Best Slide Scanner | Review And Buyers Guide

OVERVIEW

A slide scanner is a device that scans slides of various sizes, films, negatives, and sometimes images as well. It converts these into a digital format with a better resolution. These devices have a slot in which the slides and films are inserted to be scanned.

best slide scanner

The slide scanners have output ports to connect it to a PC or a TV set to view the scanned pictures on a larger screen. Most of these slide scanners have an LCD screen, using which you can view the scanned images, before deciding to keep the image or discard it. 

The screens also help you edit the images and tweak the color settings as well. The scanners have a memory card slot in them, for you to save the images in the SD card.

Some scanners boast an internal memory as well so that you can scan, edit, and save the images in the scanner itself. The slide scanners are standalone devices, meaning they won’t need a computer connected to function.

There are a lot of slide scanners available in the market, but I have done the treacherous job of finding out the best slide scanner for you. Let us now have a look at the list of the best slide scanner in the market.

REVIEW OF BEST SLIDE SCANNER

1. KODAK SCANZA - BEST DIGITAL SLIDE SCANNER

BEST SLIDE SCANNER

The first spot in this list of the best slide scanner is the Kodak Scanza digital film & slide scanner. The compact slide scanner is constructed almost entirely of injection-molded plastic.The Kodak Scanza is a non-professional, basic, and easy to use slide scanner, which is capable of producing up to 22 MP JPEG files after taking in your 35 mm film. 

The device has a 14 MP sensor, using which, the Scanza produces 4320 x 2880 pixel resolution images in JPEG format and offers optional interpolation to 5728x3824 pixels, or about 22 MP. 

The Scanza is equipped with a tilt-up 3.5-inch color TFT LCD screen. To operate the device you will have to plug in the power either to an AC outlet or your computer. The scans are saved in the SD card when you enter it in the SD card slot.

The Kodak Scanza allows you to scan 4 formats, which are 35 mm, 110 mm, and 126 mm respectively. The device has 3 numbered film adapters and 3 slides. These are not negative carriers, because they do not lock the film in place. 

The slide scanner has a TV output port, a USB port, and an HDMI port. Using these ports you can easily transfer the images to your TV set or your computer. The quality of the scans by the Scanza isn’t of the highest quality but isn’t terrible either. The easy to use interface of the device is what makes it a fan favorite.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

  • Dimensions of 5.1 x 4.7 x 4.5 inches.
  • Weighing 1.03 pounds.
  • Tilting 3.5-inch LCD.
  • SD card slot.

Pros

  • Easy to use.
  • Fast scanning.
  • No computer needed.

Cons

  • Doesn’t produce great scans.



2. MAGNASONIC - BEST SLIDE TO DIGITAL CONVERTER

BEST SLIDE SCANNER

Taking up the second place in this list of the best slide scanner is the Magnasonic All-in-one FS50 film scanner. The slide scanner is affordable and the compact scanner that uses a 14 MP 1/2.33 inch CMOS sensor to produce high-resolution scans of your film negatives or slides.

The FS50 seamlessly converts your 126 mm, 110 mm, 35 mm, Super 8, and negatives into premium high resolution 22 MP digital photos in the JPEG format. The film scanner can only convert still images and not videos. You can relive and share your memories in no time with only the push of a button using the slide scanner.

The Magnasonic all-in-on FS50 is equipped with a 2.4-inch color LCD screen, which allows you to move through the menu and also preview your scan. The body of the slide scanner is made up of plastic and it has 5 buttons on top of the body.

The best feature of the slide scanner is its 128 MB built-in memory. The memory enables you to save up to about 100 images in the device. You can always put an SD card in the slot, which gives you an extra storage option for high-resolution images. 

The device allows you to edit the brightness, rotation, and more directly on the all-in-one film scanner, rather than the computer. The FS50 has a TV output port and a USB port along with the SD card slot. The output ports enable you to send the images to your TV sets or computers. 

PRODUCT DETAILS:

  • Dimensions of 3.4 x 3.4 x 4 inches.
  • Weighing 10.6 ounces.
  • 2.4-inch color LCD screen.
  • Internal memory of 128 MB.

Pros

  • All-in-one.
  • Budget-friendly.
  • Built-in memory.

Cons

  • Flimsy build.



3. PANDIGITAL PHOTOLINK SLIDE SCANNER

BEST SLIDE SCANNER

Next up in the list of the best slide scanner is the Pandigital Photolink photo, slide and negative scanner. The Pandigital scanner is an all-in-one device that not only scans both photographic prints and 35mm film but also does the job effectively.

The slide scanner can scan unmounted 35mm slides as well as strips of film. You can’t change any of the settings of the Pandigital device other than the resolution. There’s a button on the scanner that allows you to switch between 300 pixels per inch (ppi) and 600 ppi for prints. 

The scanner can scan photos up to 4x6 inches at a resolution of 300 dpi, as well as 35mm negatives and unmounted positive slides at a resolution of 1200 dpi. The scanner can work with or without a computer. The Pandigital device comes with a 1 GB MicroSD card and an adaptor for the scanner's card slot.

The memory card slot enables you to directly save the scanned photos in the SD card and then transfer it later to a computer. The scanner has a 5-in-1 memory slot, which means it supports SD, XD, MS, MS Pro, and MMC memory card formats.

The device is compact and light-weight, thus you can take it anywhere you want to scan photos. The Pandigital Photolink photo & negative scanner is a highly attractive option for casual photographers who want to scan prints, negatives, and an occasional slide easily, quickly.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

  • Dimensions of 8.2 x 6.4 x 2.3 inches.
  • Weighing 1.6 pounds.
  • Wide battery compatibility.
  • Controlled by microprocessor.

Pros

  • 5-in-1 memory slot.
  • Scans 35mm film (negatives and unmounted slides) as well as up to 4- by 6-inch prints.
  • High-quality scans.

Cons

  • Resolution for the film is only 1200 pixels per inch.



4. WOLVERINE TITAN 8-IN-1 DIGITAL CONVERTER

BEST SLIDE SCANNER

Wolverine Titan 8-in-1 high-resolution film digital converter boasts the largest screen in any film converter, with a LED color screen of 4.3-inches. Along with the screen the converter also has an SD card slot and owing to the large screen, the Titan is one of the easiest converters to use.

The device can convert 35mm, 110, 126, 127, 8mm, and Super 8 movies, and APS format films as well into digital within 3 seconds only. This device enables you to convert Super 8 film, as well as APS 110, 126, and 127 KPK negatives into 20 MP digital images in just seconds. But, the device is not able to convert physically printed photos into a digital form. 

The converter is equipped with a 20 MP sensor that can deliver high-resolution scans of up to 5472 x 3648 pixels in a lightning-quick 3 seconds. With the help of the color display screen you can change brightness settings and also edit the color balance. 

The main reason for such lightning-quick speed of the Wolverine Titan is the speed-load adapters that are dedicated to the individual formats of the slides or negatives being scanned. Then the images are saved as JPEG files to an internal memory system or an optional SD or SDHC memory card.

You can also connect the device to a computer using the mini-USB port. The converter doesn’t need any other software or a computer connection to function, it is a plug-and-play device.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

  • Dimensions of 5.5 x 3.5 x 4 inches.
  • Weighing 1 pound.
  • 4.3-inch LED color screen.
  • Unique speed-load adapters.

Pros

  • Very quick conversion.
  • 4.3-inch LED screen.
  • Plug-and-play.

Cons

  • Can’t convert physically printed images.



5. DIGITNOW ALL-IN-ONE FILM & SLIDE SCANNER

BEST SLIDE SCANNER

Another best slide scanner in the list comes the Digitnow All-in-one film & slide scanner. The all-in-one slide scanner effortlessly converts 35mm/135, 110, 126KPK, and super 8 films, slides, and negatives into digital JPEG format within just a couple of seconds.

The slide scanner is equipped with a 14 MP CMOS sensor which produces high-resolution images of 22 MP after interpolation. It has a 2.4-inch LCD screen which enables you to take a look at the scanned images. It also enables you to edit the images directly on the scanner itself, rather than on a computer. 

The SD card slot in the scanner can use up to 32 GB extendable memory card. The LCD viewer also gives you the option to flip, mirror, or upgrade the image with brightness or coloration adjustment. The Digitnow slide scanner has speed loading adapters which are the reason for such lightning-quick scans.

The converter kit comes with interchangeable adapters, which help you feed a variety of film types including 35mm, 110, and 126 KPK negatives and slides, as well as Super 8 film.

The all-in-one converter scans the images and converts them as well, without the help of a computer. The device is very portable and yet very effective.

The easy-to-use device enables you to simply push the negatives of slides into the converter, and then by pressing on the scan button, the entire scanning occurs in just 2 seconds. It also has a 128 MB in-built memory to save up to 100 images in the device, even without the SD card. 

PRODUCT DETAILS:

  • Dimensions of 3.4 x 3.4 x 4 inches.
  • Weighing 9.6 ounces.
  • Mac and PC compatible.
  • 2.4-inch LCD screen.

Pros

  • In-built memory.
  • Very quick conversion.
  • Mac and PC compatible.

Cons

  • Mediocre color reproduction.



6. ZONOZ FS-3 FILM & SLIDE CONVERTER SCANNER

BEST SLIDE SCANNER

The Zonoz FS-3 is a compact, versatile, and light-weight device that can be a one-stop solution to your scanning needs. This converter scanner is an ideal device for scanning and organizing your old slides and films.

The scanner is equipped with an exquisite image sensor that captures and converts every detail and color in every inch of the image in your slide or film into a high-resolution digital form. 

This device can scan old 35mm, 110, 126 Film Slides & Negatives and Super 8 Film and with the help of the image sensor can convert them into a high-resolution image output of 22 MP. It features a 2.4-inch LCD color screen which enables you to look at the scanned images.

The Zonoz film and slide converter scanner features an unique and easy to use built-in software making it easy to operate. The internal storage of the device allows you to save the scanned images in the converter itself. The modern design of the product comes with convenient features such as scanning brightness and resolution.

The SD card slot enables you to keep your scanned images in a memory card, the slot accepts up to 32 GB of extendable memory. It consists of speed-loading adapters, which help in the quick scanning of the films and negatives. 

PRODUCT DETAILS:

  • Dimensions of 3.2 x 3.2 x 4 inches.
  • Weighing 9 ounces.
  • 2.4-inch LCD screen.
  • Speed-loading adapters.

Pros

  • Allows easy editing.
  • Internal memory.

Cons

  • Bad ergonomics


7. PLUSTECK OPTICFILM 8200I SE FILM & SLIDE SCANNER

BEST SLIDE SCANNER

The Plusteck Opticfilm 8200i SE film and slide scanner takes up the sixth spot in this list of the best side scanners. The OpticFilm 8200i SE scanner is designed to scan 35mm slides and negatives at resolutions up to 7200x7200 dots per inch (dpi), which is equal to 69 MP.

This device has a Dmax of 3.6 and is coupled with the bundled SilverFast software that offers multi-exposure scanning to extract cleaner shadow detail from slides. \

It also features Plusteck’s Quickscan utility other than the LaserSoft Imaging SilverFast SE Plus 8.0. The scan time of the device is a bit slow with 42 seconds at 2400dpi, 90 seconds at 3600dpi, and over 4 minutes at 7200dpi.

On the front side of the device you will find an oval power button, with 2 other buttons above it labeled as QuickScan and IntelliScan, and a green power LED. The rear side of the device consists of the USB port and the connector for the AC power adapter.

The device has an in-built infrared channel which can detect dust and scratches on the surface of the original negatives and slides. It is highly useful for removing the defects without retouching the images. 

The device gives excellent scan outputs, and the scans show appropriate detail for the resolution and maintains detail based on shading in both dark and light areas of the image.

The Plusteck scanner is recommended for you if 35mm film and slide scanning is all you want, with some extra time to master the SilverFast. 

PRODUCT DETAILS:

  • Dimensions of 4.7 x 10.7 x 4.7 inches.
  • Weighing 3.53 pounds.
  • Built-in infrared channel.
  • 7200 x 7200 dpi.

Pros

  • Optical resolution rated at 7,200 pixels per inch.
  • Hardware-based dust and scratch removal.

Cons

  • Scans only one slide at a time.


8. CLEAR CLICK QUICK CONVERT

BEST SLIDE SCANNER

The eighth spot in this list of the best slide scanner is taken up by the ClearClick QuickConvert photo, slide, and negative to digital converter. The device seamlessly converts the 35mm negatives, slides, and photos of size 3x5, 4x6, and 5x7, into a 20 MP digital output.

The scanner is a standalone device, which means it doesn’t depend on a computer connected to function. The device doesn’t convert or process the 110 and 126 slides and negatives, as well as the Super 8. 

Due to its size and weight, the device is portable and is quick to set up. The 2.4-inch screen enables you to preview each picture before the conversion. The conversion in this device occurs in a matter of 2 to 3 seconds only.

An 8-GB SD card is given in the kit, which when inserted in the SD card slot saves all the images in a digital format. The device also comes with a TV output cable and a USB cable and power adapter. The kit also contains a PhotoPad Professional Edition Software CD.

The scanner is recommended only for people who want to scan and convert their 35mm negatives, slides, and photos of size 3x5, 4x6, and 5x7. The scanner gives an output of 20 MP but has extremely limited film format compatibility.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

  • Dimensions of 9.5 x 8.5 x 5.5 inches.
  • Weighing 3 pounds.
  • Super quick conversion.
  • Output resolution of 20 MP.

Pros

  • Resolution output of 20 MP.
  • 2.4-inch screen.

Cons

  • Limited film format compatibility.


9. IVATION HIGH-RESOLUTION FILM SCANNER

BEST SLIDE SCANNER

The Ivation high-resolution film scanner takes up the ninth place in this list of the best slide scanner. The device can effortlessly convert 35mm, 126, 110, negatives, and slides into a digital form.

The device has a powerful 14 MP sensor, which scans each film and slide and with the help of the built-in software interpolates all images from 14 MP to 23 MP for stunning images. The converter gives output in JPEG format. The scanner has a 3.5-inch LCD color screen and speed loading adapters.

The LCD screen enables you to view edit photos directly in the scanner, without a connection from the computer. The interchangeable adapters help you quickly feed a variety of film types including 35mm, 110 & 126 KPK negatives, and slides. 

The device is easy to operate and the scanning happens very quickly, because of the speed loading adapters. The all-in-one converter comes with a micro-USB cable as well as a television cable that helps you view and save files on a desktop or other device. You can also use up to a 32GB SD card in the SD card slot. 

PRODUCT DETAILS:

  • Dimensions of 4.8 x 3.8 x 4 inches.
  • Weighing 1.15 pounds.
  • 3.5-inch TFT LCD screen.
  • Intuitive user interface.

Pros

  • 23 MP output.
  • 3.5-inch LCD screen.

Cons

  • Uneven scans sometimes.


10. PYLE DIGITAL 3-IN-1 FILM SCANNER

BEST SLIDE SCANNER

Rounding off the list of the best slide scanner is the Pyle Digital 3-in-1 photo, slide, and film scanner. This 3-in-1 device scans 35mm, 135mm film, slides, and negatives as well as photos of sizes 3.5x5 inches, 4x6 inches, and 5x7 inches. The device features a 5.1 MP CMOS sensor and provides a high-resolution digital output.

The automatic image adjustment and processing provides a hassle-free operation of the device to provide high-resolution HD images. The Pyle scanner seamlessly converts your films, slides, and negatives into a JPEG format. The 2.4-inch LCD screen of the device enables you to the scanned slides and films.

The scanner is a standalone device, which means it doesn’t need a computer connected to function. The scanner is very versatile as it can scan films, slides, photos, and negatives. It has a user-friendly interface which makes it easy operating the 3-in-1 converter scanner.

You can easily save the scanned images in an SD card and also transfer them using a USB cable in the mini-USB port in your PC or Mac.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

  • Dimensions of 8.7 x 8.2 x 5.8 inches.
  • Weighing 1.97 pounds.
  • 2.4-inch LCD screen.
  • Fast scanning.

Pros

  • Versatile compatibility.
  • Fast scanning.

Cons

  • Sometimes the output can disappoint.

CONCLUSION

This was my list of the best slide scanner along with their features, advantages, and disadvantages. I hope this list will help you choose the best slide scanner for you, amongst the best available in the market.

Also, share your views about this article in the comment section 🙂

Martin
 

Hey, this is Martin from San Diego. I am a tech enthusiast and I love to test and review all the gadgets. I have reviewed 100s of products in my lifetime. I just want to ensure our readers to buy the best product for the money they spend.

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