Considering the impressive quality of its predecessor, the 8400F, the CanoScan 8600F has a lot to live up to. Fortunately, the new and improved model not only handles prints, slides, and film better thin the previous model, but its scan quality and versatility rivals the competition as well.

The CanoScan 8600F comes bundled with software for document management and photo editing, including ScanSoft OmniPage SE 4.0 optical character recognition software to convert text into an editable format. The driver also includes software for color restoration and dust removal, both of which work reasonably well.

The scan process itself is run either using the scan-control software or by hitting one of the six scan buttons on the machine, with options such as scanning directly to a PDF, e-mail, or a printer. Unfortunately, the lack of an automatic document feeder makes scanning multiple-page documents a hassle, since you have to place each page on the flatbed individually.

With its claimed optical resolution of 4,800 pixels per inch, the CanoScan 8600F's scan quality for photos and film is more than acceptable for family snapshots. I also appreciate Canon's backlight correction feature, which offers three levels of correction to bring out detail in your photographs.

Canon CanoScan 8600F: $180.00

Check This Out:

IrisCard Pro: Biz-card Scanning to go

Visioneer Strobe XP 220: Scanner for Home or Highway

LeapFrog FLY Fusion Pentop Computer: Take Notes a New Way

Emërtimet: Miscellaneous