Top 10 Best Slide Converter Reviews

For a long time, 35mm film and other similar formats dominated photo-making both in professional photography and amateur folks’ hands.

Its ease of use, inexpensive price point, and wide availability was all features that made this format an iconic one in the world of photography.

However, with the emergence of digital cameras and microchips, the 35mm way of making photos has slowly become obsolete.

The fact that 35mm isn’t used as often now as before doesn’t mean that there aren’t heaps of excellent 35mm materials out there, made by both professional and amateur photographers!

The best way to easily view and edit these photos would be to use a slide converter.

In this article, we’ll present to you a list of these curious machines so that you can find the best slide converter for your needs.

Read on to learn more!

Our Favourite Best Slide Converter

Leading 10 Best Slide Converter Reviews- 2022


1. KODAK – Slide ‘n’ Scan Film and Slide Scanner

Featuring a compact build and only a couple of buttons on its top, this KODAK slide ‘n’ scan slide converter is a breeze to store and use, whether you’re a professional photographer or a rookie.

One of the most interesting features of this model would be its rather large 5-inch screen which you can use to view the photos you just scanned and the slideshow of the photos you made.

You can use the best slide converter as a de facto picture frame. So, when you’re not using it to scan 35mm film, you can choose your favorite photo and display it on this thing with ease.

Important Features

Easy-Load Film Trays –

If you’ve ever used a film scanner, you probably already noticed that loading the film you’re about to scan is a rather gingerly action.

This means that you need to pay special attention not to loading one of these tapes at an angle; else, you run the risk of damaging the tape itself and causing a jam inside the scanner.

The slider tray with this model includes 135mm, 126, 110 film, and a 50×50 hinged slider.

Simple Settings –

The deal is fairly straightforward when it comes to the various settings and adjustments you can make with this scanner on your side.

Although the settings you can choose from aren’t that numerous or elaborate, they’re more than enough to improve the image before you can edit it further in postproduction.

Cleaning Brush –

One of the tools you will get as a part of virtually any slide digital converter would certainly be the cleaner brush.

The thing with 35mm film and other older film formats is that even a speck of dust can look like a large, unsightly smudge when the piece of film that’s getting scanned becomes enlarged.

For this reason, using the brush is a must, and since this slide converter model comes with its special brush, you won’t have to worry about buying a separate one for this purpose.

Pros:

  • Simple pre-scan editing
  • This offer includes a cleaning brush
  • SD and SDHC memory cards are supported (32GB is the upper limit)
  • It comes with 4 loading trays for different types of films
  • This device can be used as a picture frame
  • Converts to 14 or 22 megapixels

Cons:

  • Some users may not appreciate the design of this unit.

2. DIGITNOW – 135mm Film Scanner

Although the name of this model suggests that it can only scan 135mm films, it can also take on 35mm films – both slides and film.

In case you have a lot of slides to go through, this model can be a perfect solution for you because it comes with a special slide holder that you can use to scan slides easily one by one without having to insert them individually.

Important Features

TFT LCD –

Featuring a small but well-lit LCD screen, you will be able to easily view and edit on the spot whatever pieces of film you’ve just scanned.

What makes the inclusion of this scanner on this list so important would be that it doesn’t require any additional media such as a computer or a similar device.

Thanks to this screen, you can view the images, potentially edit them if you want to, and then save them without ever having to connect this slide scanner to a computer.

Of course, if you want to, you can connect this thing to a computer, for example, to do some in-depth editing.

Slide Holder –

Like many slide converter models on this list, this DIGITNOW contraption also comes with a special side holder.

As we pointed out already in the passages above, slide holders are quite important because they allow you to quickly and easily scan slides without having to feed them into this device.

So, thanks to these slide holders, scanning is much easier than it would have been without them.

SD Card Supported –

One of the reasons this scanner would fall into the category of standalone slide scanners would certainly be that it doesn’t require a PC for it to run.

This is because it supports SD cards and by inserting one in the back of this device, you avoid using a computer.

After scanning, you can immediately save the new JPEG file onto this SD card and only later transfer it to your computer if you decide to.

Pros:

  • TFT LCD screen
  • Works on both 35mm film and slides
  • It comes with a special slide holder for continuous feed
  • It can be used without a computer
  • This one is also working with negatives
  • SD card supported
  • Features a special cleaning brush
  • It comes with a USB and a video cable

Cons:

  • Some users may not like the relatively small size of the display.

3. Zonoz – All-in-One Film & Slide Converter Scanner

Whether it’s all 35mm films or slides, you can rest assured that this Zonoz scanner will be able to take care of it with ease.

Thanks to the fact that it’s got a color screen and that you can add an SD card to it whenever you like, this model can be an excellent option for anyone who doesn’t fancy using a computer at the same time as this device whenever they want to scan something.

Important Features

Speed Loading Adapter –

In case you need to tackle a lot of scans in a row, so to speak, the fact that this model comes with a speed loading adapter means that you won’t have to load every slide manually, which can be a pain in the neck.

All you need to do is attach this thing onto the scanner, and then the loader will do the rest for you.

Built-in Software –

When it comes to the way, this model can work without a computer, the thing that makes it possible would be the inbuilt software this thing comes with.

This software is there to direct the scanning, automatic loading, and matters related to the lighting inside the housing in this unit so that the scan can be properly lit.

In other words, with this software bundle, the computer becomes largely redundant – other than performing some fine settings later on.

Internal Storage or SD Card –

Allows you to use this device without a computer.

The way this works is fairly straightforward.

You do the scans you want, and then you can save these scans either on your internal storage or on your SD card if you’ve inserted one.

Of course, suppose you mean to use this device sans a computer. You may want to seriously consider buying an SD card because the internal storage on this unit won’t be remotely enough for any larger scanning project.

(For the record, using only the internal memory of slide scanners, you can only save about 50-ish scans at a time.)

Pros:

  • 22MP image output
  • Internal storage built-in
  • SD card supported (up to 32GB)
  • It can be used without a computer or special software
  • Can tackle negatives
  • It comes with a TV cable and a USB cable

Cons:

  • Relatively small internal memory (can house only up to 50 scans)

4.Wolverine – Titan 8-in-1 High-Resolution Film to Digital Converter

If you’re looking for a gadget that can do it all for you, in the sense that you can scan, convert, save, and do many other functions all on the same device, this Wolverine model can be just the thing for you.

Thanks to this model’s large screen, viewing and editing the scans you just made will be a pleasure!

Important Features

High-Speed HDMI Cable –

For those situations when you want to view the images, you scan on a large TV screen, for example.

This HDMI cable is male-to-male, and it has a length of six feet, which would be more than enough to reach the device you want, especially because you can easily move this scanner around due to its relatively small size.

SD Cards Support –

If you want to use this model independently from a computer, you can always insert an SD card into it and do it the easier way, so to speak.

The thing about this is that the SD card cannot be a micro-SD because this model doesn’t support this format.

At the same time, if you have an adapter that allows you to place a micro-SD into an SD card, you can also use a micro-SD card.

Cleaning Brush –

One of the obligatory parts of this package would certainly be a cleaning brush, which you can use to clean the films and scans you’re making before placing them in this slide converter.

This step is fairly important as it enables you to scan clear films and slides that would otherwise come out all smudgy and spotty from the dust particles, microscopic hairs, and other impurities.

Pros:

  • 135mm negative & regular slide adapter
  • It comes with a cleaning brush
  • Creates 20-megapixel digital images from the scans
  • Fast-loading adapter for the negatives
  • SD cards supported (up to 32GB)
  • HDMI male-to-male cable
  • A fairly large screen
  • Can convert formats including 35mm slides and film, 110, 126, 127, slides and negatives, regular 8mm, as well as super 8

Cons:

  • Quite expensive

5. Minolta – Film & Slide Scanner

Featuring a stylish build and an SD card that comes with this contraption, which is not that common, this Minolta film and slide scanner can be a great solution for anyone searching for an excellent scanner that can be used without a computer.

Typically, if you want such a scanner, you have to count on the price of buying a separate SD card, so you can have enough storage to use the scanner without a computer efficiently.

Important Features

Standalone Scanner Design –

One of the features of this model that’s perhaps the most attractive for any potential user, especially those who would belong to the category of casual users, for example, would certainly be the standalone design of this unit.

This scanner can work this way because it comes with an SD card part of this package.

This enables you to use this computer without ever having to do any heavy lifting yourself.

Works With SD Memory Cards –

As large as 32GB, this model comes with an SD card immediately out of the package.

This SD card is 16GB, which is more than enough to store a lot of scans of both slides and film.

Thanks to this feature, you won’t have to worry about transferring the new JPEGs you created to a computer soon.

TV-Cable –

TV cable can come in handy if you’re using this contraption to view a slide show of the scans you just made.

At the same time, the larger screen of a TV set will get you a better view of how the scan turned out and what changes you need to perform when it comes to editing the scans on a computer.

Pros:

  • USB adapter
  • It comes with a USB and a TV cable
  • Cleaning brush
  • 16GB SD card (comes included in the package)
  • 22MP quality of scanned images

Cons:

  • A tad pricey

6. Zonoz – FS-Five Digital Film & Slide Scanner

Featuring a compact build, a couple of pretty useful attachments, and a 16GB SD card included in this package, you can use this model to save a lot of films and scans that you like.

Also, thanks to the software that’s inbuilt into this device, you can rest assured that you will be able to edit, delete, and adjust the scans you just made.

This functionality, combined with this model’s SD card, which you get in this package, makes this model a practically standalone contraption.

Important Features

LCD Screen –

Even though this model has been purposefully built to be as small as possible, the folks at Zonoz did manage to cram a small but bright and colored LCD screen.

On this display, you can check the quality of the scan you just made.

If you end up not liking the scan after reviewing it, you can redo it immediately after, so you don’t have to transfer the file to a computer before figuring out what to do with it.

16GB SD Card Included –

Slide scanners often come as ‘standalone’ devices, and if the manufacturer claims they are, this means that they come with a small amount of internal memory and that you must purchase an extra SD card to make them functional.

With this model, however, this is not the case.

Should you purchase this model, as a part of the offer, you will get an SD card of some 16GB, which is more than enough to get a lot of work done and many files saved before transferring them to a computer.

Easy-Load Adapters –

If you’ve ever used a film and slide scanner, you probably already know that one of the biggest challenges is correctly loading the film or slides into this contraption without necessarily loading them yourself one by one.

What this can lead to comes down to jams if you load them at a funny angle.

Also, you risk damaging the slides themselves, which can be pretty annoying, especially if the slides or film is old and valuable.

Pros:

  • Can work with 35mm, 110, 126, as well as Super 8 & 8mm
  • Easy-load film inserts
  • Bright LCD
  • 16GB SD card (included in the package; up to 32GB SD card supported)
  • Stylish design

Cons:

  • Some users reported that this model could be tough to clean at times

7. Magnasonic – All-in-One 22MP Film Scanner with large 5-inch Display

As far as the formats supported by this Magnasonic model, you can count in 35mm, 110, 126, film, and a range of formats for slides and negatives.

The digital format of this model will convert your film and slides to JPEG, and the quality of the scan can be quantified to 22MP.

No computer is needed with this configuration because by adding an SD card into this mix, you can bypass the need to connect this thing to a computer for it to work.

With an SD card in your arsenal, you can save all your scans to the card, while you can use the computer only for transferring files and editing the scans.

Important Features

5-inch LCD Screen –

When viewing the stuff you’ve just scanned, you can opt to connect the scanner to your computer and open the JPEG files in a photo viewer.

However, you can view the scans directly on this device thanks to this LCD.

This way, you can save time and effort when scanning the files that didn’t turn out that well a second time.

SD Slot Available –

As we said above, one of the prerequisites to having an SD slot would be to save a lot more scans of films and slides than you would have otherwise been able with just internal memory.

To be precise, if you were to use only the internal memory on this thing, you would only have about 128MB to work. (For the record, this is only enough to save a handful of scans.)

On the other hand, you can save many more than that with an SD card.

The upper limit to how large one of these SD cards can get is 128GB, so you can save scans to your heart’s content, as it will take a lot of time to take up all 128 GB of space.

All-in-One Standalone Function –

One of the most attractive things about this model is its all-in-one functionality, which allows it to be used as a standalone slide converter.

What this means in practice is that you can complete the whole cycle of scanning, editing, and saving this image without a computer.

First, you choose the piece of film or slide to scan. Then you do some button-pushing to choose the appropriate settings. Next, you pick the plastic insert for the loading to be simpler.

Then you do the scan, and you can immediately view the scan on display.

If you’re satisfied with the result, you can save the scan, and that’s it!

Pros:

  • HDMI output for connecting this scanner to a TV set
  • 128MB internal memory
  • SD cards supported (up to 128GB)
  • Computer-free use
  • Effortless scanning
  • User manual & cleaning brush included in this package
  • Lifetime customer support

Cons:

  • Some users may not like the design of this device

8. eyesen – 22MP Film & Slide Photo Multi-Function Scanner

Representing one of the most well-rounded scanners currently on the market, this model from the eyesen can be used to scan a wide variety of different documents, films, and slides.

Whether it’s large, A4 format sort of images, 35mm slides, 110 films, or 35mm film, you can rest assured that this gadget will take care of it fairly easily.

Important Features

Photo & Business Card Scanner –

What makes this model different from the other ones currently on the market would surely be that you can use this thing to scan films and slides and photos and business cards.

When it comes to scanning stuff, if you want to work on films and slides as well as regular ‘scannable’ formats such as photos, you would need to separate scanners – one slide & film scanner and one regular flatbed scanner.

With this model, you’re effectively killing two birds with one stone, as you can use this thing to scan both photos and films easily.

Internal & SD Card Memory –

Working hand in hand gives you a lot of space to save all sorts of scans and files easily on this device, without even having to get a computer involved.

This works because this model has an internal memory of 128 MB, which is a pretty common amount of space given to you by the manufacturers.

On the other hand, what is interesting about this model is that you get an SD card, too, which gives you 8GB of space!

By the way, 8GB is not the upper limit that this model can, as you can get a different SD card up to 32GB. (But, you would need to buy such a card yourself, of course.)

Specialized Software Included –

One thing that makes this model different from most of its competitors would certainly be the software it comes with.

Once you’ve made a scan, you can do some editing using this device without ever having to involve a computer.

This is possible thanks to the special OCR software the folks at eyesen included in this model.

This way, the amount of time you need to spend fixing details on a computer will be much smaller because you will have already made the majority of the edits you wanted on the scanner itself.

Pros:

  • 128MB of internal memory & an 8GB SD card
  • Fast scanning
  • Advanced OCR software
  • You can choose from 8 different languages.
  • Can scan photos and business cards in addition to film and slides.
  • It comes with a cleaning brush.
  • 32GB is supported (but not included)

Cons:

  • This model is a mixture of flatbed and film scanners, and not all users may like this combination.

9. QPIX DIGITAL – Film Negative Scanner

If you’re looking for a negative scanner model that you can use without a computer, this model from QPIX DIGITAL can be a great tool for getting the scans quickly whenever you feel like it.

This small scanner has all of the features you may want from a slide & film scanner at this price range.

Important Features

Standalone Design –

When using this model in combination with a computer, you can do this, but it’s not mandatory.

If you have an SD card to insert into this thing, you can easily use this thing even without a computer.

You’ll be able to edit the scans you’ve just made, put a date on them, and save them. So, you might only need to use a computer if you want to perform some advanced settings, which you needn’t if you’re already satisfied with the quality of the scan itself!

Accessories & Extras –

With this scanner, you will also get several different accessories.

For example, you’ll get an AC adapter, a USB cable for easy connectivity to a computer, a cleaning brush, and a video cable that you can use to connect this thing to a PC.

Image Editing Functions –

Other than scanning the photos you put into this thing with ease, this model will also help you fix your photos with ease in the sense that you won’t have to wait until you transfer the new JPEG file to a computer to edit it.

For example, if you accidentally loaded a slide or a piece of film upside down into this device, you can use the flip or rotate function so it faces the right direction.

Pros:

  • Standalone design (no computer required)
  • LCD screen
  • It supports 6 different film types
  • 8 languages supported
  • SD card supported (up to 32GB)
  • AC adapter
  • USB cable
  • Cleaning brush

Cons:

  • Some users may not like the design of this unit

10. DIGITNOW – All-in-One High-Resolution 16MP Film Scanner

Featuring an LCD screen for easy viewing of files and other media, as well as a converter that allows you to scan films and slides of different formats. This model from DIGITNOW could be a great solution for someone who’s looking for a slide scanner that is easy to operate and that gives you high-quality scans.

When we say high-quality, we specifically mean 16MP, which is a pretty steep value for photos and other media you’re scanning.

Important Features

Easy Scanning Sans a Computer –

Thanks to the inbuilt internal memory of this model.

Even though the value of this storage is not that great, so to speak, what you still get is 128MB, which is enough for a handful of slides.

Again, this is not much, but at least better than nothing.

However, the good news in the storage department is that this model also comes with an SD card with an additional 4 gigs of space!

This SD card is included in the package, so you won’t have to pay extra.

If you want to get another SD card with more memory, you can buy a different one.

Can Scan Photos and Name Cards –

Can Scan Photos and Name Cards or business cards and other printed visual media of similar format!

This is why this gadget is visibly larger and more robust than most of its competitors in the world of slide converters – because it can scan not only film and slides but also photos and all sorts of cards of different formats.

USB Connectivity –

Although you can easily use this contraption as a standalone device (meaning, without a computer), if you ever want to do some more in-depth editing on the slides you just saved, you can connect this thing to a computer.

This is fairly straightforward, as there is a USB port present that comes with this gadget, so all you need to connect it to a PC or a laptop is a simple USB cable.

Pros:

  • Can scan photos, postcards, slides, film, business cards, and more
  • It comes with a 4GB SD card
  • 128MB internal memory
  • Compatible with both PC and Mac
  • USB connectivity
  • Standalone operation
  • LCD screen
  • 16-megapixel scanning and capturing technology

Cons:

  • This model may be too complex for some users who are only looking for a 35mm slide scanner, for example

Best Slide Converter Buyer’s Guide

Standalone Design

While scanners are, for the most part, considered computer peripheries, some scanner models, especially slide-to-digital converter models, can be used without a computer.

When reviewing the slide converters we did on the list above, you may have noticed that a common feature is that many of these suggest that the best way to convert slides to digital is to save the new JPEG file to an SD card.

This means that you can make scans wherever you are, whether or not you have a computer nearby.

So, if you don’t fancy having a computer near you while making scans, you may want to find the best slide converter to digital converter that can be used as a standalone device.

SD Card

The biggest reason some scanners can be used without a computer would certainly be the presence of an SD card in the scanner itself.

Some of the best digital slide converter models out there either already come with an SD card as a part of the package when you buy them, or they at least come with an SD card slot.

Typically, if the manufacturer does include an SD card to go with their scanner, this SD card will be of smaller capacity than the SD card slot can support.

For example, if the upper memory limit for some of the best slide converter models is 128GB, a manufacturer might include a card of 8 or 16GB.

So, if you want more space, you can buy a new, larger SD card with more memory.

Display

The quality of the display plays a vital role in how well the scans you do with a slide scanner will turn out.

Namely, the bigger and clearer the screen, the easier you will see any potential smudges or other imperfections on the JPEG image you just scanned.

For this reason, try to find a slide scanner model that comes with a large and preferably illuminated screen.

Cleaning Brush

Among the most important accessories for slide scanners, cleaning brushes represent an absolute must-have for anyone who wants to scan slides and film with one of these small scanners.

If you’re scanning a film, even the smallest imperfection, such as a speck of dust on the piece of film you’re scanning, can mean the difference between a clean scan and a giant streak in the middle of your photo.

For this reason, it is always important thoroughly to clean the slides or film, or any other format that you’re about to scan, and the best way to do it would be to use the cleaning brush that comes with the slide scanner you bought.

Editing Options

Slide scanners typically don’t come with a rich roster of editing settings you can use to fix your scans.

You should look to buy a slide scanner model that comes with some decent image adjustment options because otherwise, you’ll probably have to rely heavily on using a computer to make the image look the way you want it.

The more image adjustment options a scanner comes with, the easier it will be to create scans without using a computer.

Some of the most common adjustments available to users on slide scanners include brightness, image rotation settings, and adding date and time for easier future reference.


Frequently Asked Questions:

How Do I Transfer 35mm Slides to My Computer?

Typically, most slide scanners come with a USB port and a cable that you can use to connect them to a computer.

After you’ve done this, transferring your scanned slides is a piece of cake.

Alternatively, some more advanced models of these scanners also allow you to transfer via Wi-Fi.

How Do I Convert Slides to Photos?

If you’re using a slide converter, the procedure is quite simple.

First, you take a slide, clean it with the brush that comes with your converter, then choose the appropriate loading tray (that thin plastic thing) and insert the slide into it and the tray into the scanner.

Once you’ve done that, depending on the model, you might need to push some buttons to set the different scanning parameters and then hit ‘Scan.’

After doing this, the scan is complete, and you’ve converted your photos successfully!

What is the Best Way to Scan 35mm Slides?

There are multiple ways to scan 35mm films – from making adjustments to flatbed scanners to using a camera and special background with lighting to simply using a slide scanner.

Out of these possibilities, by far the simplest is using a slide converter, as scanning 35mm slides take mere seconds, and you don’t have to set anything up as you do with other methods.

What Can I Do With Old 35mm Slides?

The best solution would be to scan them to be preserved digitally.

Images and photos in digital format are easier to store and transfer back and forth to other devices, so this would probably be the best course of action.

Using a special slide converter for this purpose might also be a good idea, by the way.

What to Do With Unwanted Slides?

If you don’t like your old slides taking up space in your attic or a drawer, you can destroy them, including burning, shredding, or pouring bleach over them.

(But bleach would destroy just the image, and you will still be left with some physical residue.)

If you like the images but not the idea of physical slides, you can also consider buying a slide scanner to scan the slides first and then dispose of them.


Final View

All in all, whether you’re a photography enthusiast who wants to preserve a heap of old 35mm slides and film you have been working with or an amateur who has a lot of old slides that you want to preserve for posterity, getting a slide scanner can be a great way to do this easily and relatively cheaply.

We hope you managed to find the best slide converter for your needs in the passages below, and we wish you plenty of success when it comes to scanning and converting your beloved films and slides.

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