You try to show your friends your pictures as a toddler but you struggle to take a photo of the photo with a smartphone or a camera – does this seem familiar to you? Sometimes you want to upload them as a neat little album on social media but it is just not the same.
Thank the technological gods for the invention of the scanner! A scanner not only helps you turn your memories into digital photo files, but it also helps you salvage them since they are prone to perishing due to perhaps, water damage or being lost altogether.
However, how do you know what makes the best photo scanners for Mac? Well, we’re here to shed some light upon your confusion. We can guarantee that by the end of this article, you will know exactly what you need.
Top Pick
Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500
- Display: 4.3 inch touch screen
- Speed: 30 ppm
- Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi(2. 4 and 5 GHz)
- Two – Sided Printing: Yes
- Scan to Google drive, Dropbox, Desktop folder, Tablet, Smartphone and more
Comparison Chart For photo scanner for mac
| IMAGE | NAME & Details | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Epson Perfection V600 |
| Check The Price |
| Epson FastFoto FF-680W |
| Check The Price |
| Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500 |
| Check The Price |
| Canon CanoScanLide 400 |
| Check The Price |
| Brother DS-740D |
| Check The Price |
| Canon imageFORMULA P-215II |
| Check The Price |
| Doxie Go SE |
| Check The Price |
| Raven Original Scanner |
| Check The Price |
| Epson DS-575W |
| Check The Price |
| Epson Perfection V800 |
| Check The Price |
best Photo Scanner for mac Reviews
1. Epson Perfection V600 | Best Scanners For Pictures
If you are the avid photographer in the family, you are probably always itching to digitize your old family photos or scan films for preservation. The Epson Perfection V600 not only does simple document and photo scanning but it also effectively turns your films and negatives into digital copies.
It has a resolution of up 6400 x 9600 dpi ensuring that the output has sharp and vivid colors that liven up the image, film slides, or negatives, furthermore. You can enlarge the photos up to 17 x 22 inches for better preservation and also because it looks so good! You can rest assured that it won’t get pixelated.
For people who love the antique 35mm film photography, you can directly scan rolls of 35mm film negatives on to your computer. Thanks to its advanced features, it allows you to remove any blemishes or scratches using the Digital ICE technology built in its core.
Perhaps the top feature is the color restoration software that comes with it which allows you to fix up any old photo that needs a little more attention in terms getting the best out of a damaged photo. The Epson Perfection V600 has proved over and over again to be a photographer’s helpful aide.
Highlighted Features
- It is compatible with 35mm film and medium format for scanning.
- It can eliminate the appearance of scratches and blemishes.
- It can retouch photos and restore color using the in-built software.
- It does not need to be “warmed up” to be used and gets to work quickly.
2. Epson FastFoto FF-680W | Best Scanner For Photos For Mac
Right off the bat, the Epson FastFoto FF-680W lives up to its name and is deemed the world’s faster photo scanner loved by people of all ages. It delivers photos as fast as one photo per second and we were almost excited to see it fire out our images quicker than we could decide what to scan next!
Making postcards and digitizing your polaroid have never been more fun. It has a sheet feeder unlike the flatbed scanner in the model mentioned above which compels you to lift the lid every time you want to scan a photo. The Epson FastFoto FF-680W, however, had our jaws dropped to the floor.
You can place about 2-3 dozens of photos on the top feeder and hit scan to watch the magic happen. It can literally scan, assort them in files, and even number them in just a few seconds. The scanned photo is “caught” in the bottom feeder as soon as it is placed on the top one. Talk about lightning fast!
The integrated photo restoration software allows you to enhance, remove red eye, and restore whitewashed colors for a better and more vivid picture quality. It also gives you the option to store the original photo in case you prefer the raw image of the “once upon a time”.
Highlighted Features
- The scanner has a sheet feeder that boosts scanning time.
- The scanner software allows you to retouch photos for better quality.
- It is can be connected via internet and scanning can be done from anywhere.
- You can directly upload or backup via Google Drive or Dropbox for easy access.
3. Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500 | Best Scanner For iMac
The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500 comes in black and white colors to suit whatever aesthetic you wish to have. However, the head turner was the progressive sheet feeder system that allows you to scan documents, photos, receipts, business cards, and even hard objects like driver’s license cards.
Connect using the walk-in USB port or utilize its WiFi capabilities to scan from anywhere in the space without having to place it near the computer. The convenient 4.3-inch touchscreen brings all the tasks to your finger tips and the scanner can be operated with absolute ease since all the instructions are basic.
It is virtually quieter than standard models, meaning you can work in piece while so does the Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500. The in-built scanner software allows you to crop, retouch, arrange, and categorizes without having to install an additional photo editing apps.
Although it is more lenient towards the pricier spectrum, we believe it is a great investment if you need a scanner on the daily. It is fast, versatile, widely compatible with all mobile devices, and it is compact in size – perfect or any small office space or home office.
Highlighted Features
- It has a scanning speed of up to 30 pages per minute.
- The automatic document feeder has a 50-sheet capacity.
- The one-touch scanning features lets you scan data quickly.
- It automatically corrects contrast, resizes, crops, and removes blank pages.
4. Canon CanoScanLiDE 400
The Canon CanoScanLiDE 400 is a slim flatbed scanner which is ideal for people who love creative DIY photo albums or artists who would like to share their raw work across digital platforms. Its sharp 4800 x 4800 dpi resolution captures sharp vivid colors and represents them in their full glory.
The convenient, or as they like to call them, “EZ” buttons have candid and uncomplicated functions that lets you scan automatically, detect and multi-page PDFs, and send your documented files all with a few clicks of a button. They are not too hard, not too soft either. It is almost seamless to the touch.
The scanner picks up the image of the document you want scanned exactly the way it is. Even the texture of the paper can be clearly detected, thanks to its high-resolution capabilities. This is especially beneficial for artists who want their water color art pieces documented digitally and shared across social platforms.
The ScanGearfeature is a Windows-compatible driver that can be used for artwork to replicate the images. This allows you to color correct, auto white balance, and retouch conveniently. Although this isn’t available for macOS, there are other software options that work perfectly well if you want the scanner to work with you Mac.
Highlighted Features
- It captures the image of documents in its true form.
- The lid can be elevated to scan thick and big books.
- 5 buttons in the control panel are enough for necessary tasks.
- It has a USB Type-C port for easy transfer of data.
5. Brother DS-740D
The Brother DS-740D is unlike any other scanner. This is a single sheet manual feeder scanner that scans one page at a time and the documents must be fed by hand. This is for those who have very limited space, or need scanners on the go, or do not need heavy output from their scanners.
The build is a long bar-like shape, where the document is inserted at the mouth and the result is received as it rolls out the back. It is kind of like an antiquated cloth-dryer. It can be made even more compact if you plop off the top lid, known as the Desk Saving Design in order to fit in those tight work areas.
The winning feature is its capability to do duplex scanning. For both color and monochrome documents, the scanner spits out fast results at about 16 pages per minute. Using a USC 3.0 cable you can plug it on to your laptop or your desktop and it will be ready for work regardless of a power outlet.
The free integrated software application can be installed in your personal computers in just a few minutes, ready to be operated. You can conveniently scan to numerous destinations like directly to E-mail, cloud-based social platforms, or even between PC network without having to manually do the task.
Highlighted Features
- It can scan documents at a speed of about 16 pages per minute.
- It is compact and portable, making it convenient for tight spaces.
- It can be powered on via USB 3.0 cable to your desktop or laptop.
- It can do duplex scanning for both color and monochrome documents.
Photo Scanners For Mac Buying Guide
Photo scanners are widely popular among Windows users since about 85% of the users worldwide have chosen Windows over Mac (and Linux) for its widespread user-friendly features. Likely, tech developers and distributers have ventured into Windows products since that generates far more revenue.
This leaves Mac users at a wounding disadvantage just because the scanners do not either have the proper drivers or the software. Here are some of the things you should consider in order to purchase the best photo scanners for Mac.
Device Compatibility
As mentioned before, photo scanners can result to be useless if it does not have the proper tools to be set up with your macOS. You need to find the right driver which will allow you to set up the photo scanner with absolute ease.
Usually, you will find that the scanner comes with a driver that is compatible with your Apple desktop but users have complained before that they do not always work. Although newer designs have effectively solved this issue, it is still suggestible to be extra wary of this.
Software
There is no doubt that photo scanners are a tricky business for Mac users. Furthermore, when you do not have necessary software suites that work will all kinds of documents, OCRs, or even business operation programs that let you scan your visiting cards in a jiffy, things can start shifting to bothersome situations.
Usually, newer models of photo scanners come with a software suite that has full utilities for both Windows and Mac operating systems, they may not always work successfully. In such cases you may need to by a separate dedicated software suite for Mac for an additional cost.
Flatbed vs Sheet Feeder
If you wish to get digital documentation of original photos, papers or other on-the-verge-of-dying materials, a flatbed scanner is the way to go. It has a large glass plate on top of which you can place the object of desire and close the top lid to get the scanned result.
If photo scanning is far from the question and you need scanning for daily business operations, then perhaps a scanner with a sheet feeder is right for you. Repetitive tasks like scanning long pieces of documents a gazillion times a day is easily demolished by the sheet feeder that does it automatically for you.
Duplex Scanning
If you are always on the need to have your documents appear on both sides of the paper for easy viewing, you will need a scanner with a duplex scanning feature (meaning it scans on both sides) or even a manual duplexing feature.
The manual feature lets you scan one side and then prompts you to manually flip over the document to get the other side. The automatic duplex scanning requires a sheet feeder or an automatic document feeder that scans one side, turns over the document and then scans the other side.
Conclusion
Granted that Windows has far more compatible devices for tasks like photo scanning, printing, copying, etc. it is not the end of the world for Mac users. Although finding a suitable scanner for Mac is far easier than finding a legit photo scanner, we are sure that our honest reviews will help you bridge that gap.
Newer technology has made it possible to build harmonious devices for your favorite operating systems. We have it far better than people did a decade ago! The best photo scanners for Mac are just around the corner, all you need to do is keep our pointers in mind.
