Problems photographing locks and keys? Try a Canonscan 5600F

Tom Gordon

I have always found scanning to work very well indeed but some scanners have a very short depth of focus (3mm sometimes).
This picture is showing a cutaway lock sitting ontop of two 1 inch thick locks and it thus shows detail at the back of the cutaway which is nearly two inches off the scanner platen.
You still have to stop the works falling out of the lock when you turn it upside down to scan it, although some scanners will work upside down (although I don’t know if they will start to malfunction or give dodgy scans when in that position sitting ontop of the lock.

wylk

I’ve had some good results scanning keys but sometimes the lighting doesn’t work out well and you don’t have much control.

I also have a bench-mounted combination magnifier and lamp (it was a Heathkit!). At times I will remove the lens, counterweight it to compensate, and shoot through the opening. It then works as a ring light and I usually get good results.