Canon Reviews

I've been using the FS4000 since January. I previously had a 2400dpi Minolta DImage II(I believe!) that kept on freezing up and was exceptionally slow. I can't comment in absolute terms about the speed of the FS4000 but it is certainly way faster than the old Minolta. My deduction of one star (more properly about 1/2 a star)is due to the fact the scanner still seems like it could be a lot faster - perception only, maybe, but still....

I have been scanning slides at the highest resolution with the noise reduction on but no color management or adjustments made during scanning (preferring to work on the scanned image in Photoshop). Overall scan quality is excellent with no issues from a functional or performance perspective from any of the approx. 1000 scans done to date. The noise reduction capabilities are the primary benefit I notice in that the time spent touching up dust and minor scratches afterwards is very very minor (and usually due to forgetting to clean the slides in the first place!). Color balance and detail resolution are far superior to what I experienced beforehand. Desk footprint is great and noise level while scanning is comfortable.

If I had any complaint at all it is that the scans can reveal problems in the original image such as a lack of sharpness in some areas of the image due to me using lower quality lenses in the old days - such problems don't show up quite so easily either when viewing the slides through a loupe or after the 2400dpi scans - serves me right for using cheap glass, I guess.

This is a very good scanner. The FARE system has worked well for me and that is the reason I bought it. I have the HP PhotoSmart S20 as well. While the scanners are roughly in the same price range, each has its strengths and weaknesses. The FS4000US is SLOWER and the images have more grain than the S20, but the images appear sharper, with better color depth. As to speed, I don't have to spend hours removing dust and scratches manually. And a neat s/w package called "NeatImages" workes wonders with the grain. Bottom line, total processing time is quicker with the FS400US, and the finished product is noticably better.

Given the price, this is a great film scanner. But, it's not perfect.

First, it produces wonderful images with color depths up to 42 bits. Its scratch-removal system (FARE) works well (within limitations), and it seems reasonably quick (though I have nothing with which to compare it). Since it supports both SCSI-2 and USB, its versatility is hard to find - even in more expensive models. Setup was a snap. I just plugged it into my (Windows ME) USB port, added the software and voila!

There are some limitations: Unlike competing Nikon models, there are no accessories. And the scanner is made for 35mm only (slides, negatives and APS). As I said above, FARE seems to work very well. But if a negative is too scratched, the software will fail and may even hang your system.