Canon CanoScan LiDE 30

Making room for a scanner can be a logistical nightmare. There's not just the inevitable clutter and paperwork to get out the way, but, once you've found the space, you need a guided tour through all the AC adaptors to find which ones are safe to unplug. However, even the most cramped desks could make room for Canon's new wafer-thin LiDE 30. And guess what? It doesn't even need a power supply.

Yes, the LiDE 30 is host-powered and features Canon's LiDE (LED Indirect Exposure) technology. This means that the lens and optics are integrated on to the sensor rather than having the separate fluorescent lamp and mirrors of CCD-based scanners, saving you space, power and money. Canon renamed its latest CIS (Contact Image Sensor) scanners with the LiDE moniker to more clearly differentiate them from its CCD range. CIS technology has improved too and you can now get this 1,200ppi slim and stylish scanner for just £67.

The benefit of CIS technology is that it needs less space, but it also means it lacks depth of field. Consequently, the LiDE 30 has a tendency to be over-sensitive towards dust and scratches, which in most cases is annoyingly converted into coloured blobs. There's a Removal tool in the TWAIN software, but it tends to smooth the image and loses focus. The vital lesson is to ensure your source documents are clean before scanning.

Once you're scanning, however, be prepared for superb results. Our scientific resolution test returned an admirable MTF result of 1.21, which is amazing for a 1,200ppi scanner and is ahead of many 2,400ppi scanners, most notably the Epson Perfection 2450 Photo (see Labs, issue 95, p77), which only managed an overall MTF result of 1.15.

Colour accuracy, however, was slightly disappointing. The colours are certainly bright and vibrant, but not accurate. Our overall scientific result of 9.27 is poor. However, at the same time, the LiDE 30 can breathe life into photos that look dull on other scanners. Our 300ppi photo test, for example, has a red and beige textured carpet that looked real with genuine colour variations on the Canon, but appeared a bit faded and dull on the Epson Perfection 2450 Photo. However, the Canon gets its comeuppance when capturing fine detail. On a yellow flower, for example, it was difficult to make out individual petals, while the Epson's scan was clear. The Canon excelled on our skin tones test, where it produced real and natural-looking flesh colours that made the Epson's results look comparatively red-tinged.

The LiDE 30 even has USB 2 support in its feature list, although its speed is held back by the mechanics. Just scanning an A4 photo at 300ppi took a minute on the Canon, but only 22 seconds on the Epson, and you're looking at six minutes, 30 seconds for an 8 x 10in photo at 1,200ppi; a preview takes 19 seconds. None of this is disastrous though, and you'll find the LiDE 30 is still quick enough for most people.

The LiDE 30 is an absolute bargain at just £67. While its main selling points are size and style, it's still a reasonable performer, and you can't overlook the blessing of it being host-powered either. This is a slim, stylish and affordable scanner that does the business.

Author: Ben Hardwidge