The word film doesn’t sound modern. To some people, the use of film and negatives in producing images is an ancient thing. Because of such feelings, the mere mention of the film whether best, expensive, quality or anything that denotes goodness is merely rhetorical.
Nevertheless, an analog image may communicate very valuable messages. For instance, a picture of a legend from the 1920s or a war veteran in action is of high value than a modern photo of the latest technology to a person whose interest is in the things of the past.
Best Photo Scanner Reviews For Your Photography
With these 4 pointers at hand, it is time to compare some of the best film scanners in the market.
The quality of this best flatbed photo scanner continues to amaze many users. Canon CanoScan comes with some of the latest specs that maker film scanning fun. It has a film format of 35mm, with the ability to slide between 6 x 4.5cm and 6 x 9cm. This film scanner has one of the highest color depths in the market at 48 bits and a resolution of 9600 dpi.
Pros
- Canon CanoScan offers quality image. The beauty is that you can improve the quality even more by wet mounting or changing the holders.
- Has LED Light that does not consume electricity.
- The scanner is compatible with many formats.
Cons
- It is questionable whether the labeling of 9600 dpi is real.
- The software is complicated.
- There are not enough controls on the software.
- Holders of the negative usually don’t support the film in the right position.
The mention of the name Epson raises eyebrows. This is the most widely appreciated high quality photo scanner. It offers the best services. In fact, those who use Epson do not want to look anywhere else. Their eyes focus on Epson. Why do they stick to Epson?
Epson does not complicate things. It has a film format of 35mm with the ability to slide the from between 6 x 4.5cn and 6 x 22cm. again, it does not promise exaggerated resolution. It remains at 6400 dpi. This film scanner comes with a 3.4 Dmax and has the color depth of 48-bits.
Pros
- The film scanner supports most formats.
- It comes with a feature, digital ICE that is responsible for removing scratches as well as dust.
- The image quality will not disappoint you.
- Ability to scan and print up to 8.5 by 11.7 inches.
Cons
- Although many people use it, they complain of flimsy negative holders.
- The scanner’s software is hard to use. Besides, it is out of date.
- If not properly set, it can be slow to scan.
This type of film scanners does not scan anything that is not in the 35mm format. If you are planning to do prints, you will need to look for a different film scanner.
Like many other film scanners, Pacific PrimeFilm 7200 has a color depth of 48-bits, a resolution of 7200 dpi, and yes, it only deals with 35mm formats.
Pros
- It has a sleek design.
- The size is also compact.
- Image quality is good.
Cons
- The scanner’s scratch and dust removal aren’t really good.
- In certain cases, the hardware may fail.
- It is slow in scanning.
Plustek OpticFilm 7600i is seemingly one of the best film scanners in the world. However, this particular product is no longer manufactured. Instead, the manufacturer is bringing a newer version in the market. The latest version comes with nice features. Until it is rolled out fully, 7600i that has a color depth of 48 bits, 7200 dpi resolution, and works on 35mm format is in use.
Pros
- It will give you multi-functions if you are dealing with higher images.
- Comes with ISRD that is responsible for removing defects.
- Has sophisticated yet elaborate Silverfast software.
- The scanner has a multi-sampling feature that reduces noise during scanning.
Cons
- It is expensive.
- It is limited to scanning 35mm format.
Although many people think that Wolverine Data SNAP20 is a dedicated best scanner for photos, it has the flexibility of doing more. With proper setting, Wolverine SNAP20 can print up to 5 by 7-inch images.
According to the manufacturer, this scanner does not deal with dpi but has a resolution of 20MP. It deals with 35mm film formats and slides with the color depth of 36-bits.
Pros
- It is extremely fast when scanning.
- The size is compact.
- This scanner is a stand-alone. This means it is not necessary to use a computer.
Cons
- Deals with negatives that are 35mm and below.
- You may not have full control over the settings.
- The image quality is not so good.
Factors to consider digitize B&W negatives
For this reason, it is important to discuss some of the best film scanners that help us make analog photos or images look modern. It is through these best photo scanners that you can be able to upload an analog picture online. First, let’s look at some of the things to consider when deciding the best film scanner to buy.
Format
Scanners have the ability to scan certain millimeters of films. The most common format is 35mm, but there are other large formats. Depending on why you want a film scanner, you should choose the scanner with your preferred format.
Common formats are:
- 35mm (Medium Format).
- 4×5 (Large Format).
- Most scanners do not have the ability to scan more than one format.
Color Depth
Nobody loves to see their photos faint in color with others showing different shades. You know that the color of your shirt is red but the image shows maroon. This is wrong. When buying a film scanner, ensure that it can scan the film giving out the exact original color. This includes B&W. while 24 bits is the most common; there are scanners that can do 48 bits.
Resolution
Related to color is the resolution. This is especially important to those that are scanning large images. Remember that large images tend to lose the real sharpness of the picture especially when you are viewing it from a distance.
The higher the scanner’s DPI the better the resolution. While there are companies saying that their scanners have a resolution of +7,000, there is no harm even going for those with a half this at 3,600.
Dmax
This is a less-to-consider thing for many people but very important to those who do film scanning professionally. The Dmax is the ability of the film scanner to capture any areas on the negative that are darker. This is an important point to put into consideration especially if you are dealing with images that have a higher contrast.
Verdict
After comparing the 5 best film scanners, you should be in a position to find your preferred machine. The four pointers at the start of this article and the candid comparison above are enough to help you decide. Do not allow anything to deter you from finding the best photo scanners from the above list.
