2020 Top Film to Digital Converters
photo by jacoblund via iStock
I’ve noticed even more young photographers getting into classic film shooting this year. It could be thanks to the fact that everyone has more time now thanks to the pandemic, but it’s also likely that the pattern we’ve seen over the past few years just hasn’t stopped.
Film is a huge trend. But, when photographers start shooting on film for the first time in 2020, they run into a lot of problems they wouldn’t have had if they had been doing so back in the 1980s. One of the biggest problems is that very few people own film to digital converters, which won’t work if you want your film photographs to last a lifetime.
This list is a film to digital converter comparison. I’ve chosen my top five film to digital converters. Each of the film to digital converters I’ve chosen are relatively inexpensive, so they’ll work for just about any photographer’s budget, and are accessible.
2020 Top Film to Digital Converters: Wolverine Data F2D Titan
Some of the film to digital converters that I have in this 2020 top film to digital converters article are actually repeats. The Wolverine Data F2D Titan is one example. It actually topped last year’s list as well. Let me tell you why.
The Wolverine Data F2D Titan is one of my favorite film to digital converters because it works with 8 different mediums. It works with slides, 8mm movies, and Super 8 movies, but it also works with 35mm, 110, 126, 127 and APS film.
Now, obviously not every photographer needs a converter that works with all of these types of film. But, it is just slightly more expensive than some of the other film to digital converters on this list, which means it is more than worth the price if you even have an inkling you could eventually branch out into one of these film types.
It comes with a 20MP sensor, so your old film can become high-definition digital files with the click of a button.
Each slide or negative takes just 3 seconds to scan, which means you can scan a ton of old family photos in under an hour.
This converter also comes with a 4.3” color LCD, which is plenty of space for me personally. But, you can also connect this converter to your laptop or TV if you need more.
You can either use the internal memory on this converter to save your images or you can use an SD card. The best part of this converter is that you just need access to a power source and it’s ready to use.
Learn more about the Wolverine Data F2D Titan
2020 Top Film to Digital Converters: Ivation High Resolution Film Scanner
The Ivation High Resolution Film Scanner was actually one of the top film to digital converters sold on Amazon this year thanks to its 23MP sensor.
This converter works with 35mm, 126, and 110 film. It’s display is slightly smaller than the Wolverine Data’s display at 3.5”.
When you unbox it, you will notice that it comes with all of the film inserts and adapters you will need and easy-to-use instructions.
You can save your images on a micro-SD card when using the Ivation.
My favorite part about the Ivation is that it allows you to browse through your gallery of images and that every image is a great resolution.
Learn more about the Ivation High Resolution Film Scanner
2020 Top Film to Digital Converters: Kodak Scanza Digital Film & Slide Scanner
We definitely can’t talk about film to digital converters without mentioning any products by Kodak, who practically invented film in the first place.
The Kodak Scanza Digital Film & Slide Scanner is a 22MP scanner that works with 35mm, 126, 110, super 8 and 8mm negatives and slides. It features a 3.5” LCD screen, just like the Ivation. But, unlike the Ivation, you can tilt the screen so you can view your images better, which is a feature I haven’t found in many other film to digital converters.
The biggest reason I would suggest purchasing this converter, though, is if you aren’t great with technology. It has a large one-touch button and is incredibly easy to operate, even for someone not typically comfortable with computers.
This converter comes with a micro-SD card slot and is compatible with either a Mac or Windows computer.
Learn more about the Kodak Scanza Digital Film & Slide Scanner
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2020 Top Film to Digital Converters: Epson Perfection V600
The Epson Perfection V600 may not technically belong on this film to digital converters comparison list because it isn’t strictly a film to digital converter.
While you certainly can use it as such, you can also scan receipts and other documents using this scanner, which makes it excellent for photographers who run their own businesses because it can act as a 2-for-1.
This converter also allows you to create enlarged images at up to 17-inches by 22-inches.
This converter is also the most technologically advanced of any of the film to digital converters on this list. For instance, it has a one-touch color restoration that allows you to revitalize old images and it has another feature that allows you to reduce the appearance of tears or creases in old photos.
Learn more about the Epson Perfection V600
2020 Top Film to Digital Converters: DIGITNOW!
For each one of these articles that I create I have to include at least one example of a converter that is incredibly simplistic. In this article, I’ve chosen two.
The DIGITNOW! Converter features an adjustable rapid slide feeder, a small 2.4” LCD screen, and a few buttons stationed around that screen. That’s it. The entire converter is 3.5 x 3.5 x 4.5 inches. It’s small and compact so you can easily take it with you wherever you want to go.
You can also use this converter to view your newly scanned images on your television for your next family reunion.
The converter works with an SD card and can only process 35mm film. If you only work with 35mm film, this could be a great, cheap option for you.
It cannot create high resolution digital images (it can only create 5 or 10MP images) and for this reason I wouldn’t recommend it to a professional photographer. But, its ease of use makes it a top contender for amateur photographers.
This converter also works with both Mac and Windows computers.
It always helps to be incredibly cheap, as the DIGITNOW! is.
