9 Best Film Scanner For Medium Format (Top of 2024)

Are you in the market for the best film scanner to capture your medium format film? You might be a photography enthusiast who needs to copy and archive precious family photos or a professional photographer looking to convert analog images into digital. 

In either case, you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to acquiring a best film scanner for your medium formats. While choosing one is dependent on a variety of factors, including size, resolution and price, the best solution provides quality AND convenience. 

Ideally, you don’t want to sacrifice one for the other. Here we’ll take a look at some of the best offerings and provide useful tips that can help make your decision easier.

Buying Guide for the Best Film Scanner for Medium Format

Are you looking for the best film scanner for medium format? With so many options available, it can be difficult to find the scanner that best meets your needs. Here is a buying guide to help you make an informed decision.

1.    You need to consider what type of film you plan on scanning

If you plan on scanning large negatives from medium format cameras (6x4.5cm, 6x6cm, 6x7cm and 6x9cm), then you will need a dedicated medium format film scanner. These scanners are designed specifically to handle larger negative sizes and provide higher resolution scans than standard 35mm scanners.

2.    You should also consider what other features are important to you in a scanner

Does it have a built-in or external dust and scratch reduction software? Does it support multi-exposure scanning, which helps reduce highlights and shadows? What kind of preview screen does the device have? Finally, some scanners offer batch scanning capabilities—this feature allows multiple frames to be scanned in one go and is especially useful if you’re working with large quantities of film.

3.    You should also think about resolution when choosing a film scanner

The higher the resolution, the more detail your scans will contain. Generally speaking, medium format scanners offer resolutions ranging from 3000 dpi all the way up to 8000 dpi—this results in huge files but provides exceptional detail which is useful for restoration work or very large prints.

4.    Consider cost when selecting a medium format film scanner

With prices ranging from around $500USD all the way up to several thousand dollars for professional models, there’s something available for nearly any budget. Be sure to factor in accessories such as light sources and calibration tools into your budget before making a purchase decision.

5.    Finally

By considering these factors carefully before making your purchase decision, you can ensure that whatever film scanner you choose will meet all of your needs and expectations now and into the future.

1.    Should you invest in a film scanner?

Film scanners cost significantly more than flatbed scanners, making them impractical for most people. If you have a lot of 35mm film or slides to scan, though, a dedicated scanner could be well worth the cost.

2.    Which is the highest quality film scan that can be made?

The highest scanning resolution for 35mm film is 4000 DPI, so a high-quality scan can achieve a resolution of 2500 DPI.

3.    Where can I find reliable sources for high-resolution film scans?

Best results can be achieved with a dpi of around 3200; for color film, 48 bits is recommended, while for black and white, 16 bits is adequate. It's the key to successful scanning.