A simplified X-ray scanning apparatus (1) is equipped with a rotating arm (3) where the source (4), a primary collimator (5) and a secondary collimator (6) are mounted, thus generating a fan shaped X-ray beam (2), and a linear shaped X-ray detector (15) capable of translating linearly in the horizontal direction. The rotating arm (3) is driven by a multi-axis cinematic unit (11) capable of performing simultaneous rotation and translation of the mechanical center in the horizontal plane, so achieving programmability of the cinematic projection from a virtual center located at predefined distance from the detector (15). The secondary collimator (6) placed on the rotating arm provides a simplified and economic construction of particular advantage in tele-radiographic techniques such as dental cephalography.