- Our top picks
- Comparsion Table
- 1) DigitNow 8mm and Super 8 Film Scanner
- 2) DigitNow Movie Maker
- 3) KODAK Reelz Film Digitizer
- 4) Wolverine 8mm Scanner
- 5) Wolverine Pro 8mm Scanner
- 6) Magnasonic Super 8/8mm
- Final Words
Summary of Our Top Picks
Editor’s pick
Offers high-quality video scanning up to 9” Super8 and 8mm film reels, with automatic saves to included SD card of 32GB. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux systems and features a 2.4” LCD screen, 1080p/20FPS video resolution, and a fully automated film scanner.
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This film converter offers excellent video scanning for 3” and 5” reels, automatically saving footage to a 32GB SD card. In addition, it features a 2.4” screen and provides 1080p resolution for high-quality conversions.
Whether you want to scan your old 8mm films or are looking for the best way to do so, we’ve got what you need. There’s no need to search any further than these top-rated film scanners as they come highly recommended by experts and customers alike.
What is an 8mm film scanner, and which one should you get? This question has been running through our minds for some time now. Unfortunately, there are so many different models and brands out on the market that it can be challenging to decide which one will work best with your needs.
A film scanner is a device that allows you to get images from the film in digital format. The different types of scanners out there can be challenging to understand. One type might work well for one purpose but not another. Someone could find their perfect match elsewhere and not just these options we provide below.
8mm and Super 8 film scanners are simple working devices. The scanning process works in the way that a movie film goes from reel through central scanning part, which consists of light in the base and upper image sensor that captures high-quality frames.
Best 8mm and Super8 Film Scanner Comparsion Table
Editors Choice DigitNow Pro | DigitNow Movie Maker | Kodak Reelz | Wolverine | Wolverine Pro | Magnasonic | |
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Price | $269.99 | $229.99 | - | - | - | - |
Compatible Films | 8mm and Super 8 | 8mm and Super 8 | 8mm and Super 8 | 8mm and Super 8 | 8mm and Super 8 | 8mm and Super 8 |
Reel Support | 3” 4” 5” 7” 9” reels | 3”and 5” reels | 3, 5, and 7 inch | 3 and 5 inch | Up to 9 inch reels | 3, 5, and 7 inch |
Scan Quality | 3.5MP | 3.53MP | 8.08MP | 3.53MP | 3.53MP | 3.5 MP |
Scanning speed | 2 frames per second | 2 frames per second | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Resolution | 1080P(1440*1080 20fps) | 1440*1080 20fps | 1293p | 720p 20fps | 1080p 20fps | 1440p 20fps |
Display | 2.4" Color LCD | 2.4" Color TFT LCD | 5" Color LCD | 2.4" TFT LCD | 2.4" TFT LCD | 2.31" Color LCD |
Memory | SD card up to 32GB (Included) | SD card up to 32GB | SD card up to 32GB | SD card up to 32GB | SD card up to 32GB | SD card up to 32GB |
File Format | MP4 | MP4 | MP4 | MP4 | MP4 | MP4 |
TV Out | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
USB Connection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sound capture | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Shipping | Worldwide Free shipping:
| Worldwide Free shipping:
| n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
The best way to ensure that your old film doesn’t get lost forever is by converting it into digital format. With this digitizing process, you can store information on modern devices whose life and quality last forever.
Getting the best 8mm film scanner and high-quality scan of your films depends on how large the SD card it supports, image sensor quality, and video resolution quality.
If you really insist on scanning film yourself instead of hiring a professional digitizing service, then take a look at these top 5 best 8mm film scanners.
1) DigitNow 8mm and Super 8 Film Scanner
What we like
- Scans frame-by-frame into an MP4 digital movie at 1080p
- Has RCA out jack for TV
- Can transfer video directly to a computer or laptop with the included USB cable
- Commes with included 32GB SD card
- Compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux systems
What we don’t like
- Slightly lower scan quality with a 3.5MP compared to others
DigitNow Film Scanner is a popular and affordable choice for converting 8mm and Super 8 films to digital format. One of its standout features is its reel support, which sets it apart from other projectors. The design of this scanner resembles a real film projector, with the left reel of film placed farther, adding to its authentic look.
The scanner’s housing is sleek and made of satin black plastic, giving it an attractive appearance. The centerpiece, along with the display, has a metallic-like finish, enhancing its visual appeal. The film routing rollers also sport an industrial design, adding a neat touch to the overall aesthetics. Additionally, there’s a switch on the centerpiece to choose between 8mm and Super 8 film formats. This particular model can handle 3-inch, 5-inch, 7-inch, and 9-inch film reels.
The DigitNow Pro boasts a built-in 2.4-inch LCD screen that provides decent preview-quality footage. For the best viewing experience, you have the option to connect the film scanner to a TV or computer using the included cable. This allows for optimal playback of the scanned footage. The scanner digitizes the film frame-by-frame into an MPEG-4 (MP4) digital movie at 1080p resolution. The resulting scan is automatically saved on the included 32GB SD card, eliminating the need for a PC or additional drivers.
You have the flexibility to adjust the exposure automatically or manually within a range of -2.0 EV to +2.0 EV. This feature allows you to optimize the image quality according to your preferences.
Similar to other scanners, the DigitNow Film Scanner provides various connectivity options on its back panel. It includes an out jack for connecting to a TV, an SD card slot supporting up to 32GB storage, a USB port for PC connection, and a charging port. If you prefer not to use an SD card, you can easily transfer the scanned video directly to a computer or laptop using the provided USB cable. The scanner is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
Overall, the DigitNow Film Scanner offers a cost-effective solution with its versatile format support, reel compatibility, and appealing design. In addition, it simplifies the process of converting film into digital format, allowing you to preserve and enjoy your memories with ease.
Key features:
- Compatible with 3”, 4”, 5”, 7”, 9” 8mm, and Super 8 films
- Video resolution 1080P(1440*1080 20fps)
- Support SD cards up to 32GB (included)
- It has a 2.4″ color LCD display
- Frame rate of 20 frames
- Scan quality of 3.5 megapixels
2) DigitNow Movie Maker
What we like
- Scans frame-by-frame into an MP4 digital movie at 1080p
- Feature TV connection
- Has a 3.53MP image sensor
- Can transfer video directly to a computer or laptop with the included USB cable
- Compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux systems
What we don’t like
- Slightly lower scan quality with a 3.5MP compared to others
The DigitNow Movie Make is another film scanner in the DigitNow lineup, offering a similar experience with a few notable changes. Its affordability is one of its key advantages, as both DigitNow scanners are priced competitively compared to other brands on the market. In terms of film compatibility, the Movie Make can handle both 8mm and Super 8 formats. However, there is a downside compared to the first scanner, as it only supports 3-inch and 5-inch film reels. It also has a smaller overall size.
Similar to its predecessor, the Movie Make features a switch on the centerpiece, allowing you to easily toggle between 8mm and Super 8 film formats as needed. It also includes a built-in 2.4-inch LCD screen, providing decent preview-quality footage. For optimal viewing, you can connect the scanner to a TV or computer using the provided cable, ensuring high-quality playback of the scanned footage. The scanner digitizes the film frame-by-frame into an MPEG-4 (MP4) digital movie at a resolution of 1080p. The resulting scan is automatically saved on the included 32GB SD card, eliminating the need for additional drivers or a PC.
One improvement in the Movie Make is its slightly better image sensor, featuring 3.53MP. On the back panel, the scanner offers various connectivity options, including an RCA out jack for connecting to a TV, an SD card slot supporting up to 32GB storage, a USB port for PC connection, and a charging port. If you prefer not to use an SD card, you can easily transfer the scanned video directly to a computer or laptop using the provided USB cable. The scanner is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
Overall, the DigitNow Movie Make is a commendable alternative to the first DigitNow scanner, offering affordability, versatility in format support, reel compatibility, and an appealing design.
Key features:
- Compatible with 3” and 5” reels 8mm, and Super 8 films
- Video resolution 1080P(1440*1080 20fps)
- Support SD cards up to 32GB
- It has a 2.4″ color LCD display
- Frame rate of 20 frames
- Scan quality of 3.53 megapixels
3) KODAK Reelz Film Digitizer
What we like
- Compatible with 3″, 5″ and 7″ films 8mm and Super 8 films
- Video resolution of 1296p
- 8.08MP 1/3″ CMOS Image sensor (3280 x 2464)
- Support SD cards up to 128GB
- It has the largest display (5″)
What we don’t like
- No sound capture
- Expensive
The Kodak Reelz is a one of top-line scanners after DigitNow that turns 8 mm and Super 8 film into digital MPEG-4 at 1296p high-definition video. All scanned content can be saved on an SD card up to 128GB and taken with you anywhere you go.
The scanner accepts 3″, 5″ or 7″ film rolls on the universal scanner reel. Also, it supports a connection with a micro USB cable to transfer your films to the computer.
This high-quality scanner from Kodak is a perfect choice if you want to digitize films on your own. Choose between 8 mm and Super8 film by a selector switch. You’ll be able to quickly zoom in and adjust the sharpness tint & exposure without having any external editing hardware or software necessary.
The system is easy enough for anyone to use, with no computer necessary. In addition, it features a 5-inch display on the front of your device, which is larger than any other scanner, that lets you watch movies as they are being captured and playback any previous recordings without hassle. The nice thing about it is that you can adjust your tint and sharpness for slides without hassle.
It’s a fully automated scanner with an 8MP sensor that captures high-resolution images and video. This high-quality video scanner captures your precious moments and saves with its top-notch performance, which delivers crisp video.
The only obvious downside to this amazing device is that it won’t detect any sound because all these types of scanners capture only images.
Key features:
- Compatible with 3″, 5″, 7″, 8″, 9″ film reels
- Video resolution of 1080p
- Support SD cards up to 32GB
- It has a 5″ display
4) Wolverine 8mm Scanner
What we like
- Scans and saves digital copies to SD/SDHC cards up to 32GB
- Can connect to most TVs through RCA out jack
What we don’t like
- Lower resolution quality at 720p/20 fps compared to some other scanners
- No sound capture
Wolverine is a fully automated frame-by-frame digitizer that converts old 8mm, and Super 8 movie reels into digital videos. It supports up to 5″ reels at 720p resolution.
It works just like you would expect, mount a 3″ or 5″ reel and then press some buttons to have it playback footage one frame at a time to create an MP4 file for use on any computer. You could also edit the videos on PC before uploading them online or burn them off onto DVDs.
It scans and automatically saves digital copies to SD/SDHC cards, which support up to 32GB. Compared with Kodak, it has a lower resolution quality at 720p/20 fps. Also, it is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
The system is designed to work with five and three inch reels, covering most types. In addition, you can use the RCA out jack, which can be connected to most TVs, and watch your recordings there. Finally, you can find a switch on the scanner that allows you to change between 8mm and Super 8 film. The two formats are similar, but the converter needs to know which type are you scanning.
Key features:
- Compatible with 3″, 5″ films
- Video resolution of 720p at 20fps
- Support SD cards up to 32GB
- It has a 2.4″ display
Note: Some customers have complained about film rollers making scratches on the film.
5) Wolverine Pro 8mm Scanner
What we like
- Impressive video quality at 1080p
- Accepts 8mm and Super 8 film reels up to 9″
- Has an auto-off function when film jam is detected
What we don’t like
- The yellow color in movies can be overpowering and may require color adjustment.
- Expensive
The Wolverine Pro 8mm & Super 8 scanner features the same 2.4″ display as the first one, allowing you to view your footage and record it all in 1080p with ease. This Wolverine Pro scanner accepts 8mm Super 8 film reels up to 9″.
The Film Scanner will convert your old 8mm and Super 8 movies into an MP4 digital format so that you can save them on an SD card.
This product has compatibility with both Macs and Windows computers without any problems, and the TV output type is NTSC.
The video quality of the Wolverine is impressive, and it has an auto-off function when it detects a film jam. The yellow color in the movies can be very overpowering and difficult to perfect, so you need to adjust the colors to correct it. Basically, Wolverine Pro is the same scanner as the standard model with several improvements in quality.
Key features:
- Compatible with up to 9″ 8mm and Super 8 films
- Video resolution 1080p 20 frames
- Support SD cards up to 32GB
- It has a 2.4″ display
6) Magnasonic Super 8/8mm
What we like
- Supports 3″, 5″, and 7″ film reels and can scan 50 feet of film in 30 minutes
- Easily watch on a bigger TV or monitor with the included RCA video-out cable.
- You can adjust exposure, RGB, sharpness, and framing from the scanner
- Video resolution 1080p 20fps
What we don’t like
- Smaller screen compared to other options
- No sound capture
The Magnasonic Super 8/8mm Film Scanner is one of the popular options, but the downside is that it has a smaller screen. Like other scanners, you can use an external SD card up to 32GB (not included) for memory and RCA cable for TV connection, which is included with the scanner.
This scanner supports 3″, 5″, and 7″ film reels. The process is done by scanning film frame-by-frame, and it can scan 50 feet of film in 30 minutes. You can view your scanned film directly on the built-in 2.3″ LCD screen or watch it on TV by connecting the included RCA TV cable.
Magnasonic also can scan and save up to 120 hours of video on a 32GB SD card. There is no need for computer and editing software with this particular projector. You can adjust exposure, RGB, sharpness, and framing right from the scanner. When the process finishes, you will have a ready digital MP4 video file for further sharing and saving on DVD.
Key features:
- Compatible with 3″, 5″, 7″ 8mm, and Super 8 films
- Video resolution 1080p 20fps
- Support SD cards up to 32GB
- It has a 2.31″ display
Final Words
In this article, we explored several top-rated 8mm film scanners available today. However, when it comes to choosing the right one for your specific needs, it ultimately boils down to personal preference.
For superior quality and optimal digitization of your film, we highly recommend considering the DigitNow film scanners. With their advanced features, affordable pricing, and positive customer feedback, DigitNow scanners offer a reliable and efficient solution. Additionally, they provide reel support, ensuring compatibility with different film formats.
While all the scanners mentioned in this article have their merits, the DigitNow film scanners stand out for their exceptional image sensor resolution and user-friendly interfaces. Moreover, they offer a 2.4-inch LCD screen, allowing for convenient previewing of your digitized film. With DigitNow, you can confidently preserve and enjoy your cherished memories in the best possible quality.
In conclusion, when seeking the perfect 8mm film scanner, we recommend opting for the DigitNow film scanner. Their combination of advanced features, affordability, and positive customer reviews make them a reliable choice for your film digitization needs.
Abdo is a Zoopy writer who loves spending his free time outdoors, camping, and enjoying the peace that nature brings. He also enjoys fixing things - he's particularly good with electronics. His favorite movie is I Am Legend, and he's fascinated by survival gear and safety.