7 Best Slide Scanners 2023 – Reviews & Buying Guide

The digital age has brought us a lot of cool things: wireless connectivity, and the ability to stream our favorite movies and TV shows where.

When we want, and the ability to communicate with anyone, no matter where they are. in the world.

But what about all those memories we made and captured before relying on our computers and smartphones for everything?

If you still have slides hidden in the attic, the best slide scanner is the tool you need to never forget family vacations, good times with friends, and that brief passion you had for everything. which concerns photography.

A slide scanner is a great tool for anyone who is worried about losing all those memories.

They’re better than an overhead projector and easier to use, so you can guarantee whatever you do and wherever you go.

You can keep track of the moments that bring you a nostalgic little smile when you think of them.

If you are worried about what might happen to your memories as we move towards full reliability on the machines.

It makes sense for you and your future children, grandchildren, and beyond to invest in a slide scanner.

Chances are they won’t believe you danced on stage in Glastonbury with the Arctic Monkeys, but with a slide scanner, you can prove them wrong and bask in the memory.

7 Best Slide Scanners 2023 – Reviews & Buying Guide

Epson Perfection V600 Slide Scanner – Best Overall

The number one choice for the best slide scanner is the Epson Perfection V600 which allows you to enlarge from film up to 17 “x 22” at DPI of 6400 x 9600 (which is good, very good ).

While slides, negatives and panoramic film can be scanned with a maximum DPI resolution of 12800 x 12800, and we won’t tell you more, very good too.

It is compatible with a variety of image types while also being suitable for scanning your receipts so you don’t get a harsh tax visit in tax season. 

Another cool feature is its ability to scan 3D images, which you might never need to do, but it’s always nice to have the option.

The four customizable buttons are simple to use and you can transfer them to PDF format for editing or you can send them to your email, and you can also restore the images to their former glory.

As if you had taken them just yesterday. However, all of these features mean that this scanner is heavier and larger than the other options.

So if you have limited office space, you may have a hard time finding suitable accommodation for it.

If you’re looking for a simple option that delivers fantastic quality with every scan to convert slides to digital images.

The Epson Perfection lives up to its name, and if you’re ready to save the money for you ensuring that your negatives, slides and photos stay safe on USB drive or computer forever, nothing better.

Kodak Scanza Slide Scanner – Film Negatives

Our top pick today is the Kodak Scanza which does just about everything the Perfection offers while taking up less space in the studio. 

It works as a negative scanner or to convert slides to digital images while offering a plethora of other features to make your scanning adventures easier than you ever thought possible.

For the less tech-savvy among us (no shame here), the on-screen instructions are straightforward and easy to follow.

The screen is large and tilts so you don’t have to squirm your neck to choose the function. that you want to explore. 

For negative slides, this is also one of the best and the 14MP camera offers superb clarity.

With multiple input options, you can save your images to microSD or USB card, or you can project them to your TV with an HDMI cable. 

To save energy, the Scanza automatically shuts off after 10 minutes, which is great news for anyone who lives with (or is) someone who frequently panics after burning down the house after leaving a rectifier or a lit stove top.

However, unlike other similarly priced models, there is no editing software included.

So you will have to focus your backgrounds elsewhere if you need to adjust images before showing them to family and friends. friends.

If you want to present them as they were when you scanned them, you know, for the sake of authenticity.

Then we recommend it to anyone who isn’t able to break the bank on Perfection but is always up for it. to back up and save their old photos, slides, and other images forever, and ever, and ever, well … you get the idea.

Kodak Mini Digital Film & # 038; Slide scanner – Easy Load

Even cheaper and even smaller is the Kodak Mini Digital Film &; Slide Scanner But don’t let the compact size fool you.

It is still a very useful and efficient little machine for your simple slide scanning needs. 

The LCD screen measures 2.4 ” for a clear view, while the one-touch navigation makes it easy to navigate to get the results you want.

If you like ease of use, you will also appreciate the ease of installation which is almost non-existent, allowing you to get to work immediately and enjoy the wonders of this model. 

If your slides and photos show signs of wear and fading, picture enhancement features bring them back to their nostalgic glow of yesteryear.

There’s an SD card slot as well, but the internal memory feature means you don’t need it if you want to keep your stored footage somewhere easy to access. 

There are also multiple adapters to connect it to both USB or TV so you can easily project your images for everyone to see. 

Make sure there aren’t any photos left that you wouldn’t want your family or anyone else to see.

The SD card isn’t included, but that’s about all we can really find wrong with it, and the compact and quiet design makes it a film scanner that you can neatly place on the camera.

Bedside table for when the urge to scan your 1999 vacation strikes at 3 am when your partner is snoring quietly by your side. 

Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best 3D printers.

Zonoz FS-ONE Slide Scanner – Speed-Load

If you need a scanner under $ 100 while still ensuring excellent image quality, the Zonoz FS-ONE is a great option to bring into your studio, but most importantly, into your life. 

It is simple to organize and configure, and does not require a computer or software to operate, allowing you to scan your 35mm slides into digital images hassle-free. 

The 22MP output is one of the sharpest on the market, while the 2.4 “color display gives you the ability to view the results to ensure you get the most perfect scan possible.

It works fast, taking just seconds to scan a slide, and the built-in memory gives you a convenient place to store it all.

If you need the extra space, there are ports for SD and SDHC card readers, which is especially useful if you have decades of slides ready to convert. 

The TV connector port is also useful for displaying pictures and is a great tool for birthdays, retirement parties, or Christmas gatherings.

While this TV port is useful, we would like it to be an HDMI port, as we feel like we’re back in that weird mid-tech era of the turn of the millennium. 

Your opinion on this will depend on how often you want to show the photos, however, and if you don’t plan on having parties or entertaining soon, you’re unlikely to be using it too often. .

At least the option is there, anyway, and for such great value with such an easy-to-use design, you can enjoy your color or black and white scans like you did when you first took them. 

Be sure to check out our reviews of the best portable printers for more great products for your office and home.

Kodak Mobile Film Slide Scanner – Smartphone Camera

Unlike its competitors, it is made of hard and sturdy cardboard, which gives it great lightness and convenience.

It works by using your smartphone to “scan” the image from a negative slide, and since you always have your phone with you, that means you can do it when the need arises. 

There is a free app that you can download for scanning, and thanks to that, you can also edit and share with your friends and family to bring up memories that you think they all forgot.

The cardboard case means it won’t be as sturdy as the other options, but at such a godsend you can’t expect it to withstand the rigors of portability, although the foldable design gives it more.

Protection than you might expect. Still, as long as you take care of it and don’t leave it on display in a travel backpack or suitcase full of sharp objects (because why would you?), It still has enough durability to survive. a lot of use.

Unique in design and operation, it is an option for those who are so plugged into the digital world that the thought of manipulating.

A physical photograph leaves you stunned with inexperienced nostalgia, as do Polaroid cameras and jackets. denim. 

That’s not a bad thing, however, and looking to the past is just as important as it is to the future, especially at such an affordable price as this.

Titan Wolverine 8 in 1 – Digital Converter

Going back to the more expensive side of the negative scanner universe, Wolverine’s Titan 8-in-1 is simple to use with minimal effort and offers.

A hassle-free user experience ideal for experienced scanners and beginners alike. who have just discovered a treasure trove of negatives long before they were born.

The large screen is fantastic for viewing images, delivering vibrant visuals that burst off the screen to ensure the photo is ready for conversion. 

The buttons are also clearly labeled, and while not as easy to use as the other touchscreen options, you may prefer something closer to the traditional method.

There is both an internal memory function and SD card slots, and you can project images to your TV with the HDMI port. 

To get started right out of the box, you’ll receive 135mm slide adapters, negative film inserts, and 3 slide trays included, among other goodies, too.

However, it’s not very good at digitizing darker images, leaving a lot of visual noise that detracts from the quality of the photo.

At around $ 160 you’d expect the resolution to be a bit higher. high because better resolutions can be found at a lower price.

At the same price as the Scanza, it can be a bit difficult to decide what’s best for you, and while we didn’t pick this product as a Premium choice, that doesn’t mean it’s worth it.

Not worth it, so if you have something against Kodak, at least you have a similar option available. 

You might also like some of the laser printers on our list, so feel free to check them out.

DIGITNOW 135 Film Slide Scanner – Slide Mounts

Our latest pick of the day is the DIGITNOW 135 Film Slide Scanner which stands out with its simple, one-button operation for super-easy operation.

Even for someone who has never used technology before in their life, who could not master in a few minutes. 

Once done, you can enjoy fast slide scanning in as little as two seconds, provided you have the most recent software update. 

It is compatible with Windows OS from Vista to Windows 10, but unfortunately is not compatible with Mac, at least not yet. 

The USB-powered design takes the clutter of cables around the desk and you don’t need a memory card to save your images.

Also included are negative and positive film holders as well as a USB film scanner. 

To keep it in pristine condition, there is also a cleaning brush to keep dust and debris from ruining your scans and so you can guarantee that everything looks great.

It also offers 1800/3600 DPI interpolation, which isn’t the highest, but for less than $ 50 you can’t really complain. 

There’s also no viewing screen, so you have to view your footage on your computer, making it one of the less portable options.

While not ideal, there is still a lot to like about this model including the ability to scan in color and black and white.

Once the image is scanned you can edit it in the program to correct any problem before show it to your friends. 

Our guide to the best projectors features more awesome products you’ll love.

Buying Guide

Before deciding which slide scanners we should choose for our list, we were excited to connect with relatives, climb into the grim, dark gloom of our attics, and search for slides that had long been forgotten by old holidays, Christmas parties, or birthday parties.

Unfortunately, no one answered our calls, and it was expensive to buy a ticket to the house. Rather, we relied on our proven method to consider these important factors that everything should think about before making a purchase. These factors are reviews and price.

Reviews – User reviews are like finding the holy grail of product information. 

It’s like jumping into a fountain of truth and being told the secrets of everything you can’t say from just reading a product page. 

Through these reviews, we discovered the good and bad about each product, but they also gave us the opportunity to learn more about what is not so good and what is not so good.

Without these reviews, we might have recommended products that weren’t good enough. 

Luckily, with reviewers on hand to tell us everything we need to know (and sometimes a little more), we’re confident we’ve made a selection worthy of publication and broadcast right in your eyes.

Price – Whether you’re buying a flatbed scanner or a scanner that feeds slides through a useful little port, you need to think about the price. 

The quality of the photographic equipment doesn’t come cheap, but we still wanted to find a line of products that would appeal to all budgets and demands.

Depending on what you need from your scanner, you might be happy to spend the money on something more expensive, or you might need to be motivated for something that won’t cost you too much, both options suit us perfectly, however.

Features to look for in the slide scanner

There are many features that you should look for before making your final decision on which slide scanner is best for your needs. 

We know you’re excited to see your memories immortalized on Instagram and Facebook and Tumblr and Bebo (if that’s even a thing, we’re not sure).

But skipping and deciding too soon might make you regret it. don’t take the time to think carefully about what works best for you.

DPI – The DPI of your slide converter refers to dots per inch, and you can probably guess the higher the DPI, the clearer the image. 

Some machines may boast of having different DPI for different applications, so depending on what scan you’re trying to do, consider which DPI is the best.

If you are enlarging images, the IAP may not be as high as you need it to be, but for scanning negatives and slides you should settle for a moderate IAP to get the results you want.

Software – Your 35mm slide scanner may come with software to review, edit, and restore photos. 

Models equipped with this software give you more control over your images and allow you to enhance them to look like they were taken with a modern camera.

Not all options offer this possibility, however, so if you really want to restore your photos, you need to invest in separate editing software. 

The software may also allow you to save images directly to the computer or just to the machine, although there may be options to transfer them to an SD or USB card.

Color Accuracy – Scanning old images requires you to find a product with excellent color accuracy. 

This will help you master the photos to look like they should have been if commercial color photography was available.

When the photos were first taken and an inaccurate color could make the difference between the perfect photo and a photo that you would rather forget from afar.

Bit Depth – You may have heard of color depth, but it means the same thing. Another factor that determines the clarity of an image is the bit depth of your scanner. 

The higher the bit depth, the clearer the image will be and will look more like a scene from Red Dead Redemption than the first Super Mario, yes until the 80s.