HP ScanJet G4050 Photo Scanner - Flatbed scanner - 216 x 311 mm - 4800 dpi x 9600 dpi - Hi-Speed USB

HP ScanJet G4050 Photo Scanner - Flatbed scanner - 216 x 311 mm - 4800 dpi x 9600 dpi - Hi-Speed USB

I bought this HP G4050 flatbed Photo Scanner some while ago, direct from HP, at a time when I could not find one available on Amazon. When you are used to the quality of service on Amazon, buying elsewhere can be a let down as I found with the customer experience I had with Hewlett Packard direct.

This scanner has proved to be an excellent choice. Simple to install both the hardware and the software. I bought this scanner for archiving and digitising a huge collection of old photos, transparencies, negatives and documents, among which are several hundred very old sepia photos in poor condition that are vital for our family history.
The scanner handled all that I threw at it. The HP Photosmart Premier software is extremely versatile and capable, enabling (amongst other features) the cropping of damaged photos, and a range of tools to enhance the original faded image. Results are superb - I particularly like the Adaptive Lighting feature (something I have not seen on any other editing software). Results are chiefly based upon the user's ability to select the appropriate options from the tools and features available - so I would advise a lot of experimentation with those features before you criticise the scanner or software.

You are also able to import any previously scanned or saved photos or documents, into this software by merely copying them into your default My Scans folder, and then use the power of Photosmart to re-edit them.

Scanning negatives works well, but the results with old film will depend on the condition of the media you are using. I found that some old (particularly sepia) negatives with deteriorating emulsion surface produced strange scan results ranging from a white image to a 'schlieren' effect. Important to ensure the negatives too are free of fingerprints (which show up well on results!).

Scanning transparencies/slides produce good results provided the scanner glass is absolutely clean. The TMA template for slides is merely a frame that will hold up to 16 slides at a time, that you place on the glass after removing the white panel to expose the TMA lamp (as you do also for negatives).

Scanning photos works exceptionally well. The user guide recommends 1/4 inch between photos you place on the glass - from experience, I find that 1/2 inch (or just over 1cm) is better, to avoid the scanner linking photos together (you can change the position of photos on the glass having seen the preview scan and then scan again). Tip - when using the tool for 'sharpness' do not over sharpen, as results may seem fine when viewed in the software, but if enlarged when printing, such over-sharpness produces grainy effects on the final print. Only use the 'millions of colours' setting for scanning colour photos into JPG format - using another colour setting such as '256 colours' will not allow JPG saves, only GIF, TIFF, etc.

General criticism - you are able to set scan profiles for each button on the scanner unit and for each button in the HP Solution Centre. Unfortunately, you can save only one profile per button. However you may alter your settings from any saved profile at will as you go. I found that to obtain more saved profiles, I set a different set of profiles for the scanner unit to those I set for the buttons in the HP Solution Centre. This works - I use the unit buttons for black and white items and the Solution Centre buttons for colour (including sepia) items.

Overall - I believe this HP G4050 Scanner to be probably the best of the mid-range scanners available. Now, Amazon has some in stock - I could have saved £30 had I waited, rather than buy direct!

Having spent some time doing research on different makes and models, I purchased a G4050 based on it's specs. Unfortunately, my excitement was short lived as the first one wouldn't even switch on. So much for HP's quality control!! The replacement turns out to be very good for scanning photos. The dust and scratch removal is quite impressive. However, this scanner is very frustrating when it comes to negatives and slides. It doesn't seem able to crop them at all well and one has to adjust the scanned area of each slide manually. I know that this isn't a dedicated film/slide scanner but I expected better reliability on this front. HP provide software for both XP and Vista but one has to open the installation guide before reading that some functions are not available with Vista. It doesn't mention which ones!!

I Had 7000 slides to get into my computer and onto memory card/disc. At 16 per scan it was excellent didn't need standing over, and I could improve the scan quality on any slides I wanted to individually. Soft ware is brilliant. Scans old photos too - Excellent bit of machinery.