family members or to visit research facilities or churches. Many photos are old and delicate so I love not having to run photos through anything. I can place the scanner directly on the photo and scan without harming the photo.I wish I could buy a larger scanner - 5 x 7 or 8 x 10 to save on time having to scan the same photo numerous times. I also wish I could purchase a higher quality scanner. While the current product is great, I hope to see a new and improved version in the future.While I can easily scan several times and stitch the photos together fairly easily. It takes time to scan the photo several times. I have been disappointed on a few occasions to return and find out I did not overlap the photo very well and now have to make a lengthy trip back to get a new scan. Or sometimes a return trip may not be possible.I have brought this scanner on the road with me and love that it is light and enjoy the carrying case for it.Make sure to use the scanner cover to prevent light from getting to the photo. I have held the photo on the scanner with my hand and then found that I can see a shadow of my hand on the photo. Plus the light in the room negatively affects the photo. If you need to take the cover off and scan the photo face down, make sure to put something over the scanner viewer as the light will get to the photo and cause the scan to be of poor quality. I have put a black piece of construction paper on the back of it once I have the scanner placed on the photo.

Love this product. It's easy to use and the quality is just as good as if I had it done at a photo shop. It comes with software, but you can use your own as well. I have a Mac so I use their program because I'm use to it. Great price. It takes 4 AA batteries. Awesome product. Highly recommend it to anyone who isn't very tech savvy and wants to digitalis their old photos.

Produit extrêmement pratique. Il m'a permis de scanner aisément et rapidement toutes les photos de vieux albums. Je suis contente d'avoir trouvé ce scanner qui m'a permis de limiter le coût d'un tel travail.Les photos scannées sont de bonnes qualités. Je recommande.

Wir haben den Scanner für meinen Vater gekauft, damit er seine umfangreiche Fotosammlung digitalisieren kann. Daher war uns eine einfache Bedienung wichtig. Was noch sehr schön ist: Durch Abnehmen der silberen Klappe kann man den Scanner direkt auf ein Album legen, man muss nicht die Bilder einzeln rausholen

Disappointed with the resolution provided. My iPhone offers better. Also wasn't expecting the need to do further cropping after photos were scanned. My printer program would have done this.Power option I missed. Wondering how long this will be powered by AA batteries - something I missed when purchasing - maybe an older option?

This mobile scanner is brilliant! Good quality scanning and easy to use. I take it with me to scan family photographs from relatives and friends or to the library. The screen is roughly A5 or large postcard size. For A4 or bigger just 'flip' it over and scan the large surface as per the guide lines in the scanner - it prints off as a whole picture. Batteries included which allowed me to scan 50 - 60 large photos and documents (I would recommend taking spares as the batteries it came with ran out before I had finished scanning - 4 x AA's). I would have preferred it to have had a rechargeable battery as is the norm these days. The USB adaptor is useful but not needed if you have a card slot on your computer or printer. Very good value for money. Female aged 60 plus.