• Get the Scoop About Scanners

• Evaluate Scanner Features

• Find Scanners on eBay

• Buy Scanners With Confidence

Get the Scoop About Scanners

Get the Scoop About Scanners

Different types of scanners work in different ways. Know your scanner options so you can choose the type that's right for you.

• Flatbed scanners: Versatile flatbed scanners work like copy machines. They can scan material from both thin and thick objects, ranging from single sheets of paper and selections from fat books and magazines to flowers and jewelry. Simply place the object you want to scan on the glass plate and let the scanning head capture the image. Look for a large-format if you want to scan legal-size documents.

• Slide, film, and transparency scanners: Digitize your old film negatives and slides. Increase the capabilities of your flatbed scanner with a slide or film negative adapter, or look for a Kodak scanner, Nikon scanner, Canon scanner, or HP scanner that comes with a built-in film and slide adapter.

• Sheetfed scanners: If you plan to scan a high volume of documents, a sheetfed scanner may be ideal. They are typically smaller than flatbed scanners, and they only scan loose pages.

• Handheld scanners: Handheld scanners can go just about anywhere, but you may have to complete several passes to scan a complete document.

• Business card scanners: : Use a business card scanner to quickly update your contacts list.

• Portable scanners: Bigger than handheld scanners but smaller than traditional flatbed scanners, portable scanners can work well if you need a way to scan documents while traveling on business.

• Drum scanners: Drum scanners produce high-resolution scans. They are primarily used by graphics professionals and in the printing industry.

Evaluate Scanner Features

Evaluate Scanner Features

Before bidding, make sure a scanner has the features you want.

Scanner sensors

Scanner image sensors help determine the quality of your scans. It's their job to convert the light reflected onto the object you're scanning into a clear digital image. Scanners typically use one of the three following types of image sensors.

• Charge-coupled device (CCD): CCD scanners work in conjunction with a bright light that illuminates the image. Then, the CCD uses its rows of pixels to capture the image. CCD scanners usually produce better image quality than CIS scanners.

• Contact image sensor (CIS): In CIS scanners, the image sensors lie directly under the document and pick up the reflected light right from the document. CIS scanners tend to be more compact and durable than CCD scanners.

• Photomultiplier Tubes (PMT): In drum scanners, three photomultiplier tubes are often used to capture red, blue, and green light separately. PMTs are more sensitive than CCDs and CISs, so they can create more detailed scans.

Scanner bit depth

Scanners pick up a certain number of bits from each pixel of an image. This is known as bit depth, and the more bits a scanner remembers, the better the image quality.

• Text: Find a bit depth of at least 24.

• Slides, negatives, and transparencies: Get a minimum bit depth of 30.

• Photos & color graphics: Look for a bit depth of 36 to 48.

Scanner resolution

Scanner resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi) or pixels per inch (ppi). The higher the resolution, the better the image quality, and the more image detail you will see. When comparing scanners online, look at the optical resolution provided by the scanner itself rather than the enhanced resolution you can achieve using software. Many scanners are available with resolutions of 2,400 dpi or even 3,600 dpi, which can be worth it if you plan to scan film and photos. Here's a general guideline to follow:

• Text scanning: A resolution of 300 dpi is fine for text scanning.

• Slide, negative, and transparency scanning: Look for an optical resolution of 1200 dpi or higher.

• Photo scanning: If you just want to post your photos online, a resolution of 600 dpi should suffice. To make prints of your scanned photos, look for a resolution of 1200 dpi or higher.

Computer connections

Scanners typically connect to your computer via USB or FireWire (IEEE 1394). Make sure your computer has compatible ports available for the connection you prefer to use. If you have an older computer with a parallel port, your scanner may also be able to use it for transferring lower-resolution scans.

Find Scanners on eBay

Find Scanners on eBay

Once you know what type of scanner you want, go to the Computers & Networking portal, click Scanners, and start searching for item listings on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Canon, Epson, Fujitsu, HP, Visioneer, and more.

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a HP flatbed scanner, type “HP flatbed” (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Scanners With Confidence

Buy Scanners With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $2,000.

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.