Scanning, even on a nimble unit like the CanoScan 8800F, is never going to be as fast as taking a snapshot. There's no way around that, unfortunately. The only bad news is how long it takes to scan that shoebox. And the modest $200 list price ($175 street) for the CanoScan 8800F is even better news, although that price tag is in the same neighborhood as a multifunction device which includes a scanner. That's good news for the amateur with a few shoeboxes in the closet. Relying on an LED light source and a generic profile to drive their own well-organized software, these scanners can deliver perfectly delightful results from negatives, slides and prints without requiring a degree from Scanning University.
