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We really enjoyed our test drive of a Fujifilm Lanovia C-550 scanner; we wanted to take it home.This Fuji Lanovia scanner is superior to any I have tested in the last four years. The depth of the detail is extraordinary, the colors are true, the software is both sophisticated yet common-sense (in other words, relatively easy to use). Once you begin using a mid-range scanner (1200 dpi and higher) you get accustomed to the results. But once you see what a high-end scanner can do with the same subjects, then you really see a difference. The first thing to recognize is advertising claims that a mid-range scanner gives "near drums can quality" is obviously exaggeration. If you need near drum scan quality, then you have a get actual near drum scan equipment. The Fuji flatbed scanner is built by the same company that purchased Crosfield, the leading high-end prepress drum scanner company. This heritage reveals itself in the quality of the Fuji C-550 Lanovia. If you really need an actual drum scanner, then you can also get a full-scale drum scanner from Fuji, indeed they offer two models, a table-top model and a top-of-the-line, industrial strength drum scanner for the highest quality.
But the advantage of a good flatbed scanner is that it can also tackle a wide range of 3-D objects (as well as books and all kinds of other things that won't fit into a drum scanner). The detail of the horse's head reveals how this scanner is capable of capturing all the threads of the rope figure. Of course here you can see only the sad JPEG'ed remains; the original scan is a thousand times nicer. Although this review features the ability of the Fuji C-550 Lanovia flatbed scanner to handle 3-D objects, in fact this scanner is also a full-scale professional prepress scanner for 4x5 film, medium format, and 35mm slides. You can scan rare books, drawings, paintings, anything. The Agfascan XY-15 is the same scanner with Agfa software. We recommend you consider the Agfascan XY-15 version if there is an Agfa dealer closer to you than a Fuji dealer. Fuji dealers are very hard to find, especially since some Fuji models are sold by one level of dealer, but not by others. Same problem with Heidelberg scanners. There are actually two Heidelberg companies which sell scanners (both excellent scanners, but tough to find)..
Fujifilm originally had three classes of scanners: an outstanding drum scanner, a top of the line C-550 flatbed (my absolute favorite since it could do 3-D objects too), and two FineScan models. At PhotoPlus 2003, and again at an early 2004 trade show in the US, the word on the street was that Fujifilm was backing out of flatbed scanners.
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