The Best Tools for Converting Slides to Digital - 2024 Review

Are you looking to convert your slides into digital form at home? Are you in search of the best tools for converting old slides to digital? Here, you will get every single detail for it. These conversion tools can help you to convert your old slides into digital images just by sitting at home. In this blog, we will discuss the need, how to achieve it, and the best 8 tools for the conversion. The list of these top tools will be based on the user reviews and ratings of 2024.

Part 1 Why We Need to Turn Old Slides into Digital Images

In this digital era, people rather have access to projectors to view old slides. Therefore, it is beneficial to convert those slides into digital form. There are also many benefits of this conversion such as:

● Preserving the photos for future generations without the fear of getting them lost or damaged.

● Old slides might fade up and you can give them a brand new look by using new tools and technologies.

● The organization becomes much easier than the physical ones.

● It will create less clutter.

● You can share the pictures with just one click with your friends, family members, etc to flourish the memories.

● It lets you enjoy your old memories in a better and more enhanced way.

So, you might have understood why there is a need for converting slides to pictures. Now, let’s dig down more on the topic.

Part 2 How to Convert Slides to Digital - Step-by-Step Guide

Here, we will discuss step-by-step ways to turn the old slides into digital images. So, let’s begin:

Step 1: Resolution

The very first step for converting slides to digital photos is measuring and fixing the resolution of the slides. The technical measurement of image resolution is DPI (dot per inch). It helps you to predict the sharpness or clarity of the final image. The overall measurement depends on the size of the slide and the type of converter or scanner you are using. For example,

A 35 mm slide scanned at 10 MP will give you the images of size 13"*9".

Step 2: Dust and Scratch Removal

If you have slides that have been wrapped in a box and remained untouched for so long, they might require cleaning. Such slides may develop mold buildup, age-related blemishes, or scratches. They need a cleaning process before using them to convert into slides. A lint-free cloth and an anti-static film cleaner are the best combinations to gently clean the slides and make them fresh.

Step 3: Color Correction and Restoration

Color correction and restoration is another important step when you are dealing with converting old slides into digital images. In order to correct the fading and color shift, you can use the built-in scanning software. You can also use other software for such purposes.

Wondershare Filmora is the best tool which can be used for the color correction of old slides. It is a handy tool with a variety of features. Filmora offers a number of options when it comes to color correction and grading. These options include color histogram, white balance, 3D LUT (3D Lookup table), color and light, HSL, vignette, etc.

Step 4: Using the Best Scanner cum Digital Converter

The next step is choosing the best quality scanner according to the requirement. 35 mm is the most common size of the slides. But, it does come with other uncommon formats too such as 110, 126, 120, 127, etc. You will come to know about the actual size when the image is mounted on the cardboard. Therefore, it is essential to select a quality and versatile scanner which can convert slides of any size effectively.

Part 3 Best 8 Slide to Digital Image Converters 2024

Here, you can run down the list of the best tools to convert the photo slides into digital images on the basis of user reviews and ratings.

01Wolverine Titan 8-in-1

Wolverine Titan 8-in-1 is one of the top choices when it comes to converting photo slides to digital. It is easy to use the device with a fast conversion process. It provides a variety of features such as:

● High output resolution

● Large built-in display

● Wide-format compatibility

● Standalone performance

● Small, compact, and lightweight design

● Pretty fast processing

● Fast uploading slide-adapters

● 4.3-inch color display

● Contains HDMI-to-out jack

● Comes in 3 colors

● Highest quality sensors

● Available at a reasonable price

02Digitnow Film Scanner

A digitnow film scanner is a great option for converting physical photo prints or slides into digital images. The easy to use standalone device comes with a small display which can be attached to the TV screen, PC, or MacBook. It provides a lot of additional tools including

● Adapter tray frames to hold photo prints and slides.

● Slots to insert slides into the scanner.

● GB memory card to hold approximately 1000 photos.

● A disc of image retouching software for Windows users.

● A soft brush to clean dust and other debris from slides and film.

● User manual.

● TV cable.

● Standard buttons.

03Plustek ePhoto Z300

Plustek ePhoto Z300 is not just a slide converter but also a photo scanner. It has the capability to convert a photo or slide of size 6*4 in just 2 to 3 seconds. This simple and compact photo scanner can be attached to a PC or Mac. The device also has a built-in editor which provides photo editing options along with the crop and resizes. The major advantage of this tool is its fastest scanning capacity. This is a good option if you own a large collection of old photos and wish to digitize them quickly. You can use this device by combining it with others too.

04Sharper Image Slide and Negative Converter

It is a lightweight slide to digital converter weighing just 0.6 pounds. The tool provides on-screen interfaces in 7 languages. Despite its small size, the tool has as many features as compared to other slide converters. Sharper image slide and negative converter are easy to use with a basic interface and clearly labeled buttons. The additional tools that come with this device are:

● Cleaning brush

● User manual

● Well designed plastic frame trays

The converter does not come with an in-built SD card and you are required to buy one.

05Kodak Scanza Digital Film and Slide Scanner

Kodak scanza digital film and slide scanner is the best tool if you have a large heap of images. It provides the largest storage option and due to which it is a little expensive. Scanza can convert images and reels into JPEG files within seconds of time. The device is an all-rounder and contains all the latest features and specifications. One can easily use this plastic design and lightweight device because of its small and sleek design. The additional features of Scanza include:

● Adjustable brightness option

● Removable SD card slot

● Powerful photo editing option

● USB power cable

● HDMI cable

● AC adapter

● Video cable

● Six adapter trays

● Film cleaning brush

● 3.5 inch TFT LCD screen

06Zonoz FS-3 22MP All-in-1

Zonoz FS-3 22 MP All-in-1 is a wonderful option if you are looking for a digital converter in an affordable range. It can convert up to 35, 110, 126 slides and negatives along with Super 8 film. One benefit of using this converter is the output images look sharper when compared to other converters. The additional features that the tool avail to its users are:

● Photo editing capabilities

● Brightness adjustment

● Mirroring or flipping

● Small built-in color display

● Adapter tray frames

● Cleaning brush

● USB and TV cables

● User manual

07Kodak Mini Digital Films and Slide Scanners

This miniature scanner model is the best selling slide scanner on the internet. Anyone can use it easily without any requirement for external extensions. With a rating of 4.2 upon 5, it is on the list of best slide scanners of 2024. It weighs around 1.4 pounds and measures 3.6*3.4*3.9 inches.

08Magnasonic

Magnasonic is named as the fastest slide scanner. The device is capable of quickly scanning the slides which saves both your time and efforts. It comes with fast scanning speed, 2.4 inch LCD screen, and 22 MP quality. The tool allows you to store upto 100 images. It also comes with some additional tools such as featured film trays etc.

Part 4 FAQ of Converting Slides to Digital

01What to do with the old slides?

Converting slides to digital images can help you to experiment a lot with them. The old slides might be faded and you can use some tools with the option color correction to make them look new and more appealing. Videos are in trend these days. You can create a video out of those slides after converting them into digital. It will help you to enjoy the old memories in the new version with new effects, songs, etc.

Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is the most powerful tool to prepare an effective video in a hassle-free manner. It has many useful features to make your video more enhanced. Also, it has the option of color correction and grading to make the faded old pics colorful and better. There is no need for professionalism to use this tool, but any beginner can also use it effectively with ease. So, make your memories everlasting with Wondershare Filmora.

02Can you clean negatives with alcohol?

Yes, it is possible to clean negatives with alcohol. But make sure to use 98% isopropyl alcohol for this purpose. For cleaning, use a cotton ball and dab it on the alcohol. Then, lightly wipe the negatives and keep them to dry for some time.

● Ending Thoughts →