Mustek ScanExpress A3 USB 600 Pro

Advantages: Takes power from USB port, compact and inexpensive
Disadvantages: Feels a bit flimsy, bundled software is very disappointing

...I originally bought a Mustek 600CP but had problems configuring it with my printer. I eventually upgraded to the 1200UB when I got a computer with USB capability. The scanner was well priced at approx. £60 but the photo editing software it comes with is a bit naff and quite difficult to use. The unit is quite compact at around 14" long, 10" wide and less than 2" deep but the scan cover feels a bit flimsy. The unit takes power from the USB port which saves on leads and power sockets. The scanner has a cover sensor which can get irritating if doing a lot of scanning. The quality of the scans is quite good with a maximum resolution of 19,200 dots per inch with software interpolation. Overall, this is a nice budget scanner but not something you'd use in a reprographics studio.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Good price for an A3 scanner
Disadvantages: Image quality

...This is an incredibly well priced budget scanner, to be able to purchase an A3 scanner for under £100 is excellent and for that reason I will give this product a good rating. However it is not the best quality. When the twain operation (scanning through Photoshop) is operative you need to close the bundled scanning software before you can make any adjustment even to the level of re-orientating the image. It has a descreen option but again it is not much good compared to that found on epson scanners. Infact even when scanning photographs lines will appear especially on areas of solid colour. The scanner will not handle the scanning of negatives although the software will suggest this. But the images produced are of an acceptable level. I would say that they are only just acceptable a small Gaussian blur is required to clean lines... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Colour sensitivity

...I have bought this scanner to use in my office, and I wish I had not. It is slow and the colours it produces are useless. I wanted it to scan and copy A3 colour maps that I had produced so I could print them out and send drafts to my clients, however this machine is now collecting dust as I have gone back to my Brother A4 scanner and have to fold the maps in half and stick together later. Ordinary black pen comes out as purple, dark green pencil as light blue etc etc But what do you expect for this price? In this case absolute rubbish! I am so very disappointed in it. Does anyone make an A3 colour scanner at a reasonable price??? The only things it has going for it is that it is compact and light weight and relatively easy to use.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful