Updated 8 hours ago

9724 products + 890 members

Canon CanoScan 5200F

Paying more should get you faster scans and better quality

Our Score User Score Be first to review this!

Last reviewed: February 1st 2006

The 5200F is designed to satisfy more serious users, especially photographers. But although a lamp built into the lid can scan individual slides or single filmstrips, removing and replacing the lid insert is a bit of a fiddle. Like rival models, the 5200 has buttons on the front for automating common tasks - copying, scanning, PDF creation and email.

Hardware-based dust reduction is included if you want to scan 35mm film, but Canon's FARE Level 2 technology is not generally regarded to be on the same level as the Digital ICE system standard on dedicated film scanners, and now appearing on some Epson flatbeds.

In this test, we're more interested in reflective scanning than film scanning, and here the CanoScan 5200F proved a bit disappointing, especially when you take its price into account. The software warned against using descreening and unsharp masking at the same time, though our tests failed to reveal any obvious difference.

When descreening was used, the scan times ballooned. Our A4 magazine page took over two minutes, and it wasn't particularly quick at scanning our 6x4-inch photo, either.

From normal viewing distances it proves difficult to distinguish the scans made by the 5200F from any of the others. Colour and contrast are first rate. The descreening on our colour magazine page test worked well, though the overall result was no better than the LIDE 60's. Like the LIDE 60, the 5200F produced strong interference patterns in photos in our 150dpi 'unscreened' test. The 6x4-inch photo test produced an excellent scan.

Submit your review

You need to Log in or register to post reviews

Rate this product 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5

By submitting this form you agree to our Terms of Use and so are legally responsible for anything you submit. DO NOT submit anything which may violate the Terms of Use or another person's rights including copyrighted or offensive materials.

Dimensions 285 x 512 x 112
Greyscale Depth 16-bit
Max Operating Temp 90
Max Optical Resolution 2400 x 4800
Max. Document Size 216mm x 297mm
Min Operating Temp 10
OS Requirements Microsoft Windows XP
Power Consumption (Operational) 13.5
Scan Element CCD
Software Provided cd-rom
Weight (kg) 4.1

Similar models

Compare up to four products

ScanMaker 5950

Last reviewed: Not yet reviewed

Microtek ScanMaker 5950

Our score

(Unrated)


User score

Be first to review this!

Best Price

£130

Canoscan 8400F

Last reviewed: April 1st 2005

Canon Canoscan 8400F

Our score


User score

Be first to review this!

Best Price

£140

FS-820

Last reviewed: Not yet reviewed

Kyocera Mita FS-820

Our score

(Unrated)


User score

Be first to review this!

Best Price

£150

Other models in range

Compare up to four products

ScanMaker 5950

Last reviewed: Not yet reviewed

Microtek ScanMaker 5950

Our score

(Unrated)


User score

Be first to review this!

Best Price

£130

Canoscan 8400F

Last reviewed: April 1st 2005

Canon Canoscan 8400F

Our score


User score

Be first to review this!

Best Price

£140

FS-820

Last reviewed: Not yet reviewed

Kyocera Mita FS-820

Our score

(Unrated)


User score

Be first to review this!

Best Price

£150

Product Summary

5200F

Price at launch

£140

Key specs

Max. Document Size 216mm x 297mm |

Full spec

For

>

Film scanning

>

Dust reduction

Against

>

Indifferent scanning speeds

>

Quality no better than cheaper rivals

>

Expensive Moiré with unscreened scans