The catch
Canon imageFORMULA RS40
Wi-Fi placement isn't an option.
Side by side
Canon RS40 vs Epson FF-680W: Epson does wireless photo sharing and feeds more documents
Quick verdict
If a single machine has to handle both larger document batches and wireless photo sharing, the FF-680W is the better pick. The RS40 makes sense as a fixed USB photo station, provided its 40-photo batch and CaptureOnTouch workflow suit your archive.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
A bigger photo load doesn't mean a bigger document load
Canon lists 40 photos and 60 paper sheets, and Epson lists 36 photos below 0.23 mm and 100 sheets of 80 gsm paper. A household archiving both loose prints and old paperwork may therefore favor Canon for photo capacity and Epson for document capacity.
Where this comes from
Keep the capacity units apart. In its marketing Epson rounds the photo batch to 35, whereas the technical table gives 36 along with a thickness condition.
The catch
Epson FastFoto FF-680W
Thickness determines photo capacity, and originals that are damaged or unsuitable call for special handling.
Canon imageFORMULA RS40
- Why pick it
- You want a USB photo station tied to one computer
- The loose prints you are sorting work well in a 40-photo batch
- The catch
- Wi-Fi placement isn't an option.
Epson FastFoto FF-680W
- Why pick it
- Folders of documents beyond 60 sheets are in the mix too
- You care about Wi-Fi placement and the FastFoto storytelling app
- The catch
- Thickness determines photo capacity, and originals that are damaged or unsuitable call for special handling.
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What this page compares
Photo batches, handwritten backs and ordinary paperwork all come into play here. Wireless placement and document capacity can count for more than a photo-speed headline.
If a single machine has to handle both larger document batches and wireless photo sharing, the FF-680W is the better pick. The RS40 makes sense as a fixed USB photo station, provided its 40-photo batch and CaptureOnTouch workflow suit your archive.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Sorting loose photos at one computer
Each is built for supported batches of loose photos.
- Canon imageFORMULA RS40
- Good
- Epson FastFoto FF-680W
- Good
Photos plus an 80-sheet document folder
A reload is avoided by the 100-sheet paper capacity of Epson.
- Canon imageFORMULA RS40
- Caution
- Epson FastFoto FF-680W
- Better fit
The photo station cannot be placed next to the receiving computer
Wi-Fi comes with the FF-680W.
- Canon imageFORMULA RS40
- Caution
- Epson FastFoto FF-680W
- Better fit
Bound family albums that have to be kept intact
A flatbed or overhead workflow is the right choice here. A feeder does not suit it.
- Canon imageFORMULA RS40
- Not suitable
- Epson FastFoto FF-680W
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
A bigger photo load doesn't mean a bigger document load
Canon lists 40 photos and 60 paper sheets, and Epson lists 36 photos below 0.23 mm and 100 sheets of 80 gsm paper. A household archiving both loose prints and old paperwork may therefore favor Canon for photo capacity and Epson for document capacity.
How we worked this out
Keep the capacity units apart. In its marketing Epson rounds the photo batch to 35, whereas the technical table gives 36 along with a thickness condition.
What's written on the back can matter more than the print
Single-pass duplex capture on both helps preserve dates or names written on the back of suitable loose prints. Epson adds an app workflow for voice and text stories. It can be useful while a relative is still around to explain the scene, but it does not take the place of checking each saved image and annotation.
How we worked this out
Scan both faces if the reverse carries information. A bound album or an unsuitable, damaged print should not go into either machine.
Don't confuse six-hundred-dpi optics with enlargement output
600 dpi optics are specified for both, and each can produce 1200 dpi interpolated output. A bigger output file does not mean twice the captured optical detail. For fragile or irreplaceable prints that fail the feeder rules, look into a flatbed workflow.
How we worked this out
No matched image-quality or restoration test has been run. Stick to each manufacturer’s accepted-media rules.
Option A
Canon, imageFORMULA RS40
imageFORMULA RS40
Loose photos and paper forms both get processed from one USB-connected computer.
- Best for
- You want a USB photo station tied to one computer
Facts we checked
- Paper-sheet capacity: Holds 60 sheets
- Photo batch specification: As many as 40 photos
- Connection: USB
- Photo story tools: Photo corrections in CaptureOnTouch
Option B
Epson, FastFoto FF-680W
FastFoto FF-680W
Digitize loose family photos along with the notes written on their backs, and use the same feeder for documents afterward.
- Best for
- Folders of documents beyond 60 sheets are in the mix too
Facts we checked
- Paper-sheet capacity: Holds 100 sheets at 80 gsm
- Photo batch specification: 36 photos below 0.23 mm, though marketing says 35
- Connection: Wi-Fi as well as USB
- Photo story tools: The FastFoto app lets you add voice and text
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Canon imageFORMULA RS40 | Epson FastFoto FF-680W | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-sheet capacity | 60 sheets | 100 sheets at 80 gsm | In an archive that mixes photos and paper, document capacity may be the limit. |
| Photo batch specification | Up to 40 photos | 36 photos below 0.23 mm, marketing says 35 | Photo thickness and how you prepare the photos affect usable batch size. |
| Connection | USB | USB and Wi-Fi | The Epson can be placed with no USB cable running to the receiving host. |
| Photo story tools | CaptureOnTouch photo corrections | FastFoto app supports voice and text additions | With Epson, explanations can be kept along with the scanned image. |
| Optical resolution | 600 dpi | 600 dpi | A 1200 dpi output claim, made for both, is not the same as 1200 dpi optics. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Canon imageFORMULA RS40
- Output at 1200 dpi is interpolated, and bound albums don't belong in the feeder.
With Epson FastFoto FF-680W
- The 1200 dpi photo mode is interpolated. The optics do not resolve a true 1200 dpi.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
You regularly need large document batches and wireless placement
Go with Epson FastFoto FF-680W. 100-sheet paper capacity and Wi-Fi are what the FF-680W adds.
Your job is covered by one USB photo station and Canon’s software
Go with Canon imageFORMULA RS40. You may find the RS40 enough, without paying for a wireless workflow.
Your photographs remain glued into an album
Neither model fits. Leave the album as it is and use a flatbed or overhead scanner.
Decision guide
How to decide
Pick the FF-680W if the same machine has to handle larger document batches and wireless photo sharing. Pick the RS40 as a fixed USB photo station if its 40-photo batch and CaptureOnTouch workflow suit your archive.
A bigger photo load doesn't mean a bigger document load
Canon lists 40 photos and 60 paper sheets, while Epson lists 36 photos under 0.23 mm and 100 sheets of 80 gsm paper. So a household archiving both loose prints and old paperwork may like Canon's photo capacity but Epson's document capacity. Keep the capacity units apart. Epson's marketing rounds its photo batch to 35, whereas the technical table gives 36 with a thickness condition.
What's written on the back can matter more than the print
Single-pass duplex capture on both helps preserve dates or names on the back of suitable loose prints. Epson also offers an app workflow for voice and text stories. That is handy while a relative can still explain the scene, but it doesn't replace checking each saved image and annotation. When the reverse carries information, scan both faces. Neither machine should be fed a bound album or an unsuitable damaged print.
Don't confuse six-hundred-dpi optics with enlargement output
Each specifies 600 dpi optics and can produce 1200 dpi interpolated output. A larger output file doesn't mean twice the captured optical detail. If prints are fragile or irreplaceable and don't meet the feeder rules, look into a flatbed workflow. No matched image-quality or restoration test was performed. Follow each manufacturer's accepted-media rules.
What this page can’t tell you
- Document preparation, OCR and saving time are left out of manufacturer feed ratings.
- Before you buy, confirm the supported media, the scan mode, your current operating system and the destination.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the document scanners we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon imageFORMULA RS40 |
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| Epson FastFoto FF-680W |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Canon imageFORMULA RS40
You want a USB photo station tied to one computer
See price & reviews on AmazonEpson FastFoto FF-680W
Folders of documents beyond 60 sheets are in the mix too
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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