Many of us still have photos that we want to scan and save in digital format. Others need to save old photos or documents, and some professionals will need a photo scanner to carry out their job. For whatever reason, Epson is one of the leading brands for photo printers and scanners. Today, we are going to look at the Epson v370 vs v550.
We will compare the two photo scanners to help you decide which one is better for your needs. We will cover their size, features, and ease of use. All of the specific information will be put into an easy to compare chart and we will round things up with the pros and cons of each of the Epson scanners.
To begin, let’s take a look at how the Epson v370 and the Epson v550 are similar.
Epson V370 vs V550 – Similarities
Ready-to-scan
Both the v370 and the v550 have ready-to-scan technology. This means that with the help of an LED light, you will be able to scan straight away, without having to wait for the scanner to warm up. Essentially, this makes it a faster process.
Built-in transparency
To be able to scan film and negatives, you may have to buy an additional transparency tray, which will reduce the reflection when scanning negatives/film. These two Epson photos scanners have built-in transparency trays. You won’t have to buy any extra hardware to be able to scan films and negatives.
One-touch buttons
If you have older photos that need a little bit of touching up, you can scan it and with the one-touch button, you will easily restore the image.
Software requirements
The v370 doesn’t need to be plugged into a computer in order to function. However, if you want to, you can connect it via the USB cable. Both photo scanners will run on Windows (the software is included) and Mac (you will need to download additional software).


Video Comparison
Now, it is time to take an in-depth look at the differences between the Epson v370 and the Epson v550.
Difference Between Epson V370 and V550
Epson V370 vs V550 – Appearance
The appearance of a photo scanner is probably not the most important thing to consider. That being said, both machines are attractive in plain black.
Epson v370
The control buttons are on the top, next to the lid. The scanner is 11.2 x 16.9 x 2.6 inches. It weighs 6.2lbs. It looks slightly more modern and sleek.
Epson v550
The control buttons are on the front of the scanner. It is 19.1 x 11.2 x 4.6 inches. It weighs 9.6lbs, making it a bit bulkier.
The Winner Is- The Epson v370
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Epson V370 vs V550 – Dpi (Dots per inch)
The DPI (or dots per inch) will determine the optical resolution of images. Imagine a higher-end laser printer, this will have a Dpi of 2,400.
Epson v370
You will be able to scan high-resolution images with 4800 x 9600 dpi.
Epson v550
It has a higher scanning resolution at 6400 x 9600. It has a maximum resolution of 12,800 Dpi. It also has 48-bit true to life color.
The Winner Is- The Epson v550
Epson V370 vs V550 – Photo scanner abilities
With so much technology in the world today, it is normal that you can do more than just scan photos. There may be options to convert photos into documents, scan to copy, as well as various other options.
Epson v370
With the Epson v370, you can scan photos, film, and negatives. You can make copies. You can also scan to email and cloud platforms such as GoogleDocs, MS SharePoint, Evernote, and move 1.
Epson v550
You will also be able to scan to the cloud with the v550. You can also make enlargements of up to 17 x 22 inches and scan multiple photos thanks to the auto edge detection. It will crop and save each image individually.
The Winner Is- The Epson v550
Epson V370 vs V550 – Restoring photos
In most cases, a photo scanner will enhance the quality of the color of an image. You will probably also notice an improvement in the general definition of an image.
Epson v370
As we have mentioned, it comes with one-touch easy photo restoration.
Epson v550
Aside from the one-touch easy restoration button, it comes with ICE technology. This means you can restore photos that have creases, tears and it will remove dust.
The Winner Is- The Epson v550
Read next:
- Epson V600 vs V800: Which Epson Perfection Scanner is Better?
- Epson V550 vs V600: Which Epson Perfection Scanner is Better?
Epson V370 cs V550 – Additional Software
The software that comes with a photo scanner will help you create other documents, or edit photos.
Epson v370
This photo scanner comes with Arc Soft Scan and Stitch. With this, you can scan the artwork you create and convert it into photo-sized work. It has advanced digital dust correction.
Epson v550
With the included software, you can convert your scans into ABBYY Fine Reader Sprint Plus OCR.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Read next:
- Canon 9000F vs Epson V600: Which Photo Scanner is Better?
- Epson V370 vs V600: Which Epson Perfection is Better?
What comes with the photo scanner?
It is pretty standard to receive the necessary cables and a manual with the scanner you choose.
Epson v370
Apart from the scanner, it comes with a power cable, a USB cable. There is a manual and an installation CD. It also comes with a film holder to prevent your negatives from moving.
Epson v550
There will be a power cable, USB cable, a setup poster, and an installation CD. You will also receive a set of 4 negative and film holders that will keep the slides in place while you are scanning.
The Winner Is- The Epson v550
Pros and Cons
From the information so far, you may already have an idea of the photo scanner that is best for you. If not, we have some pros and cons for the Epson v370 and the Epson v550.
Epson v370
Pros:
- It’s a good size and doesn’t weigh a lot, added to the fact that you don’t need a computer to use it with it is much easier to take around with you
- It has 180-degree high-rise tilt lid so that you can scan larger items and even 3D objects
- It’s excellent value for money considering the quality of the scans, the time it takes, the dust removal and the option to scan to cloud
- It’s brilliant how it automatically crops the photos to the right size, removing any white areas
Cons:
- The default settings are either too dark or too bright for the likes of a professional
Epson v550
Pros:
- It is very handy for being able to scan multiple photos at the same time.
- When you scan a negative, the quality of the JPG is amazing, you really can’t tell the difference
- It has a very impressive Dpi but for standard-sized images, 600dpi still produces a top-quality resolution
- The full-auto mode makes it very easy to use, just load the scanner, press start and it will do all the work
Cons:
- If you choose to use the ICE technology, it does slow it down quite a bit.
- There are very mixed opinions on the Mac software, some love it, others hate it
The Final Verdict
It’s a tough call when looking at these two photo scanners. Both are excellent machines that will make the world of difference to photo enthusiasts and professionals. It is nice to have the option to scan at a maximum of 12,800 dpi but this file will take up an awful lot of space, so generally, people don’t use this feature. If 600 dpi or even 1,200dpi is sufficient, you will do well with either the v370 or the v550.
They both have ready-to-scan to save you time, and they both allow you to scan to cloud, which is almost a necessity these days. The operating systems are the same so again, we couldn’t base our decision on this.
It is a similar case with the ICE technology. As it slows down the scanning time, many choose not to use it. The v370 has auto dust correction and there are no reports of slowing down the process.
The v550 definitely has the added advantage of being able to scan multiple images. We also liked that it came with 4 various film holders. On the other hand, the v370 has the tilting lid so that you can scan larger objects, even directly from a photo album.
Finally, we decided that the Epson v550 is the better option. It is quite a bit higher price but has more options than the v370 has. Overall, it’s a great buy.
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API