Every slide to digital converter in our comparison can convert 35mm slides and negatives, so in addition to that, we specifically looked for slide scanners that could accommodate other types of media, such as 110 slides and negatives, 126 slides and negatives, Super 8 film and even physical photo prints.
Chances are if you've been into the photography game for a fair few years, or are more of a debonair moustachioed hipster doing the full retro with a vintage Olympus Trip 35, you'll have a few strips of film negatives around, or even some slides from yesteryear. Trouble is, it's all too easy to let these languish in an attic when you could be converting them to digital images to share with friends, family and the world.
Scanning developed 6x4 film prints is one option, but for the best possible film to digital conversion, it's best to scan your original negatives or transparencies. This can be done with a conventional flatbed scanner that has the option to scan negs and slides, and includes the required holders.
Alternatively, there are dedicated film scanners. Cheaper options can scan incredibly quickly but at the expense of image quality, while high-end models take their time but reward you with stunning clarity, resolving every single film grain in your original photo.
Here we've selected film scanners that'll suit most budgets. All will scan 35mm color and black and white negatives, as well as 35mm slide positives. The flatbed scanners can also scan medium format film, while others are capable of digitizing 8mm film.
The best film scanners
So what's the best film scanner? Right now, we think it's the OpticFilm 8100 from film scanning experts Plustek: it extracts phenomenal levels of detail from your film, is backed up by excellent included scanning software, and it's sensibly priced. We love it.
If you're after something that'll scan multiple film frames automatically, and has the versatility to scan photo prints and documents, Epson's V550 Photo flatbed scanner is a great choice.
1. Plustek OpticFilm 8100
Maximum scanning resolution: 7200 dpi | Requires computer: Yes | Supported film types/sizes: 35mm colour and mono negatives; 35mm slide positives | Dimensions: 120 x 272 x 119mm
Unrivalled scanning quality
Reasonably priced
Slide scans not quite perfect
This is baby of the OpticFilm range, yet it still boasts a respectable 7,200dpi maximum scanning resolution. It’s also a real optical film scanner - 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 3,600dpi 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 you 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 3,600dpi, 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 did struggle to reveal every detail in the shadow areas of our high-contrast 35mm slide positive, but this is our only nitpick.
2. Epson Perfection V550 Photo
Flatbed versatility with excellent film scanning quality - a compelling combination
Maximum scanning resolution: 12800 dpi | Requires computer: Yes | Supported film types/sizes: 35mm colour and mono negatives; 35mm slide positives; 120/220 medium format | Dimensions: 280 x 485 x 118mm
Automatic multi-frame scanning
Plustek 8100 resolves more detail
Flatbed scanners are traditionally thought of as a more versatile but less finessed alternative to a dedicated film scanner. However our experience with the V550 was very positive. Naturally it can scan photos and documents, but it includes holders for 35mm film, 35mm slides, and 120/220 medium format film. Scanning resolution can go as high as a whopping 12,800dpi, but we found 3,200dpi more than enough for our test film stocks, producing a digitized image equivalent to around 12.2MP.
You might imagine that laying out up to a dozen 35mm film frames over the flatbed would result in fast scanning, but the V550 Photo still scans each frame individually - albeit automatically - and takes around one minute per frame at 3,200dpi. Scanning with Digital ICE automatic dust and scratch removal enabled only adds around 20 seconds per frame.
Results are superior to the Plustek OpticFilm 135 dedicated film scanner, with noticeably more detail, plus better default colour and contrast. However the V550 can’t match the Opticfilm 8100’s ability to extract every spec of detail. It also crops slightly more of each frame, though nothing too severe.
3. Epson Perfection V850 Pro
An impressive piece of kit, but the cheaper V550 Photo makes more sense
Maximum scanning resolution: 12800 dpi | Requires computer: Yes | Supported film types/sizes: 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
Packed with features
Eye-watering price tag
Positioned at the pinnacle of Epson’s scanner range, the V850 Pro is aimed squarely at film fanatics wanting the best possible conversion to digital images. Its eye-opening price tag is a result of a dedicated scanning lens designed especially for film, and it being bundled with not one but two sets of film holders. The the 35mm film strip and 35mm slide holders are an appreciable step up in quality from those included with the V550 Photo. The scanner itself is also an absolute beast and feels like a premium product.
Like the V550, resolution tops out at 12,800dpi, but again, it’s rare you’ll need such extreme resolving power. At 3,200dpi we didn’t find the V850 to be significantly faster than the V550, but step up to higher resolutions and this top-tier model pulls ahead, taking just 2 minutes 30 seconds to scan a 35mm frame at 12,800 dpi.
However there’s precious little to separate the V850 from the V550 when it comes to scan quality. Both deliver excellent results that are almost indistinguishable, making the V850’s hefty price premium tough to justify.
4. Plustek OpticFilm 135
Plustek's top-tier film scanner is good, but the cheaper 8100 is better still
Maximum scanning resolution: 3600 dpi | Requires computer: Yes | Supported film types/sizes: 35mm colour and mono negatives; 35mm slide positives | Dimensions: 175 x 259 x 104mm
Easy to use software
Older software offered more control
The problem with most dedicated film scanners is you have to stick around to manually load each frame of film to be scanned. The beauty of the OpticFilm 135 is its motorised film transport automatically advances a strip of six 35mm film frames or four 35mm slides through the scanner. The process is complete in just 3 minutes 20 seconds when scanning negs at 3,600dpi, though unlike the cheaper OpticFilm 8100, this is the highest resolution available.
Where the 8100 uses third-party scanning software, the newer OpticFilm 135 is bundled with Plustek’s own QuickScan Plus program that sports a more modern, easier to configure interface. However it offers fewer pre-scan customisation options than the old SilverFast software and is somewhat lacking if you want total scanning control.
Scan quality is also disappointing compared to the older OpticFilm 8100. Fine detail is nowhere near as well resolved at the same 3,600dpi resolution, and scans exhibit less detail than those from Epson’s cheaper V550 flatbed scanner. We were also unimpressed with the muted default contrast and slightly inaccurate colour of most of our test scans.
5. Kenro 4-in-1 Film & Photo Scanner
Cheap yet reasonably cheerful, providing you don’t intend to digitize slides
Maximum scanning resolution: 5.1 megapixels (10MP interpolated) | Requires computer: No | Supported film types/sizes: 35mm colour and mono negatives; 35mm slide positives; 3.5x5”, 6x4” or 7x5 prints | Dimensions: 235 x 208 x 147mm
Easy to use
Significant frame cropping
Scans of negs not that great
Not only does this Kenro scanner let you scan 35mm negative or positive film and 35mm slides, it can also digitize 3.5x5-inch, 6x4-inch and 7x5-inch prints. It does so by saving straight to an SD card, so no messing about with separate software, and the 2.4-inch LCD monitor gives an instant preview of the frame about to be scanner. That’s because this is a camera-based scanner that uses a 5.1MP CMOS sensor to photograph each film frame. The menu interface isn’t quite as slick as the Kodak Scanza’s, but the process is almost as fast.
We used the 10MP interpolated resolution setting, equivalent to 3,600dpi. Although upscaled, the Kenro’s scans still reveal more fine detail than the Scanza does at 22MP, and while images are still fairly soft, they don’t exhibit the Scanza’s unsightly watercolour look. Where the Kenro falls short is with 35mm slide transparencies, as its dynamic range is simply appalling. Scans of high-contrast slides have hugely blown highlights and no shadow detail to compensate. You’ll also have to put up with heavy-handed cropping of any 35mm film frame.
6. Kodak Scanza
A pleasure to use, but the final scan results are much less pleasing
Maximum scanning resolution: 14 megapixels (22MP interpolated) | Requires computer: No | Supported film types/sizes: 35mm colour and mono negatives; 35mm slide positives; 126; 110; Super 8; 8mm film | Dimensions: 20 x 120 x 127mm
Can scan lots of film sizes
Overly basic film holders
The Scanza is all about convenience. It’s easily the smallest scanner here, yet you get a 3.5-inch tilting colour monitor for image previews, and scans are saved straight to an SD card - no computer or additional software required. Several film holders are included, allowing you to scan 35mm, 126, 110, Super 8 and 8mm film negatives and slides. However, unlike most scanners, the 35mm film holder only has a single frame cutout, so you have to feed the film itself through the holder, increasing the chances of marking it with dust and fingerprints.
This isn’t technically a scanner, but rather a camera. It photographs each film frame with a selectable 14MP or interpolated 22MP resolution, and does so with a single press of a button. The process really couldn’t be easier or faster. But this speed comes at the cost of scanning quality. Despite having 22MP on tap, scans appear painterly, overprocessed, and obviously lacking in fine detail, even without viewing at 100% image size. At least dynamic range is pretty good, and the Scanza doesn’t crop each frame too heavily.
Test results
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5 things to look for in a film scanner
1. Pixel perfect
Don’t be swayed by sky-high scanning resolutions. Unless you’re digitising extremely slow film speeds, 3,200dpi will be more than enough.
2. Film or flatbed?
Dedicated film scanners can offer impressive image quality, but a decent flatbed scanner offers extra versatility and scanning convenience.
3. Software features
If you want the best possible results, good scanning software is a must. It’ll let you fine tune every element of the scanning process.
4. Ease of use
Standalone film scanners that save directly to a memory card are great for convenience, but don’t expect image quality to be anything special.
5. Hold on tight
Cheaper scanners can often be let down be tacky film holders that are tricky to use and can compromise the quality of the final image.
Also read:
Now, you have a good chance to quickly digitalize, catalog and even restore all of the negatives and slides in your collection. The only thing that you need is a slide scanner. And we have a thorough review of them for you right here....Read more...Read less
iSRD technology for improved scans quality. Comes with IT8 target for accurate color balance.
Works only with 135 film and slides only.
Plustek 8200 Ai is a great choice for librarians, professional film restorers, and photo enthusiasts who want to get the copies of 35mm slides and negatives in the best possible quality.
detailed parameters
7200 dpi
N/A
Converting 135 film negatives and slides into digital format
SilverFast Ai software on CD, SilverFast iSRD scanning for ignoring dirt and dust, WorkFlowPilot virtual guide, IT8 color target for image color accuracy
1-year limited warranty
Features a loveable bright design.
Sometimes, the color on the scanned images is a bit off.
A good choice for getting high-resolution copies of your slides collection. You can scan the 8mm and super8 film quickly and convert it to the video later on your computer.
detailed parameters
20 MP
2.4' LCD
Converting 110, 135, 127, 126KPK film negatives and slides into digital format. Taking snapshots of 8mm, super 8mm movie reels in JPEG format
Pre-scan - 3 sec, Processing - 4 sec
Works without PC-connection, Composite video port (cable included), Holders for different film types, Manual or automatic photo color and brightness adjustments
1-year limited warranty
Very compact and easy to use.
The slide has to be aligned perfectly in the center before closing the frame as it cuts off the edges if the slide is a bit misplaced.
If you are looking for an inexpensive slide scanner to present an elder relative or for yourself, this Jumbl All-In-1 Film & Slide Scanner is a safe choice. Works with most of the film formats.
Converting 110, 135, 127, 126KPK film negatives and slides into digital image. Taking snapshots of 8mm, super 8mm movie reels in JPEG format
Processing - 2 sec
Works without PC-connection, CMOS sensor type, Composite video port (cable included), Holders for different film types, Thin cleaning brush, Integral photo correction
Amazon's 30-day return policy
Can scan not only photos but A6 sheets as well.
Works with up to 32 GB SD cards only.
ClearClick 20 MP slide and photo scanner works with 35mm film and up to 5' x 7' photo paper and can convert them easily to the digital format to keep on your computer or SD card.
detailed parameters
Standard: 14 MP, Interpolated: 20 MP
2.4' LCD
Converting 135 film negatives and slides into digital format. Scanning 3.5x5, 4x6, 5x7 photos
Processing - 2-3 sec
Works without PC-connection, Composite video port (cable included), 35mm negative strip and slide holders, 3.5x5, 4x6, and 5x7 photo aligners, CD with free software for photo editing
1-year limited warranty
Can serve you as a card reader for your computer.
Occasionally, the digital copy of the glossy photos has flares from the integral lamp.
ION Pics 2 SD is a solid device for getting the copies of all your favorite moments, captured on the photos and negatives. Works with both photos and 35mm scans.
detailed parameters
Standard: 5.1 MP, Interpolated: 10 MP, 2500 dpi
2.36' LCD
Converting 135 film negatives and slides into digital format. Scanning 3.5x5, 4x6, 5x7 photos
Processing - 1-2 sec
Works without PC-connection, CMOS sensor type, Negative strip and slide holders, 3x5, 4x6, and 5x7 photo frames, Integral photo correction
Amazon's 30-day return policy
PLUSTEK OpticFilm
Relive the Memories
The social networks nowadays are filled with selfies, food snapshots, cute kids and animals photos. But less than 15 years ago, people were still actively taking photos with the film cameras. When stored in a proper way, the slides can survive for many years, retaining their image quality and colors. But eventually, they will bleach out or just break to pieces anyway. In order to save your memories captured on 35mm film, we readily recommend this Plustek OpticFilm scanner. Although this professional converter has great technical specs and options, it is still relatively easy-to-use. So, even if you have never worked with a scanner before, you will manage its handling. Just turn it on, put the film in the holder and put them in the feeder.
Speaking of the body, it weighs only 3.5 lbs and is shipped in the set with a wonderful soft carrying case that comes especially handy for when you have to scan the slides elsewhere.
Inside the Plustek scanner body, the slide is illuminated with a cold LED light. Therefore, it won't ruin the slide like this might happen with common office scanners that use hot lamps. Note, this scanner works with only 35mm slides and films. Just like in other models, you manually move the holder to get the perfect frame position without the need to process it in the editor further on. Speaking of it, the scanner comes with an IT8 target for color calibration, that comes useful for quick color and white balance adjustments for the most accurate results.
When Size Matters
We couldn't help mentioning the scanner's software. The device comes with a disk that has a couple of programs, compatible with Windows and Mac OSes. The first one is called QuickScan. Basically, it is used for making copies of the slides in just a few seconds. The resulting file has a small resolution, therefore, it's more appropriate for the recently made, good quality film.
The second program is SilverFast Ai Studio 8 for professional film scanning. It can even quickly process and save images in 64bit HDRi RAW format for professional use. The maximum resolution of the copy is 7200 dpi. This is approximately equal to a photo, taken with a 70 MP camera, which is really huge. Just for reference, iPhone 7 has a 12 MP camera. Thus, SilverFast is a perfect tool if you want to restore old archive photos from the negatives. Generally, the 3600 dpi is enough for standard scans, though. Anyway, the 7200 dpi will be suitable for getting detailed scans of architecture masterpieces or similar subjects with countless tiny parts and elements that might be blurred out with some other scanners.
Even more, SilverLight has a variety of configurable options for the full or partial color correction, image noise and grains reduction. The icing on the cake is the support of the special iSDR technology that can automatically and instantly fix such things like small fissures and scratches on the film, fingerprints, dust, and other things. This was made possible owing to the scanning technology in Infra-Red light.
Who Would We Recommend It?
First of all, librarians and catalogers will love the fact that the scanner's lamp does not warm the film up, so it won't get damaged, while the old slides are inside the scanner. Also, the digitalized pictures can be saved in image files with incredibly high resolution, that will show all of the smallest details of the original film.
Additionally, Plustek OPTICFILM 8200ISE can be a great buy for both professional retouchers and photo enthusiasts who love taking photos with 35mm film cameras. With it, they will be able to protect and preserve the precious memories, captured on the fragile layers of plastic.
Additional Info
Wolverine F2DMIGHTY
Total Recall
Despite having a bit old-fashioned design, this Wolverine slide scanner can give you a helping hand in saving your old dear slides. There are several major features that make it so great. First of all, it works with different film formats. It comes with adapters for 8mm and super8 film reels, 110, 135, 127, 126KPK slides and negative strips. The whole process is very straightforward: you just set the film in the plastic adapter and feed it into the corresponding slot in the scanner's body. The 8mm and super8 reels go inside the front hole, everything else - into the slot to the right. Before taking a shot, you can check out the frame position on the 2.4' LCD screen. It seems, that the scanner uses a high-res camera for digitalizing the scanners. Thus, the colors might require additional color tuning in a photo editor. Especially, from the old slides that might already have changed their color with time.
The built-in memory storage can hold up to 40 scans. Also, there's an SD card slot on the back that supports up to 32 GB memory cards too.
Full Control
The Wolverine F2D Mighty doesn't require any special programs or drivers on your PC, therefore, it's compatible with both Windows and Mac OS. The device is powered via a Mini-USB-to-USB cable (included) and comes with an AC-USB adaptor. Thus, you can either hook it up to a computer or a wall plug. In addition to the standard LCD screen, the device can be connected to a TV screen via a composite vide cable that can be bought separately. The buttons on the control panel are used for turning the device on-off, selecting a film size and format, save or delete images or upload them to an SD card.
As a result, we can recommend this film scanner to all photo enthusiasts who prefer working with different slide formats and want to share them quickly with friends and relatives online.
More Products to Consider
Memory cards are way more durable than slides or photos. However, even they may require protection, especially, during transportation. To protect such tiny things like SD cards, a lot of people worldwide use protective hard cases, that can be bought online.
Additional Info
Quick Look: Wolverine F2D Mighty 7-in-1 Film to Digital Converter
Features
Framing of shots very good - no extra blank margins, etc.
Key Specs
Very decent quality - not as great as a $1,000 scanner, but for a hundred bucks, this gives really good quality scans.
Size & Weight
This is a very compact device - just six inches tall and four inches in diameter - the size of a large coffee cup.
Jumbl JUM-FS14MP
Rolling Non-Stop
It's time for digging out the old boxes with film rolls and bringing them back to life. The Jumbl All-In-1 Film & Slide Scanner will help you digitalize any film type, thanks to the included adapters for slides of different sizes. Even if you feed the slide upside down, there's a handy mirror and flip buttons on top that do with the image exactly what they say. The result will be instantly shown on its 2.4' LCD screen. Really old slides might be dusty or even dirty. To fix this, you can use a thin foam brush that can clean the insides of the scanner. Just don't use it to clean the slides as they might get scratched.
The scanner is surprisingly easy to use. All of the key buttons are placed on top of the body, while all the options have big captioned icons. Therefore, even elderly people can figure out how to use it. With the included composite video cable, you can hook it up to the TV screen to see the bigger picture. Also, the scans are processed relatively fast. By pressing the scan button, the image is saved to either integrated storage or to the inserted SD card.
All-in-all, the Jumbl slide scanner is a solid and inexpensive choice for creating quick copies of large slide and film collections.
History of Photo
The history of the first photo can be traced back to the 19th century, when Joseph Niépce captured the image with the camera obscura on a thin paper, layered with the silver chloride. Anyhow, the mass production of the 35mm handheld photo cameras began in 1925 with the release of the Leica I model by Leica company. For many following years, the company has been holding the leading positions in the industry.
Another notable moment in photo history was in 1963, when the Polaroid introduced its instant camera that could develop the film in a matter of seconds, allowing more and more people to use a camera without the necessity of expensive film developing in photo laboratories or print shops.
Nowadays, people mostly use digital cameras instead of film rolls that become more and more expensive to develop. Thus, the demand for the slides and photo film is somewhat low. However, the film can capture the smallest object details with almost microscopic quality, while a digital sensor has a megapixel limit. Therefore, in terms of capturing the details, the fine grain film can still be superior to most of the digital photos. But to preserve the old negatives and slides, people need using some special devices like these film scanners.
More Products to Consider
If you have all of your negatives mixed together in one box or small plastic pockets and you are going to keep them after the scanning, you need to use either some binder or holding pages to store these slides appropriately.
Jumbl 22MP All-In-1 Film Negative & Slide Scanner - Convert Old Negatives to Digital
Key Specs
Film holders work, easy to slide film through rapidly
Features
SD Port means you can blast through film without having to wait for computer/software, upload when you're done!
Size & Weight
Not very sophisticated interface - but what it does do 'scanning' it does exceedingly well for the price, speed and size of unit! Really impressed. I should have got one ages ago!
ClearClick QuickConvert
Fun and Easy Scanning
The ClearClick slide scanner is an excellent solution for getting digital copies of not only 35mm slides or negatives but for the printed photos as well. The scanner supports up to 5x7 photo format. For user's convenience, the package includes plastic aligners for 3.5x5, 4x6, and 5x7 sheets. As for the film, there are holders for negative strips and slides as well.
The photos are scanned with exactly the same technology like in a common scanner. Just place your photo face-down under the lid and press the button. On the other hand, the film is scanned by setting it in the included plastic holders that are put vertically in the slot on the side of the body. There's no auto-feed option so you need to align the frame manually. Fortunately, you can check the result on an LCD screen before taking a shot. Another way around is to connect the converter to a TV screen via the included composite video cable.
Also, we liked that the ports for Mini USB and TV-out are on the front side of the device for quick access. You can power it up from a wall plug, using the included AC adaptor, or connect it directly to the USB port on your computer.
What's in the Box?
In addition to the film holders, the package includes an 8 GB SD memory card for storing the scans. The included thin brush can help you clean the dust from the insides of the scanner, reaching from each side of the slide slots.
The CD has a PhotoPad program for Mac OS and Windows. In it, you can edit your scans with such basic functions like cropping and quick color corrections. However, the scanner does not require the computer connection to operate. Thus, if your friend asks you to scan some of his or her old negatives collection, you can bring this device with you and get the digital copies right at their home.
Overall, the ClearClick Photo, Slide, Negatives Converter is a great investment for creating digital copies of a large scans collections. After that, you can use it as a small office scanner for up to A6 paper sheets.
More Products to Consider
If by any chance you haven't got a micro SD card yet or you'd like to upgrade your old one and get a more capacious one, you can pick one from here.
Additional Info
ClearClick QuickConvert | Keith Gilbert
ION Audio PICS2SD
Saving the Best Memories
The ION Pics 2 SD is an all-in-one device for getting digital copies of your favorite slides, negatives, and photos. Well, almost all. Keep in mind that the maximum compatible photo paper size is 5x7 and 35mm for the film. Seems like this model also 'scans' the slides with a digital camera, resulting in a very fast processing. The frame position inside the scanner can be checked on the LCD screen placed on the top of the device.
Please note, the photos are scanned by setting them in one of the 3 included tablet-holders first. After that, the tablet is inserted into the device vertically from above into the special slot.
Additional Variability
Along with the LCD display, the control buttons are also placed on top of the housing. The included manual can be a bit confusing about some of the device functions. However, the controls are not complicated at all - choose the size, place the film, press the scan. Easy as that.
Another good news is that you don't need to install any drivers to work with this scanner. Actually, you don't need a computer at all. The device is powered via USB port and has a slot for SD cards. By the way, the manufacturer offers us to use this scanner as a card reader if your computer doesn't support this option, which may come in handy in many situations.
Overall, it is a solid multi-functional device that will quickly digitalize all of your slides, negative strips, and photos. Although it is a bit tall, it will surely take much less space than a big office scanner on your table at home or in the office.
More Products to Consider
The film and photo restoration also requires a quality monitor with a reliable color calibration. Therefore, check out our review of the best monitors for photographers.
Additional Info
Ion PICS2PC Scanner Review
What is a Slide Scanner
In the digital age, we can easily snap a picture with our phone and upload it to any web source. But what about the old slides and printed photographs stored away in the attic, collecting dust? Is there a way to bring life in those pictures and share them with other people online? Well, there actually is, and it is a slide scanner, an electronic appliance used to convert all real photos to the digital format to keep on a computer or an SD card. The operation principle is pretty simple. You place a picture in the slot, wait a second until it takes its photo and then it is converted to a digital file. The digitized copies can be stored either on a flash card or written directly on the hard drive. Easy as that.
As a side note, the inkjet printers can provide you with quick copies from the scanned negatives. You can also buy a portable pico projector for showing off your digital photos collection to your friends and relatives.
What Features to Compare
Resolution. Simply put, this refers to how huge your digital copy of the film or the photo will appear on the computer screen. As a rule, the bigger it is, the more details will be seen on it. If you are going to further process the image in the graphic editor, you will require at the very least 1800 dpi resolution for 35mm film slides. However, even 5 MP will be enough if you just need to quickly scan a bunch of slides to store them further on your PC. 200-400 dpi will be enough for most programs to effectively recognize the printed text from the scanned slides.
Taking into account the Intended Use, you will be able to figure out what types of film formats and/or photo sizes exactly the scanner can process for you. Usually, the slide converters have either special slide adaptors or an adjustable tray for this. You need to make sure the chosen slide scanner is compatible with the films you've got at your disposal.
Scanning Speed is a pretty straightforward characteristic, too. If you are searching for a slide scanner to use in a little print shop, a quick scanning speed will considerably reduce a wait time for consumers in the line.
Additional Features may include a variety of things. For instance, some of the scanners come with a small screen for checking a slide position inside the scanner. Others might come together with a cable so that they could be connected to other appliances (TV screens, PC monitors, etc.). A lot of slide scanners offer versatility of use and can work not only with the film but also with photos, just like conventional PC scanners do.
Sources:
1. Craig ThornburrowChoosing A Good Slide Scanner Is As Easy As 1-2-3! (Or Is It?), Streetdirectory.
2. How to Pick a Great Slide and Photo Scanner, wikiHow.
3. Rebecca Lily Film vs. Digital, Digital Photography School.
4. Mike BedfordTop tips on scanning old photos, slides and negatives, PC Advisor. December 24, 2012.
5. Tips on Digital Photo Restoration, Cambridge in Colour.
6. Restore Your Old Photos, Pixelmator Team.
7. Rachel Gregg Fix Old Photos With This One Easy Photoshop Trick, CreativeLive. March 31, 2015.