Film scanner test-reports: complete overview of all the models

On this page there is an overview of all film scanners that we have been testing so far, sorted according to the producer. There are also older test reports of those scanners that disappeared from the market long ago. Finally, there are a lot of film scanner buyers who want to purchase a used device. In our film scanner shop, we still offer some Accessoires and adapters for many older devices.

Braun

Since the year 2003, the German producer Braun Phototechnik from Nürnberg offers some magazin scanners that are of the same structure as the respective ones from Relecta. Both devices are of the same production and are therefore functionally identical but only have a different label.

Canon

Since August 2005, the Japanese producer Canon gave up its unique film scanner model. Ever since, Canon offers some flat bed scanners, partly with an integrated transparency unit, in the lower price categories.

Epson

There are almost countless flat bed scanners from Epson in all price categories and sizes. We have tested those devices with a transparency unit that are suitable for the scanning of slides and negatives.

Hasselblad

The Swedish company Hasselblad offers upscale professional film scanners (formerly Imacon). The scanners are virtual drum scanners which offer an excellent image quality thanks to an extremely high resolution and a hugh density range. Hasselblad has stopped the production of the Flextight scanners in May 2019; there are no successors.

Hewlett Packard

There are numerous flat bed scanners of HP to reasonable prices, partly also with an integrated transparency unit. But HP does not set the focus on the film scanners but on the paper- and document-scanners.

Current models Old models HP Scanjet G4050



Konica Minolta

The firm Konica-Minolta (emerged from the firms Konica and Minolta) has produced very good film scanners in the field of 35mm- and medium sized-images. Unfortunately, in spring 2006, Konica-Minolta completely gave up the photo business so that there were also no new film scanner models following.

Microtek

The firm Microtek offer numerous product lines in the field of the scanners, from the simple flat bed scanners to document scanners up to the professional scanners with an integrated transparency unit. The main product portfolio of Microtek are scanners.

Nikon

Already in the end of the last millenium, the Japanese photo producer Nikon brought the first film scanners to the market, thus Nikon was a pioneer in the field of the film scanners. Ever since, the Nikon film scanners are the measure of all things; no other device can compete with the professional Nikon-scanners concerning the image quality, scan speed and film variety. With Nikon, also the last big camera producer has stopped its film scanner business in the year 2009. There are still some Nikon-film scanners and Nikon-accessoires available in the market.

Plustek

The Taiwanese producer Plustek (German branch in Norderstedt) offers a wide portfolio of different types of scanners. Since the year 2004, Plustek also offers film scanners that have been further developed in numerous variants and also improved ever since.

Quato

Beside high-quality monitors and colour management tools, the German firm Quato also offers some scanners for the digitalization of film material. Quato produces the film scanners with a license of Plustek. The company Quato does not exist any more since 2013.

Current models Old models Quato IntelliScan 5000

Reflecta

The German firm reflecta from Eutingen is the only firm which core business are film scanners. Reflecta offers the biggest range of film scanners in different price categories, from the simple CMOS-based compact scanners up to full-automatic slide magazine scanners. Due to the large variety of models, Reflecta is the market leader in the field of film scanners.

Umax

Up to the year 2007, the firm Umax only had one film scanner in the range. Today, Umax is active in some very different business areas; the scanner department has been taken over by the firm Microtek.

Current models Old models Umax PowerLook 270 Plus

Buying a film scanner

Please, feel free to visit our film scanner shop - it's the only shop on the Internet which is fully specialized on film scanners and accessories! We can provide you with any film scanner at an extremely attractive price and we also can supply you with accessories such as film holders or optional adapters.