Epson FastFoto FF-680W Wireless High-Speed Photo Scanner. Epson FastFoto FF-680W Wireless.

The beauty of taking photos with a film camera lies not just in the surprise element of not being able to preview your shots or even in the distinct organic look and feel of the results you get, but also in the careful process of developing the film and making your own prints. However, you do miss out on some of the conveniences of digital photography—like being able to share your images online.

Before setting up your scanner, make sure macOS has the latest scanner software available to it. The Epson Perfection V700 Photo makes an excellent choice for a deep-pocketed photo hobbyist or a pro who needs to scan originals in a mixture of sizes. $1,490.00 MSRP Fuel3D Scanify 3D Scanner.

If you’re a film photographer, you’ve probably wished to make the process of digitizing them a little easier and more convenient. This is where film scanners come in.

Film scanners save you from the hassle of having to develop your photos and scanning the resulting prints. They allow you to go straight to scanning the film, so you can save a digital copy of your negatives onto your computer. And with many of today’s printers equipped with the ability to scan films, slides, prints, and even documents all in one, they can pretty much cover all of your scanning needs. Here are a few of the best film scanners you may want to check out.

What are the Best Film Scanners for Photographers in 2020?

Film scanners have a pretty wide price range. In this list, we’ve included film scanners for all budgets, ranging from below $250 to ones above $500, so you can choose the right one for your project and your budget.

Here are our top picks for professional film scanners:

Epson Perfection V600
Plustek OpticFilm 8200i AI
Plustek OpticFilm 8100
Epson Perfection V850 Pro
Plustek OpticFilm 8200i SE
Pacific Image PrimeFilm XAs Automated Super Edition
Wolverine Data 8-in-1 HD Film to Digital Converter

Epson Perfection V600

Adorama Price:

Many film photographers use the Epson Perfection V600 and love it for its flexibility and versatility. You get a solid image quality (supplemented by Epson’s Digital ICE dust and scratch removal technology, which the scanner uses on both film and print scans) and improved compatibility with multiple formats via its holders.

Overall, it’s another great scanner that you can consider if scan quality is more important to you than speed and convenience.

If you want to save $50 without really sacrificing quality, you can get the Epson Perfection V550 (), which is similar to the V600 but only applies its dust and scratch removal feature on film scans.

Key Features

Optical Resolution: 6400dpi
Max Resolution: 12800dpi x 12800dpi (Interpolated)
Scan Formats (Film): 35mm Film, 35mm Slides, Medium Format Film
Scan Area: 8.5in x 11.7in
Color Depth: 48-Bit
Scan Speeds: 21 msec/line (6400 dpi full color & monochrome)
Optical Density: 3.4 Dmax
Digital ICE (Dust and Scratch Removal) Technology
Compatible with Windows and Mac

Plustek OpticFilm 8200i AI

Adorama Price:

As we go a little higher in terms of price, we get significantly improved image quality and specs. Take the Plustek OpticFilm 8200i AI, which lies between entry-level and professional, and is one of the best film scanners you’ll find under $500.

This bread loaf-sized device operates a lot like the other scanners in this list. Scanning at full resolution will obviously take longer (nearly two minutes), but if you’re alright with lower resolutions, scans can take as fast as 36 seconds.

One of the best features of the OpticFilm 8200i AI is its advanced SilverFast Ai Studio 8 scanner software, which helps optimize image quality and improve your workflow. It allows you to preview your scans without having to open other applications, enhance your images with different image tools, and offers easy and convenient options for organizing and sharing your files.

Key Features:

Optical Resolution: 7200 dpi
Scan Formats: 35mm Film, 35mm Mounted Slides
Color Depth: 48-Bit
Scan Speeds: 36 secs. (3600dpi) / 113 secs. (7200dpi)
Scan Area: 1.45in x 1.0in
SilverFast Ai Studio 8 Software
Integrated Infrared Dust & Scratch Removal
Compatible with Windows and Mac

Plustek OpticFilm 8100

Adorama Price:

Another one of Plustek’s print scanners, the OpticFilm 8100 offers 7200 dpi optical resolution and more accurate color in your images through its light sources. This scanner is portable as well: it’s as small as a loaf of bread, and it doesn’t occupy too much space. Plus, dual one-touch buttons allow the OpticFilm 8100 to smoothly scan your photos so that you can share them on your favorite social networking sites.

The OpticFilm 8100 comes with SilverFast Multi-Exposure software that gives your images a higher dynamic range resulting in more shadow detail and less noise. It even has SilverFast NegaFix, a feature with over 120 profiles for negative film. NegaFix guarantees optimal results every time you convert your negatives into positives, too.

Other features and add-ons bundled with this photo negative scanner include SilverFast’s SE Plus 8 software, two film holders, and a carrying bag.

Key Features

Optical Resolution: 7200 dpi
Scan Formats: 35mm Negatives, 35mm Mounted Slides
Color Depth: 48-Bit
Scan Speeds: 36 secs. (3600dpi) / 113 secs. (7200dpi)
Scan Area: 1.45in x 1.0in
SilverFast SE Plus 8 Software
Compatible with Windows and Mac

Epson Perfection V850 Pro

Adorama Price:

While it comes with a higher price tag, the next Epson film scanner on our list will help you achieve the necessary quality and control for preserving your priceless originals. The V850 Pro scanner gives you excellent results thanks to its 6400 dpi resolution, 4.0 Dmax density, advanced optics, and dual-lens scanning. And just like the V600, this top film scanner features Epson’s Digital ICE technology, which removes surface defects from your film or prints.

The V850 Pro also has a ReadyScan LED light source for greater productivity in scanning your images. ReadyScan allows the device to start scanning after less than a second so that you can produce digital prints faster. A4 scanning takes around 12 seconds, while 35mm negative scanning is almost a minute long (at 4800 dpi).

You’ll also get clear focus and optimal image quality with this flatbed scanner’s adjustable and sturdy holders for 35mm strips and slides, medium-format prints, and 4 x 5” film.

Key Features

Optical Resolution: 6400 dpi
Maximum Resolution: 12800 dpi
Scan Formats: 35mm Slides, 35mm Strips, Medium Format, 4 x 5” Film
Scan Area: 8.5in x 11.7in
Color Depth: 48-Bit
Scan Speeds: 10.8 ms/line for Full-Color & Monochrome Images
Optical Density: 4.0 Dmax
Digital ICE (Dust and Scratch Removal) Technology
Compatible with Windows and Mac

Plustek OpticFilm 8200i SE

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Photo Scanner For Mac