The best film scanners: give your cherished negatives and slides new life

Plustek OpticFilm 135i on a wooden surface
(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)

The best film scanners can take your film into the digital realm. Whether you've got an attic full of old negatives, or like me you're taking new photos with one of the best film cameras – a film scanner will quickly become the easiest way to share your shots online.

So as a film-scanning perfectionist, what do I think is the best scanner right now? For 35mm, I think it's the OpticFilm 8200i SE from the film scanning pros at Plustek; it extracts phenomenal levels of detail from your film, is backed up by excellent scanning software, and is sensibly priced. If you're after something that'll scan larger film or in large batches, then Epson's Perfection V850 Pro Photo flatbed scanner is a great, if very expensive, choice.

In this guide, I'll look at the main types of scanners: dedicated film scanners, specialist flatbed scanners, and tools for imaging your film slides like the excellent Valoi easy35. Scanning is often a trade-off between getting through rolls of negatives very quickly, or taking longer but rewarding you with a higher-quality image. Let's dive in.

Gareth Bevan headshot
Gareth Bevan

Gareth is the Reviews Editor at Digital Camera World and the person in charge of approving all the latest camera-related tech. A passionate film photographer, he scans all his own films in search of that perfect quality and is always on the lookout for cleaner and faster scanning.

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The best film scanners: the full guide

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Best 35mm film scanner

(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Future)
The best 35mm film scanner

Specifications

Max optical resolution: 7200 dpi
Requires computer: Yes
Supported film types: 35mm color and mono negatives; 35mm slide positives
Dimensions: 120 x 272 x 119mm

Reasons to buy

+
7200 dpi produces huge scans
+
3.6D dynamic range and 48-bit color produce masses of detail and saturation
+
Small and lightweight, easy to store when not in use
+
Well priced for the quality and ease

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited to 35mm negatives and mounted slide only, no 120 film
-
Slow to scan, especially with infrared and multi-exposure on
-
Bundled Silverfast software is not the best
Buy it if:

✅ You only scan 35mm film: the 8200i SE is only capable of scanning 35mm film in strips of 6 or less or mounted slides.
You value quality over speed: scanning is slow, and there is no automation, which makes the 8200i SE labor-intensive, but the quality pays off.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want to scan a lot of film: the 8200i SE is laborious to use, the Epson or Kodaks below are faster automated ways to scan huge collections of 35mm film.
❌ You don't value image top quality: if you just want to save some memories, but don't care about perfect quality, there are faster and cheaper scanners (see Kodaks below).

I have picked the OpticFilm 8200i SE as my top choice as it strikes the perfect balance between image quality, ease of use, and price.

Apart from its black rather than blue finish, the OpticFilm 8200i SE could be mistaken for its baby 8100 sibling. It's almost identical on this inside too, but that's no bad thing, as that means you're assured top-notch scanning quality, providing you're prepared to wait a while when using max 7200dpi scanning resolution.

There's really only one key feature that separates the 8200i SE from the 8100, and that's its dedicated infra-red scanning channel. Combined with the iSRD feature in the bundled SilverFast scanning software, any dust and scratches on your negs are automatically detected and then removed from the digital scan - clever stuff.

The downside? The 8200i SE can cost quite a bit more than the 8100, making it rather less of a bargain. But if you regularly scan multiple negs that are likely to need dust and scratch removal, then the 8200i SE could be a real time-saver and worth the premium. The price difference between the two scanners is smaller in the US, making the extra convenience of the 8200i SE very tempting.

There is also a Plustek OpticFilm 8200i Ai available, a flagship model that adds color calibration software into the package - useful for color transparency scanning, albeit at a much higher cost.

Read more: Plustek Opticfilm 8200i SE review

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Features7200DPI, infrared scanning, and bundled Silverfast are all great, but it is limited to 35mm frames only.★★★★★
DesignCompact and lightweight, with its included case, it is easy to store.★★★★★
PerformanceFantastic image quality but quite slow at high resolutions and takes some manual work.★★★★★
ValueAn affordable way to get high-quality images, although is pricey for just casual scanning.★★★★★

Best 35mm film scanner on a budget

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2. Plustek OpticFilm 8100

The best 35mm scanner on a budget

Specifications

Max optical resolution: 7200 dpi
Requires computer: Yes
Supported film types: 35mm color and mono negatives; 35mm slide positives
Dimensions: 120 x 272 x 119mm

Reasons to buy

+
Unrivalled scanning quality
+
Superb software
+
Reasonably priced

Reasons to avoid

-
Slow at max resolution
-
Not the best at shadow detail
-
No auto dust/scratch removal
Buy it if:

✅ You want the best scans on a budget: it might not have infrared, but the quality from the 8100 is the best you will get for the price.
You want a small scanner to store: the 8200i is a fraction of the size of the flatbed scanners and its shape makes it easy to store when not in use.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want to scan big collections of film: there is a lot of manual work to scan a roll of film with the 8100, a flatbed scanner like those below can take some of the work out.
❌ You want to scan multiple formats: the 8100 only scans 35mm and mounted slides, if you use other film types, check out the Epson flatbed scanners.

This is the baby of the OpticFilm range, yet it still boasts a respectable 7,200dpi maximum scanning resolution. It sits below the OpticFilm 8200i SE (above) in price but misses out on the infrared scanner of its big brother.

The OpticFilm 8100 also has a real optical film scanner and not just a digital camera sensor in a scanner body. This does however mean the 8100 is no speed demon. Each 35mm film frame takes nearly 4 minutes to scan at max res, but 3,600 dpi is more than adequate for most film stocks and you’ll have a scanned frame in 1 minute 20 seconds.

Though the front panel has a QuickScan button that automatically scans and saves a frame to your computer desktop, it’s best to load up the bundled SilverFast software that provides comprehensive scanning options and pre-scan image enhancement.

Even without messing with the settings, and scanning at 3,600 dpi, the 8100 is in a league of its own for scan quality, extracting bags of detail from our 35mm negs and transparencies. It also lets you scan the entire film frame with no overzealous cropping. The 8100 can struggle to reveal every detail in the shadow areas of high-contrast 35mm slide positives, but this is our only nitpick.

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FeaturesMisses out on infrared scanning, but the quality is still excellent with 7200DPI resolution.★★★★☆
DesignSmall enough to slip into a cupboard when not in use, scanning does take manual work though.★★★★★
PerformanceDoesn't have the miraculous dust removal capabilities, but image quality is still sublime. ★★★★★
ValueIncredible price for the quality you get, although not a big step up to the 8200i SE.★★★★★

Best for camera scanning film

(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)
The best device for camera scanning film

Specifications

Max optical resolution: N/A
Requires computer: Yes
Supported film types: 35mm negatives; 35mm positives; half frame, APS-C
Dimensions: N/A

Reasons to buy

+
Very simple to use
+
Incredibly fast to scan an entire roll
+
Only need to set up once
+
Super consistent results

Reasons to avoid

-
Needs a digital camera and 1:1 macro lens
-
Doesn't include any conversion software
-
Materials pick up fluff and grease
Buy it if:

✅ You want an incredibly fast way to scan a whole roll of film: the easy35 can scan a whole roll of film in just a few minutes – all in fantastic quality.
You want a scanner that requires minimal setup: the easy35 is small and easy to store, requires minimal space to be used, and takes just seconds to attach to a camera and get scanning.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You don't have a digital camera or macro lens: a digital camera and macro lens are both essential to use the easy35, if you don't have these then they are quite a substantial added expense.
❌ You want to scan medium format film: the easy35 is only suitable for 35mm film or smaller.

The Valoi easy35 isn't a film scanner per se, but rather an ingenious device that lets you "scan" your film with a digital camera and macro lens. Camera scanning has been around for quite a while, but I have never discovered a system that makes it quite as easy as the easy35. It has changed the way I think about camera scanning and film scanning – and deserves its place on this list.

In fact, the only reason that it isn't higher is that it's not quite the complete package, and there are a few caveats to using the device that means it's not for everyone. The big downside to the easy35 is that unless you own a decent digital camera and macro lens (and one of the right focal length), as well as a copy of conversion software and editing software, then you won't be able to scan a thing.

But if you already own all the required kit, or if you shoot film a lot then this might be a worthwhile investment, but for the casual film enthusiast, it's a lot of initial expense.

However, if you want to go down this route, then the easy35 is the fastest and simplest method of scanning I have ever used. With a few different cameras and lens combos I tried, it made producing brilliantly lit, flat, and consistent frames the most minimal of effort, with the system sealing out all outside light and the holders doing a great job of preventing stray light coming from around the outside. The easy35 comes with a standard 35mm film holder, but you can also buy holders for 35mm sprockets, half-frame, and a lot of other smaller formats.

I was sold on dedicated scanners, but after using the easy35 and seeing the ease and quality of camera scans, I have completely shifted to using the Valoi easy35 as my main method for scanning all my film.

Read more: Valoi easy35 film scanner review

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FeaturesSimple device holds film flat in front of a diffused light source for capture.★★★★★
DesignLightweight but solid feeling. Easy to feed through film. Rough exterior is a magnet for fluff.★★★★☆
PerformanceLight is bright, consistent, perfectly diffused, no light leaks and the film is held perfectly flat.★★★★★
ValueGood value and cheaper than most scanners, but, requires a lot of other expensive gear to work.★★★★☆

Best film scanner for professionals

(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)
The best film scanner for professionals

Specifications

Max optical resolution: 6400 dpi
Requires computer: Yes
Supported film types: 35mm colour and mono negatives; 35mm slide positives; 120/220 medium format; 5 x 4 inch; up to 8 x 10 inch
Dimensions: 308‎ x 503 x 152 mm

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent quality scans
+
Batch scanning is quick and effortless
+
Professional level control over scans

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Big and bulky
-
Quality appears the same as V600
Buy it if:

✅ You need the best quality for large formats: the V850 can scan pretty much anything, but for large format film with pro results, it is the best.
You want some automation: you can set the V850 up to scan multiple frames consecutively while you get on with other work.

Don't buy it if:

❌ Your space is tight: the V850 is an enormous scanner, and it will dominate your desk, it is also too heavy to move frequently.
❌ You care about quality but also value: both the Epson V600 and Plustek achieve similar quality scans for a much lower price point.

Positioned at the pinnacle of Epson’s scanner range, the V850 Pro is aimed squarely at film professionals in need of the best possible conversion to digital images, and with the money to splash on a pretty expensive bit of kit.

The Epson V850 Pro has the benefits of tackling multiple formats of film in one device, however, if you only shoot 35mm film, then I would say that the Plustek 8200i SE at the top of this guide gives equally if not more impressive results for around half the price.

The V850 does come with two sets of film holders - a 35mm film strip and a 35mm slide holder, both of which feel better quality than those included with the V600 Photo. The whole scanner does feel a step up in quality from the V600, so you do get some added value for all that extra cash. The scanner itself is pretty huge though, and took over half my desk, it's also very heavy to move around and hard to store.

In general though, image quality from the V850 is fantastic, and the best home flatbed scanner I have used yet for scanning larger formats of film. I was impressed by this scanner's dedicated lens for film and max optical resolution of 6400 dpi. But it still wasn't night and day versus the considerably cheaper Epson V600, and most of the time, I couldn't find any differences. Unless you really want to pixel peep, I think for most people the V600 is much better value.

Read more: Epson Perfection V850 Pro review

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FeaturesHigh quality cans of all common film film formats as well as documents.★★★★★
DesignThis scanner is massive, and heavy, it will dominate your desk and is not easy to store.★★★☆☆
PerformanceProfessional levels of performance with automated batch scanning producing high-quality frames.★★★★★
ValueVery expensive, I would argue too expensive when the V600 does almost the same job.★★★☆☆

Best for automated 35mm scanning

(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)
Best for automated 35mm scanning

Specifications

Max optical resolution: 7200 dpi
Requires computer: Yes
Supported film types: 35mm color and mono negatives; 35mm slide positives
Dimensions: 175 mm x 259.2 mm x 104.3 mm

Reasons to buy

+
High-quality 7200dpi scans
+
Infrared dust and scratch removal
+
Automated scanning
+
Excellent film holders

Reasons to avoid

-
Lousy software
-
USB-A connection
-
Sound can get irritating
Buy it if:

✅ You don't mind buying extra software: this scanner has so much potential that can only be released with an additional purchase of Silverfast or VueScan.
You want entertaining automation: watching the scanner push the holder in and out is amusing, but it also saves a lot of manual work.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You don't want to buy extra software: the included software is very poor, and I wouldn't recommend the 135i without an additional software purchase for Silverfast or VueScan.
❌ You hate noise: the automated slider is quite noisy, which won't suit any quiet environments.

The OpticFilm 135i from Plustek is a hard one to recommend wholeheartedly. The scanner packs amazing hardware, with high-resolution 7200 dpi quality, an infrared channel for identifying and automatically removing dust and scratches, as well as a fully automated film holder that can scan up to six 35mm frames or six mounted slides at the touch of a button.

Sounds amazing no? Well, the trouble is that the included software – Plustek QuickScan Plus is just a bit lousy. This is one of the only Plustek film scanners you can buy (and the only one on this list) that doesn't come with a copy of the superior SilverFast SE Plus in the box. QuickScan Plus' processing of images leaves a lot to be desired in terms of peak quality, with a lot more digital noise and inaccurate colors than is ideal.

Why is it on this list? Well, if speed over ultimate quality is your main concern then, the 135i with QuickScan will suffice.

My recommendation though would be to purchase a license of SilverFast (or similar software – VueScan) this is an extra expense, but with the right software, the OpticFilm 135i is hands down one of the best hardware scanners you can buy for 35mm film.

Read more: Plustek OpticFilm 135i review