Deciding which type of scanner to select, laser or digital imager, can be a difficult decision unless you have a good understanding of the advantageous and disadvantageous of each type. Both laser scanning and image readers are effective technologies for their appropriate applications, such as long distance scanning, reading 2D barcodes or capturing an image.

With laser scanners the optics inside the scanner emits a laser beam and uses a lens to focus the beam with an
oscillating mirror that moves the laser beam line across the barcode very rapidly.  The laser light beam is then
reflected off the barcode back to the scanner which allows the scanner to decode the reflected signal.

The advantage of the laser scanner is that it can read barcodes even when the barcode or scanner is in motion,
quickly and accurately allowing for fast decodes.  Also, since the laser can also project a beam a long distance
without spreading out it is ideal for long distance scanning.

Digital image readers are different then laser scanners in that they emit an LED light that illuminates the barcode and projects the image back to the scanner for the barcode to be decoded.  It works similar to digital camera but much faster, although the decodes are often not as fast as a laser.

The advantageous of image scanners is that it can read both 1D and 2D barcodes.  Imagers can also provide omni-directional scanning so that barcodes at any orientation can be read easily.  With a digital imager you can capture images such as a signature or take a picture of a damaged box.

Before deciding which type of scanner you should pick, you first must determine which type of barcodes you will be scanning, 1D only, or 2D, or combination of both.  If you are scanning 2D barcodes then you will certainly want an
image scanner.  If you will be scanning at a greater distance from your barcodes then an extended range laser
scanner would make the most sense.

Mark Oetken