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Fast low-cost scanner that scan to an SD card or ftp/file server

I currently use a Brother DCP-540CN that scans to an SD card
but it takes abt 10 secs to scan in 300dpi & even longer for higher
dpi. This DCP 540CN just had a problem with its scan function &
is out of warranty.

I've seen Fuji Xerox or Canon photocopiers in the office that could
scan about 10 A4 pages in 10 secs (probably save into memory
before transmitting scan images) to a file server or to an email addr

Anyone know of any low-cost fast scanner (2 secs/page or faster)?
Ideally scan directly to SD card (so that I don't have to power up my PC
file/ftp server). Budget is below US$300

Just wanted to digitize / manage my thousand over hardcopy documents

Just striked me that a good digital camera can take an image within 1
sec but it's difficult to hold the camera at the right position & some
background light may come into play

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stevepcguy

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sunhux

ASKER

What about using a digital camera but the problem is I can't possibly
use my bare hands to hold it in certain position. Today's digital cameras
can be in the range of 14Mpixels in sub $200, just that holding them to
take snapshots of the documents are simply inaccurate : any idea along
this line? Say a holder that holds digital cam & with good lighting but
filter off background lights/noise?

sunhux

ASKER

There's quite a fair bit of discussion out there using digital camera to
scan docs but what I lack is a good holding stand (tripod?) with something
that blocks off background noise & good lighting :

http://www.google.com.sg/#hl=en&source=hp&biw=979&bih=451&q=digital+camera+scan+document+holder&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&fp=f6dca07b1a737f5e

sunhux

ASKER

Another one :

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/snapter-scan-your-documents-without-a-scanner/

sunhux

ASKER

I still can't get it right, possibly I don't know how to use the macro
settings yet on my camera & position the docs / book that I want
to scan correctly.

Anyway for benefit of other EE members, some good urls to scan doc :

http://www.ehow.com/how_5567427_use-digital-camera-scanner-copier.html
(but to macro focus in under 2 inches probably won't allow me to capture an
entire A4 doc; strange why this url recommend as such )

http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7593_102-299293.html
(do I really need a super wide lens of up to 55mm ?)

Digital cam lenses are not flat & esp scanning a book : book is not
flat, so there's some challenges here

sunhux

ASKER

Looks like this thread is now focusing on digital photography :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_scanning

http://www.subchaser.org/photographing-documents

& using lightbox :
http://desktoppub.about.com/od/scanning/a/CameraAsScanner.htm

http://lifehacker.com/#!295426/turn-your-digital-camera-into-a-scanner-with-qipit

My remaining question now is:
what's the specs of a digital cam that I need?

angle of lens? 5 to 55mm?

What degree of macro? up to how many inches close-up

Do I really need a DSLR or just a normal digicam?

How many megapix min?

sunhux

ASKER