Photo Scanner With Automatic Feeder
Like a lot of people I have a ton of old photos stored in boxes. I have always wanted to find some kind of automatically feed the pictures to the scanner like commercial printers have.
I did a Google search for “scanner with automatic feed” and “automatic photo scanner”, “scanner with feeder” etc. It doesn’t seem like there are a lot of vendors that provide this type of product. There are plenty of choices for photo scanners with slide and negative adapters.
It turn out that at one time Epson made a scanner that did exactly what I wanted. It was the Epson Perfection 2480 Limited Edition Photo Scanner
I also found the HP ScanJet 5530 Scanner but it had less than stellar reviews.
I then found out that Epson still has the Multi Photo Business Card Feeder B12B813372 available. I did some searching and the retail price goes for about $149 for the feeder. The feeder works with the Perfection 2480, 2580, 3490 & 3590 Scanners. The only problem is that these particular models are no longer readily available.
I of course searched ebay and scored a Sealed Epson 2580 scanner for $85 shipped. Cool !
So for about $235 I have a pretty cool scanner than can autofeed photos and also scan negatives and slides.
There were essentially no instructions with the automatic feeder. I soon discovered that all the documentation is installed on your computer when you install the software for the scanner. Once I read the Reference Guide installation of the feeder was very easy.
The largest photos that can be scanned are 4X6. Epson says you can stack up to 25 photos in the tray.
So far the scanner has worked perfectly. It sucks the photos in and when the scan is complete it spits them back out. The total time per photo is about 30 seconds. Normally this would be a slow pace to work but you can just set a stack of photos in the tray and go off and do other things. I’m guessing I can scan about 100 photos per hour pretty easily.
I’ll report back in a few weeks once I really start to go to town. I am going to be using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 to scan and organize the photos.
Michael said,
March 22, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
I’m in the same boat. I may have to go the route you’ve done. I don’t understand why this market segment is being completely ignored
Glen said,
April 8, 2007 @ 6:59 am
Yes. I too can only find the same two multi photo feeders. I have the hp 5530 and it works well with a 1touch button. Periodic jams slow it down though. I’ve scanned hundreds of photos and many more waiting. Not enough people are searching for multi feeders and every new novice is buying these cheap scanners with 1 photo option, not challenging the limitations. When the consumers mature with photo scanners, they will demand more multi feeders and the sellers are probably already prepared.
gth said,
November 17, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
How did it turn out?
JH said,
November 27, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
I don’t think you’re going to see the auto photo scanner hit the market in mass anytime soon (if at all). While there are many like us out there looking to scan old photos, that’s just it…they’re old. Once the old photos are scanned all new photos will already be in digital format and I’m guessing the developers aren’t wanting to spend time developing a product that won’t be necessary a few years from now when everyone has converted their photos into digital format. Just a guess. Thanks, though, for the info on the auto photo scanner…that was helpful.
Gordon Henderson said,
January 20, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
Hi, found your article from websearch as I have exactly the same challenge/problem here in UK. Did you a) find the solution you were using back in jan 07 worked out okay for you, and/or b) identify a newer or better option?
webmaster said,
January 20, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
It worked out pretty well for me. Last summer I had a goal to scan about 25 photos/day. That project lost steam after a few weeks.
Part of the fun of old photos is rummaging through boxes and discovering pictures you forgot about. Maybe it should stay that way.
Kevin said,
January 26, 2008 @ 9:26 pm
Can any of you provide me with a copy of the software for the 3590 scanner? I am getting the scanner but it is coming without the software. I think the software is the same for the 2580,2590, 3490, and 3590.
Thanks!
Kevin
Geramy said,
July 27, 2008 @ 1:07 am
I, too, have been looking for an answer to this problem of having thousands of old family photos from the 50’s’ 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. I have an Epson Perfection 4490 Photo, but it seems that the auto feeding unit that you talked about will not fit it, so I’m going to be purchasing an “older” scanner and an auto feeder. I would like it if you could contact me by email so I could ask you some questions. Thank you for your article!
Geramy said,
August 18, 2008 @ 10:41 pm
Update: Bought an Epson 2580 on eBay and then purchased a multi-photo feeder for it online. The scanner arrived last week and the photo feeder arrived today. I’m scanning photos as I type this and it’s (now) working wonderfully. (I say ‘now’ because it seemed to mis-feed while ejecting photos about a third of the time until I put a little weight on the back of the photo feeder. I just have a CD-ROM binder sitting there now, and it has not misfed once. Maybe a defect in this particular unit? Who knows… but I’m pretty pleased with how it’s working. Thank you so much for this web page and it’s helpful hints!!
Dustin said,
December 16, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
Anyone have one of these setups that they don’t want any more, and want to sell? Thanks,
Dustin
Ginny said,
March 23, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
Hi,
Great post. I too have these photos but mine go back to the early 20’s. I don’t want my children (4) and grandchildren (14) and great grandchildren 2 to loose site of their ancestry. I will be retiring this Sept and would like to have this equipment. Any ideas where I could get them now, or is it to late?
I think the person who said the mfg’s won’t be going this route is probably true. No money in it as we are among the dying generations. We’ll all be gone before they could make their money back. So sad.
Ginny
Pete said,
July 18, 2009 @ 4:05 am
I to would be in the market for this setup if anyone has one they are looking at selling.
Pete
Dee said,
August 12, 2009 @ 5:54 pm
Been researching all over for other automatic photo scanners too. Found out a lot of people are searching the same thing. Thanks about your experience with the Epson 2580 scanner. I’ll have my knowledge base updated.
Maria said,
September 5, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
Epson Perfection 2480 Limited Edition Photo Scanner. does it work I need to scan all my picture in my computer and then make a cd. I have so many loss pictures right now I am looking for a scanner please help
dawn said,
January 23, 2010 @ 7:15 pm
i bought this set-up (epson perfection 2580 & the auto-feeder) from ebay & an online store…just hooked them up to my laptop tonight [i know, i know, i am a bit lazy) and have scanned about 200 pictures so far. i have had 4 misfeeds (3 were from pictures that were too small) and I love it. I am wondering if I want to get rid of the photos…holding them in my hand vs looking at them online. For the most part, i think I can let them go…But I would recommend the set-up to anyone. While epson doesn’t make either one anymore, they do still support the software. I just downloaded a copy to work with xp, vista or windows 7.
instead of selling mine when i go thru my pictures, i may offer the services to friends for a small amount.
Vie said,
January 29, 2010 @ 9:03 pm
This has been the most usefull thread i’ve found on the subject. Thanks!
I was able to find the epson 3490 scanner on ebay, however i haven’t been able to find the multi photo business card fee.
Any suggestions on where i can find one? Would any of you who already have one be willing to sell theirs?
I can be contacted at vie1974@hotmail.com
Tammy Felps said,
June 19, 2010 @ 12:34 am
There’s a digital scrapbooking company called heritage makers and my consultants will come to my house in WA State with a commercial photo scanner and have a scanning party for all of my friends. There is a fee, but worth it, and I don’t have to buy and set up equipment that I will no longer need once my photos are digital. Tried it last week and did over 500 photos in a couple of hours. Having a bigger party in August!!
Rebecca McDonald said,
August 2, 2010 @ 1:35 am
Tammy do you have the contact details for heritage makers I can only seem to find there USA details.
Thanks.