Multifunction printer-scanners as good as dedicated scanners?

King Mustard

Getting Fingers Dirty
Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Messages
20
Reaction score
2
Points
29
Location
United Kingdom
Printer Model
No printer yet
Our HP Officejet 6500A Plus e-All-in-One Printer (E710n) (2010) has finally died.

We are only wanting to scan basic documents and photographs a few times per year, so just need something decent, cheap and cheerful.

As of now, the cheapest dedicated scanners in the UK are the:
  • Canon CanoScan LiDE 300 (2018) (£50)
  • Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 (2018) (£68)
  • Epson Perfection V39 (2014) (£82)
However, the cheapest multifunction devices are:
  • Canon PIXMA MG2550S (2016) (£25)
  • Canon PIXMA MG3650S (2016) (£30)
  • Canon PIXMA MG3050 (2016) (£34)
  • Canon PIXMA TS3151 (2019) (£38)
  • Canon PIXMA MX475 (2015) (£40)
I am guessing the multifunction devices are cheap because they expect to get their money via. the cartridges but we don't need to print, we'd only be using the scanner functionality.

Presumably, the scanners on the combination devices aren't as good as the three dedicated ones listed above either but if so, how much worse are they?
 

palombian

Printer Master
Joined
Feb 4, 2014
Messages
1,869
Reaction score
2,244
Points
297
Location
Belgium
Printer Model
PRO10,PRO9500II,MB5150,MG8250
For the average home user these printers/scanners do what they have to do, but it is an addition to printing.

If you don't print, there are very nice smartphone scanning apps too.
 

stratman

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
8,712
Reaction score
7,163
Points
393
Location
USA
Printer Model
Canon MB5120, Pencil

stratman

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
8,712
Reaction score
7,163
Points
393
Location
USA
Printer Model
Canon MB5120, Pencil
how much worse are they?
Cannot speak to the specifics of each multifunctional printer or standalone scanner, but you can get crappy scanners and multifunctionals. Oftentimes you get what you pay for but you still need to do your homework to make sure more expensive is worthwhile.

Important point, if you are not planning on printing at all then do not get the multifunctional printers. The printers will use up ink in maintenance purges - to keep the print head from clogging - and you will have to buy new ink cartridges to keep even the scanner working. No ink means no function from printers.

Get a standalone scanner. Read reviews on Amazon, Newegg, and other seemingly reputable sources.
 

Adamphotoman

Getting Fingers Dirty
Joined
Oct 18, 2019
Messages
41
Reaction score
49
Points
48
Location
Praries
Printer Model
Canon ipf8300
Do you own a digital camera?
As a professional photographer I purchased a very expensive scanner many years ago. I no longer use it. I replaced it with a digital camera. Better results and quicker to use.
 

The Hat

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2010
Messages
15,618
Reaction score
8,691
Points
453
Location
Residing in Wicklow Ireland
Printer Model
Canon/3D, CR-10, CR-10S, KP-3
Presumably, the scanners on the combination devices aren't as good as the three dedicated ones listed above either but if so, how much worse are they?
If you go for a standalone scanner please remember, the cheaper the initial outlay the poorer the quality product, 75% of the purchase price is the cost of the software, that’s what gives you the output quality and not the hardware..
 
Top