The best slide viewers for your film and transparencies are a far cry from what they were a few years or decades ago. Once, the only way to view or project slides would be to wheel out a big, clunky and heavy device – nowadays, a good slide viewer will be light, compact and battery powered. This makes it easy to view your slides in a straightforward, fuss-free way, using a device that doesn't take up tons of space.
Many modern slide viewers also offer additional functionality, such as the ability to digitally scan in your slides using a smartphone or other device. Some take regular disposable batteries while others are can be powered via mains or USB. Maybe you've rediscovered a box full of 35mm slides in the attic, or maybe you've recently discovered the joys of shooting film and want to see and share your results. Either way, a slide viewer or projector is the perfect solution, and we've picked out eight of the best.
There are other options for viewing slides, including mains-powered light-boxes,
or handheld loupes that make use of ambient light. If you're looking to digitise your slides, you may also want to check out our guide to the best film scanners, too. Here though, we've compiled the best slide viewers, each one offering something slightly different.
Gavin Stoker
Gavin has over 30 years’ experience of writing about photography and television. He is currently the editor of British Photographic Industry News, and previously served as editor of Which Digital Camera and deputy editor of Total Digital Photography. With his wealth of knowledge, Gavin is well placed to recognize great camera deals and recommend the best products in Digital Camera World’s buying guides.
This simple and straightforward slide viewer carries the name of the most famous brand in film photography. It's simple to operate, with bright light and good magnification.
A slide viewer and digital scanner in one, this isn't the highest-quality option, but is an affordable and efficient way to digitise your slides, with a handy digital screen
Very tidy and portable, but still offering 3x magnification, the Kaiser Diascop Mini 3 is an ideal choice for anyone who wants something that won't take up space.
This simple lightbox provides a portable and effective way of viewing your slides, with a handy scanning option that works in conjunction with your smartphone.
While it only offers 2x magnification, this simple slide viewer only needs a couple of AA batteries to run, and weighs a slender 196g, making it easy to transport.
Want a quick way to digitise all those slides? The Kodak Mobile Film Scanner uses app integration to guide you through the process quickly and efficiently.
Load up multiple slides and enjoy a mini slide show with the Kaiser Diascop 50N, a low-tech tabletop projector that lets you insert 20-40 mounted transparencies.
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Best budget slide viewer
(Image credit: Kodak)
1. Kodak 35mm slide viewer
The best slide viewer for those on a budget
Specifications
Illumination: Natural white daylight LED backlight
Color temperature: 6000K
Power source: 4x AA batteries, not included
Dimensions: 16.5x7.6x15.2cm
Weight: 400g
Reasons to buy
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Simple to operate
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Inexpensive
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Bright illumination
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3x magnification
Reasons to avoid
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Batteries not provided
When you think of 35mm slide film, you think of Kodachrome – so it makes sense that there exists a Kodak branded slide viewer and negative viewer combined. This angled desktop device is both battery operated and features a daylight-aping backlit LED display, with a 3x magnifying glass provided so you can really pore over the details of your shots.
Operation is straightforward: whereas the slides are slid into the device top-down, a second slot at the side is provided for inserting strips of negative, complete with quick release button for when you’re ready to slide in the next strip. Unsurprisingly, the four AA batteries required to power the device, slotted into the base, are extra, as is a power cable should you want to plug it into the mains, but neither is a deal breaker at this price point.
Overall, this is a simple, practical and affordable device from the most recognisable name in old school film photography.
Power source: Computer via USB port, power bank or mains via optional adapter
Dimensions: 13.4x13.6x9.5cm
Weight: 530g
Reasons to buy
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Viewer, editor and scanner in one
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Powered via USB
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14MP or 22 MP interpolated images
Reasons to avoid
-
SD card required for scanning
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Mains adapter not included
Rather than a magnifier, this slide viewer features its own five-inch LCD screen, which lets you view, edit and scan film slides and negatives. It can also convert them into handy-to-share JPEG digital files, thanks to 14MP sensor.
While not a professional-grade film scanner by any means, if operated as a standalone device, either 14MP or interpolated 22MP files can be saved directly to SD card (though you’ll need to provide your own card). More usefully, a USB cable for connection to your computer and HMDI cable for hooking it up to a TV set are provided out of the box, as are adapters for differing film formats, including 35mm, 126 and even 110 film, plus a cleaning brush to avoid dust intruding.
However, if you want to power the device via the mains rather than utilizing your computer’s USB port or USB-equipped power bank, you’ll have to shell out extra for a mains adapter as one isn’t included out of the box.
Kaiser is known for its broad range of photographic accessories, so it’s no surprise that it also offers options when it comes to 35mm slide viewing, including lightboxes. Like the inexpensive Kodak alternative, this compact viewer offers 3x magnification, is powered by a pair of optional yet essential AA batteries and, uniquely, features a fold out prop that allows for a more comfortable viewing angle when set down on a desktop.
The viewing area here is a compact, yet sufficiently large, 2x2-inches. Like the old school slide viewers people owned in the 1970s or 80s, the bulb in this device is activated by inserting a 35mm slide in the available top slot, and simply pressing down on it. There’s not much to this device and equally little it seems that can go wrong. An easy to use and affordable solution then; all you have to do is stump up extra for the batteries required.
A lightbox is a traditional way that professionals used to review their slides and negatives. And this slimline version offers an acrylic panel and LED light source for slide and negative viewing. It also acts as a portable scanner, in conjunction with your smartphone and SlideScan or FilmBox apps. In short, you're getting practicality, portability and value for money in spades, as long as you’re not expecting professional grade results.
Strips of film and slides can be placed side by side or in rows on the device to be viewed or ‘scanned’ simultaneously. Although there is an option for mains power, portability is offered by the fact that six optional AAAs can also be inserted, though this of course adds to the weight.
The viewing area is again a very compact 5x4-inches, but on the plus side this has allowed for the set up to stay very portable and lightweight. The lamp life of the LED is said to be a generous 10,000 hours, while a leather effect carry case is provided out of the box.
An incandescent light is at the heart of this boxy viewer designed for tabletop viewing that allows users to stack and view up to 36 slides, while claiming to offer easy push-pull operation. The square format view screen resembling a standard definition TV set of old goes slightly further than others here in offering 4x magnification, but enthusiast photographers wanting more in the way of detail may prefer a lightbox and a handheld magnifying glass or loupe instead.
It’s compatible with both 35mm and all 2x2-inch (5x5cm) slides, but is battery operated only, with no mains power lead provided out of the box. Like the majority of its rivals, the batteries required also need to be purchased as an optional extra.
This Photolux branded ‘SV2’ handheld LED illuminated device, also alternatively known as the Zuma Z-SV2 in the States, is another option for viewing 35mm slides that is as simple as they come. Offering a so-so 2x magnification, it’s powered by two AA batteries. You slide your 35mm slide for viewing into a vacant slot at the top, which activates the built-in daylight white LED light source and… that’s essentially it.
Unusually, the 2x AA batteries required for the light are actually included here. Extremely lightweight at just 196g and compact too, with a viewing screen size of 5.5x4.5cm, this basic yet supremely portable viewer would be ideal for casually browsing slides when feet up on the sofa. For the price too it feels like you really can’t go that far wrong.
Best smartphone slide scanner
(Image credit: Kodak)
7. Kodak Mobile Film Scanner
Low-tech scanning solution that uses your smartphone
Specifications
LCD: None (uses your smartphone screen)
Power source: 2x AA batteries
Dimensions: 6.3 x 4.5 x 1.7in
Weight: 0.5lb
Reasons to buy
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Low-cost
Reasons to avoid
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Not really a slide viewer
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Cardboard construction
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Batteries required
This is a low-tech, left-field solution for viewing your slides. This is a cardboard, collapsible device that is designed to help you digitize your transparencies and negatives using the camera on your smartphone. A free downloadable app helps you with the process.
For something that looks like a cardboard box, it seems a bit expensive; but more robust film scanners cost significantly more. It is not a quick way of viewing boxes of old slides mind. Sold under the Kodak brand in the US, but found as the PictoScanner in Europe.
Best batch slide viewer
(Image credit: Kaiser)
8. Kaiser Diascop 50N
Load up multiple slides for a mini slide show
Specifications
Illumination: 15W, E 14 pear-shaped bulb
Color temperature: 2700K
Power source: Mains
Dimensions: 150 x 80 x 175 mm
Weight: 900g
Reasons to buy
+
Load up 20-40 slides at once
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Mains powered
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3x magnification
Reasons to avoid
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Not for handheld use
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Not battery powered
This device features like a low-tech slide projector - allowing you to fill the chute with between 20-40 mounted transparencies (depending on the thickness of each). You manually advance through your images by pushing the bottom slide into the path of the light - viewing it on a 3x3in magnified screen.
The light is mains powered, but the image advance is not – and when you have viewed the slides they drop down, so you can't go backward in the slideshow. The whole device tilts upwards, so you can position it at the best angle to view it on a table.
How to choose the best slide viewer
As many slide viewers these days are multi-functional, when you're buying one it's worth thinking about which functions you need. For instance, do you simply want a way to view your slides, or would you also like to be able to simultaneously scan them digitally? Some slide viewers have integrated scanning capability; some are designed to make it easy to manually scan the slides using your smartphone; and some have neither functionality.
Slides are quite small, so ideally you'll want a slide viewer that offers a level of magnification to make them easier to see. Different viewers offer different magnification levels, and naturally, more expensive viewers will tend to offer a greater level of magnification.
Slide viewers generally have an integrated light source, and so require power. Often this is provided via batteries – usually AAA, AA or C. They tend not to be included (isn't that always the case?) so when you choose a slide viewer, it's worth double-checking what batteries it takes and stocking up accordingly. Some slide viewers have the capacity to be powered via a USB-C or micro USB socket – if you prefer not to mess around with batteries, this is worth considering.
How we test slide viewers
When we test slide viewers, naturally the first thing to do is take a set of slides, load them in and see how they look. We assess the magnification level of the slide viewer and how easy it is to set up, and over a longer time we try to get a feel for how long the batteries last. If a slide viewer also offers additional functionality such as digital scanning, we put this through its paces too, and rate the quality of scans received as well as the ease and practicality of the process. You can read more about how we test and review photographic accessories at Digital Camera World.
Gavin has over 30 years’ experience of writing about photography and television. He is currently the editor of British Photographic Industry News, and previously served as editor of Which Digital Camera and deputy editor of Total Digital Photography.
He has also written for a wide range of publications including T3, BBC Focus, Empire, NME, Radio Times, MacWorld, Computer Active, What Digital Camera and the Rough Guide books.
With his wealth of knowledge, Gavin is well placed to recognize great camera deals and recommend the best products in Digital Camera World’s buying guides. He also writes on a number of specialist subjects including binoculars and monoculars, spotting scopes, microscopes, trail cameras, action cameras, body cameras, filters and cameras straps.
