Choosing the Film Scanner That Best Suits Your Film Negative Scanning Needs

Using a film negative scanner has several advantages over a traditional flatbed scanner and is a sound investment for anyone who does even a small amount of this kind of work. Before upgrading to a film scanner, it helps to first understand the different kinds of scanners available.

For those who only scan from 35mm film strips, a low-end film scanner is adequate. These are cheaper in price and generally smaller than their more robust counterparts. Medium and high-end scanners are more expensive, however, it’s necessary to purchase one of these models if the type of film scanning you do involves the use of either 120 film or individual slides. Some very high-end scanners even interchangeable film loaders that allow for the use of different kinds of slides .Verify that the model you’re purchasing is clearly marked as processing these types of film or you may be left with a scanner that doesn’t fully accommodate your needs.

Once you decide on the sophistication level of the film scanner you’d like to purchase, you need to understand how to best equip your scanner to resolve any issues you have with the film negatives you’re working with. If your negatives have any level of damage, particularly dust, it’s important you understand photo restoration techniques that can adequately resolve these issues. Dust is a challenging issue for those who use a film negative scanner as the resolution is much higher than that of a regular flatbed scanner. The advantages of the film negative scanner over the flatbed are numerous, however, the same features that make them a more attractive option are the same ones that can hinder the process.

When attempting to restore negatives damaged by dust, be sure to research fully the options available. The simplest technique involves “despeckling”, which is sometimes offered in the software package that comes with the film negative scanner. For simple dust particle issues, this should resolve the issue. However, for anything more complex, the user may need to do an infrared cleaning. This shouldn’t be done without first consulting a professional or doing careful research on this restoration technique.

While film negative scanners are the best option, it’s obvious that someone in the market for one needs to carefully think about their personal scanning needs. Factors like the type of negative film used and the level of damage to this film play a huge role in determining the sophistication level of the scanner purchased.

Jodie Stoughton, CPC
Freelance Writer

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