Dedicated film scanners cost nearly twice as much and don’t offer the flexibility that a flatbed provides, so we’d only recommend them to those who only scan film, or demand such high quality that they’re willing to make room in their office for two scanners. And when it comes to film negatives and slides, a flatbed scanner is the only way to go at a reasonable price. Photography buffs, especially ones who shoot film: While portable photo scanners can tear through piles of prints, they don’t scan at as high a resolution as flatbeds.

A flatbed-whether standalone or as part of an all-in-one printer-is also the only choice for thick materials like books and magazines. In these cases, a flatbed scanner will provide better results with less wear and tear on the originals. Even our recommended portable photo scanner could damage particularly old or priceless photos. Those who scan delicate or thick material: Portable document scanners are quick and convenient, but their automatic feeders pose serious risk to precious items like historical documents and children’s projects.Standalone flatbeds can go up to 6,400 dpi, which provides a much higher level of detail. (Not to mention dependent on a steady hand.) Portable document scanners and all-in-one printer flatbeds produce better-looking scans but are typically limited to 600 or 1,200 dpi resolution. People who need to scan at very high resolutions: Mobile scanning apps are limited in resolution by your device’s camera, and the image quality is usually little more than serviceable.

Best slide scanner for mac