Epson Perfection V30

Like its rivals, the Epson Perfection V30 comes with quick-access buttons to scan straight to PDF and email, copy and print, or scan normally. It's a compact model but needs an external power source as well as the USB connection, so it's a little less convenient to pack up and put away.

The scan quality is excellent and we got very excited about the software Epson uses to drive the scanner, which is nicely presented and easy to use. You can choose between various settings, from fully automatic to fully manual (with sensible defaults). There's also home mode and office mode, where settings are selected to suit the item you're scanning. Advanced settings can be hidden if you don't want them, yet remain accessible if you do.