-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EyUV5mV0+i4K9NjyZsTLdU4xb5W+pdbXXcZ/fiRWy86UrbHa6m/xz2C6IbEgi5v7
 qFg6BngqEdif1Kls2VzWOw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000906602-05-000012.txt : 20050315
<SEC-HEADER>0000906602-05-000012.hdr.sgml : 20050315
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050315142554
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000906602-05-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050307
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050315
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050315

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCAN OPTICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000087086
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC [3577]
		IRS NUMBER:				060851857
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		169 PROGRESS DR
		CITY:			MANCHESTER
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06040
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8606457878

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		169 PROGRESS DR
		CITY:			MANCHESTER
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06040

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Yantus Paul M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001320649

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05265
		FILM NUMBER:		05681178

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(860) 645-7878

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SCAN-OPTICS, INC.
		STREET 2:		169 PROGRESS DRIVE
		CITY:			MANCHESTER
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06040
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-07</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000087086</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCAN OPTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SOCR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001320649</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Yantus Paul M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SCAN-OPTICS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>169 PROGRESS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MANCHESTER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06040</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Paul M. Yantus</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----