I inspect a lot of motorcycles for my consulting gig, and since they're small and have a lot of distinct components/texture, it's a great opportunity to substitute a handheld scanner for a tripod-based solution to save time and maybe gain detail.

Legit handheld scanner

Several respected colleagues speak very highly of the Artec Leo (my brilliant friend Jarrod Carter made a great video demonstrating his use of the tool here). The Leo excels at creating highly accurate meshes when the subject is smaller, textured, or in the shade. While it's probably not be the best tool for scanning a dark F-350 in direct sunlight, it can accomplish that mission with a little care and planning.

From Artec: [The] Leo is the only wireless and fully standalone professional 3D scanner designed to make scanning as easy and effortless as possible. With the new NVIDIA Jetson TX2 processor onboard, 5” HD built-in display and battery, it’s the ultimate all-in-one 3D scanning solution for fast, accurate, and high-quality data capture.

My current take based on testing and conversations with friends (always subject to change): the Leo is a killer tool if you're scanning bicycles, helmets, motorcycles, damaged cars, vehicle interiors, engine bays, and the like. A tripod-scanner is still my tool of choice for scanning shiny vehicles outdoors.

Thanks for reading, I hope you have a stellar weekend!

Lou Peck
​Lightpoint | Axiom