What is the Best Way to Convert 35mm Slides to Digital?

Sharing memories with your loved ones is all part of growing closer. One of the ways to share memories is by looking through vintage photos and slides. Reflecting on cherished times in each other's lives is a great way to laugh and spend quality time together.

However, photo media, including slides, can degrade over time, and their quality declines. So, what are the best ways to convert 35mm slides digitally? Here are a few ways to learn so your photos can be enjoyed by you and future generations.

Dedicated Film Scanner

For high-quality images, one of the best ways to convert 35mm slides digitally is by using a high-resolution film scanner. They offer an excellent resolution and control over the final images.

However, going through a dedicated film scanner can cost a considerable amount of time, especially if you have thousands of slides to scan. So, set aside a generous chunk of time if you choose to have your slides go through a dedicated film scanner.

Flatbed Scanner

Be on the lookout for scanners designed to scan negatives and slides alongside traditional paper photos and documents. Flatbed scanners are a common choice for slides. The optical resolution should at least land between 2400 dpi or higher.

Many flatbed scanners require an extra transparency adapter attachment for scanning slides. The adapter usually comes with a scanner or is purchased separately.

Slide Duplicator

Slider duplicators offer an inexpensive option for digitalizing slides. If you own a decent digital SLR camera—also known as a single-lens reflex camera—you can attach a duplicator to it in place of the lens using a T-mount adapter ring. The slide duplicator (or “duper”) has a sliding gate that holds two slides on each other.

However, the duper doesn't offer the digital quality you can get from a flatbed or film scanner. So, if you wish to print larger photos from your slides, slide duplicators might not give you the best outcome.

Professional Photo Shop

If you have an extensive collection of slides or aren't familiar with using a computer, go to a professional service to scan your slides. These facilities offer digital conversion services and can also be found online. Be sure to ask about image quality, pricing and cleaning.

If you have a collection of slides sitting in your closet, visit us at DiJiFi today. We offer services to transition your slides, vintage photos, and videos into a digital format. Please get in touch with us today if you have any questions.