Inexpensive Introduction to Scanning
Written: Dec 29 '03 (Updated Dec 29 '03)
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Pros: Easy to Use, Quality Scans, Built-in Transparency Adapter
Cons: Included software can be clunky and awkward to use
The Bottom Line: It will take up some space, you might get frustrated with the software, but at $49 the price is right for anyone who is looking for a basic scanner
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| jps246's Full Review: Hewlett Packard ScanJet 3570C Flatbed Scanner |
A fairly decent introductory scanner, the HP 3570c does an adequate job with scanning quality, for both prints and transparencies. However, the included software could use some major tweaks.
I had been looking to replace my old Microtek Scanmaker 4800, which wasn’t broken, but was without a power cord (which I had already searched high and low for a replacement and couldn’t get one, so I had given up on ever powering up and using it again) for some time already.
So my eyes have been open whenever I’ve been anywhere that sells scanners and I would stare at them and wonder if I really should replace the one acting as a paperweight on my desk at the moment.
Well so it was when I was in NY this past Christmas, my Mom wanted me to set up a network at their house and I was in Circuit City looking for a router when I came across the HP ScanJet 3570c on clearance for $49 with a $10 rebate, which put it at $39 and even though I wasn’t familiar with HP scanners and it didn’t have quite all the features I wanted, I looked at my Mom and managed to get the scanner for setting up the network. At that price I figured, it had to be better (and more useful) than my non-functioning paperweight.
The Details
The HP ScanJet 3570c offers 48-bit color scans at 1200x1200 dpi resolution on material up to 8 ½” by 11”. The 3570c is compatible with both the PC and MAC platforms and connects through the included USB cable. In addition, the 3570c offers “one-touch” buttons that engage various options on the scanner such as email, scan, and copy, all with a single touch of a button.
The ScanJet 3570c also offers a built in adapter to scan 35mm slides and negatives. Not meant for anyone scanning large amounts of slides or negatives, the included adapter does an excellent job for those of us with a few transparencies that we’d like to move over into the digital world. In addition because of the way that the adapter is built into the lid, strips of negatives may have to be cut to get certain sections of the film in the adapter to scan.
The included HP imaging software is mediocre to okay at best. I’ve never been a fan of “included” software, be it with a camera, scanner or printer because it’s never as good as software that is designed and dedicated to whatever you need to do. This is the case with the HP imaging software. It will do the job, but it’s awkward and clumsy and not all that easy to use. You’ll find yourself using other programs to do the majority of your imaging work. However, it can get the job done for those without any other image manipulation programs.
Size wise, the HP 3570c is about average for a flatbed scanner, coming in at about 12 by 20 inches and weighing a few pounds.
How does it work?
Like I’ve said, the HP 3570c does an adequate job with scan quality, producing good scans from smaller prints and from both slides and negatives. I haven’t done all that much scanning with the 3570c so far, but what I have seen, I’ve been happy with the results.
Scanning is generally quite quick, even from a 5 by 7 print – probably just a hair quicker then my older Microtek 4800. Scanning prints can be a bit tricky because of the lighted, built-in transparency adapter that appears to be always on (I haven’t figured how to turn it off if there is a way). If you aren’t careful with the scan, there can be some pollution from the light on it. If that’s the case, then you will have to reposition the print and try the scan again until you can get it without the light pollution.
Pluses and Minuses
The HP 3570c is not designed for massive scan jobs and anyone who is looking for a scanner that could do this, will not be happy with the 3750c. This scanner is designed for a home user who is interested in scanning various prints or transparencies on an occasional basis.
The built-in adapter is handier than some transparency adapters out there because you don’t need to fiddle with attachments or anything. However, because of its shape, you will need to cut up strips of negatives at times, which for some people, they may not be able to do. In that case, you’re out of luck with the negatives and you’ll only be able to scan one end or the other of the strip.
Scan quality is generally good, though at times some scans will suffer from light pollution for the transparency adapter. When this happens, you’ll have to rescan the print in a position where the light will not pollute the scan.
Not bigger or smaller than the majority of flatbed scanners available today (except for those nifty thin Canon scanners I was staring at), the 3570c will take up a good part of your desk real estate and probably needs its own little corner.
Recommended?
If you are looking for an inexpensive introductory scanner, the HP 3570c is an excellent choice. In the middle of the heap of lower-end scanners, the 3570c does an adequate job with both print and transparency scanning and produces quality scans from the media.
Not sleek or spiffy, the 3570c does what it sets out to do, and that is to scan documents, prints and transparencies to produce high quality scans.
It will take up some space on your desktop, you might get frustrated with the included software, but at $49 (even better at $39), the price is right and anyone who is looking for a basic scanner to get some prints or slides into the digital world should be satisfied with the HP 3750c.
Photography Reviews:
Books and Magazines:
Shutterbug Magazine / Popular Photography Magazine / PC Photo / Outdoor Photography / Photography Outdoors
Cameras:
Olympus C-4000 Digital Camera / Olympus D-460 Zoom Digital Camera / Minolta Maxxum 300si (35mm SLR) / Polaroid PDC 640 Digital Camera / Kodak EasyShare CX4300 Digital Camera / Canon Elph LT APS Camera / Olympus Stylus Infinity Zoom 35mm Camera
Printers, Scanners & Memory
SanDisk 128MB SmartMedia Card / Memorex 128MB SmartMedia Card / HP Photosmart 1115 / Microtek Scanmaker 4800
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 49
Interface: USB
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