WHAT'S HOT: The CanoScan D2400UF's ultrahigh 2400-by-4800-dpi resolution and 48-bit color depth were at the forefront of technology for sub-$1000 flatbeds when it was introduced. The D2400UF's 16-bit analog-to-digital converter (which is responsible for the 48-bit color images) and the high resolution work together to produce enlargements of small images without losing details, as well as to capture finely detailed line art at a comparatively high level of accuracy.

When scanning at 2400 dpi, the D2400UF can enlarge a 35mm transparency to an 11-by-17-inch image without losing color fidelity or line detail. That's substantially larger than the typical 8-by-10-inch enlargements that most 1200-dpi scanners can produce adequately. In our tests, print and on-screen images looked clean and colorful, with pretty good sharpness and color balance. On our 100-dpi color photo, details showed up well, though the image looked a little too bright overall.

WHAT'S NOT: Unlike other premium-priced units, the D2400UF lacks a dual interface, which prohibits power users from using a faster connection, such as FireWire (IEEE 1394) or SCSI.

Unlike many film scanners, the D2400UF also lacks support for batch scanning--the handy ability to scan multiple images simultaneously, such as those on a 35mm filmstrip. This Canon unit does not offer the option of an automatic document feeder, reducing its usefulness as an all-purpose scanning tool in an office.

WHAT ELSE: Among small-office scanners, the D2400UF demonstrates respectable--but not breathtaking--performance. Microtek's ScanMaker 4900, another scanner with 2400-dpi optical resolution and a USB 1.1 interface, was slightly faster overall with a total time of 190 seconds, compared with the D2400UF's 196 seconds. The Canon was noticeably faster on both of our 300-dpi tests, but the ScanMaker 4900 was at least 5 seconds faster on several other tests. The fastest small-office model, the FireWire-equipped Microtek ScanMaker 5700, was close to a minute faster than the D2400UF on all our tests combined.

The CanoScan D2400UF has two quick-start buttons--one for reflective scanning and one for film scanning--which you can customize to launch an application or begin an action (such as printing a scan). When scanning transparencies, Canon's new Film Automatic Retouching and Enhancement feature saves time by automatically detecting (via hardware) and removing (via software) scratches and dust found on the film.

Though you'll need to select and scan each image separately, a sturdy set of film holders for different types of transparencies (such as 35mm mounts and filmstrips) is also included. The capable software bundle includes Adobe Photoshop LE 5.0 for robust image editing, ArcSoft PhotoBase 2.1 for image management, and the full version of ScanSoft OmniPage Pro 9 for optical character recognition tasks.

BEST USE: The CanoScan D2400UF is designed for photography buffs whose top priority remains creating enlargements from 35mm slides and filmstrips--and with its reasonably good image quality, it succeeds nicely at that.

SUMMARY

Canon CanoScan D2400UF USB 1.1, 2400 by 4800 dpi, 11.3 by 18.1 by 4.3 inches (width by depth by height), 8.7 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area, included transparency adapter, no optional automatic document feeder. One-year warranty; free support for 16 hours on weekdays and 8 hours on Saturdays (calls are not toll-free); toll-free automated technical support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. $499 800/652-2666 consumer.usa.canon.com