SlideScan - Slide Scanner App Reviews

by Tess1082

On SlideScan Store, it says that there is a plan for $6 for a month. Then you go to buy it in SlideScan and they tell you it’s $20 for two years. I have 20 slides to back up. It’s much cheaper to go to a local slide scan place and the quality would be exponentially better. Since I only have a few photos, I was fine with the lower quality within SlideScan but the price is outrageous. They also tell you that you can scan all you want for free. They don’t tell you that you can’t save any for free. What’s the point of scanning is they stay in SlideScan? I’m fine with paying some money, but not a dollar a slide. It worked fine for what it is, but the price is way too high and you don’t realize this until you’ve finished the scanning that they lied about the price on SlideScan page.

by The Real Blackshadow

I love the idea of SlideScan. But I have a couple problems with it. First of all, I see a reflection of my phone no matter what I do. I even tried making a black cover to go over my phone. But I still see the round circle where the camera is showing up in every picture I take. I saw other people in the reviews have said something similar and customer service says to contact them. I did, but have not heard anything back yet and my free trial ends tomorrow. Secondly, I want to airdrop the photos that I scan from my iPhone to my iMac. But it only lets me do five at a time. I am hoping there is a way around this. If I could get customer service to get back to me, perhaps these problems could be solved and I would give it a much better rating.

by WokaWokaWoka

1. But SlideScan doesn’t support Macro mode on iPhone 13 Pro, so you can only get so close the slide, resulting in smaller, lower resolution captures. I actually got better, higher resolution results with Apple’s camera app. 2. Focus detection would help too, showing in-focus edges in a color, like digital cameras. 3. Cropping is a little too conservative; picking less of the image margins. 4. Adjusting the crop is possible but fussy. No way to revert to the autocrop after you adjust it manually. 5. It Would be great, since SlideScan detects a backlight, if it would color balance it. I keep my display warm, and I noticed off-temperature highlights In the captures. 6. Would gladly pay the full price if quality-improving features were there. 7. Unfortunately, the developer response to this review missed the point of my criticisms, and worse, did not address the inexplicable lack of support for macro mode.

by Bhnewt

About a third of the scans come out good and the other 2/3 are grainy. The pictures look fine on my phone but not very good on my laptop. Be sure to hold the slide 2 inches from the light source. It makes for a better scan but requires 2 steady hands. SlideScan is a bit quirky. They have a feature that starts the scan by voice command, but it doesn’t stay on so for each scan you need to reset this feature. Overall, my feeling is that these slides have been sitting in a box in my garage for years and will never be looked at as slides. I scanned just the best ones and while the quality is questionable, I can look at them easily on my phone and they bring back good memories and a smile to my face.

by Cupcakesandkale

Surprised at how quickly it captures the image- even when I feel like I’m not holding it very still. The image quality is better than I expected. Two annoyances: I’ve scanned at least thirty slides, and just today it’s not finding the backlight at all, which is a bright white computer screen in a dark room. I’ve closed and reopened SlideScan , and shut my phone down and restarted it but it never finds it. I can still go ahead and push the button and scan a slide anyway but it’s annoy to do it through the searching for backlight words. Second, I wish that when you scan a slide I could just look at it. When you touch the image it should just open it, instead of saying slide saved and making me go to the saved slides and open it there. After viewing it it should then say slide saved when you close it.

by Alarob

I’m happy to have discovered SlideScan when I needed to do something with a collection of 20th-century slides. It does a decent job of capturing the images (including surface defects, not ScanSlide’s fault). However it is all but impossible to operate without the voice control unless you have some sort of stand to hold your phone steady while you press the shutter button for three seconds. So I’m grateful for the voice control. I just wish I didn’t have to reactivate it every time I return to the “Add” function. Why can’t it be enabled by default? Also, the control works inconsistently, sometimes doing nothing until I say “Go” up to four times, and sometimes being triggered by a background noise, giving me a random image of the kitchen table among the recovered slides. I wish the filter did more to remove reflected warm light (or a vague reflection of my hand and the iPhone) from the surface of the image, something I can’t seem to prevent while using a computer screen as a backlight.

by Franklin Visual

Amazing app for what it is. I made a white image to display on my laptop as a background. Then I rigged a stand out if a large binder clip holding a bulldog clip to hold the slides. (I took off the arms of the binder clip) This sits on my keyboard a few inches from the screen. My phone is on a monopod selfie stick that has a tripod. This works quite well except that focusing is very tricky. I have to move the slide away from the phone more than I want.

Can you please make your camera be able to autofocus and output higher a resolution images.? A pro version? Then it would be a 5 star product review!

by Catgrin

I’m new to it, and really like this app. It’s simple to use, with clear instructions, and is a lot faster than using a dedicated slide scanner.

It is missing some basic features that would really help with use. For example, SlideScan ’s algorithm guesses which way is “up” while scanning, and you don’t have the ability to rotate images stored with this app. That’s something you have to do with images saved locally. The company also relies on file size to describe saved images. For print purposes, knowing dimension and resolution are important info. If you know your device’s capabilities, it would be nice to be able to set expected parameters for all photos scanned in one session.

One physical issue that I plan to find a workaround for is reflection of your camera being seen on the slide glass - a result of the light box. That should be physically correctable.

Anyhow, if you’re looking for a way to create a fast digital archive of slides at basic print quality, SlideScan should work for you!

by SlackerGamerMom

We all know our print photos and even our digital photos reside in a photo Limbo land. Never really seen or displayed unless we actively prepare scrapbooks, photo albums or other various modes. The fate of our treasured 35mm family slides from a by-gone day undergo an even more dismal fate with limited ways to view them. They remain in a photo graveyard of sorts. But with SlideScan not only do they come alive, they undergo a reincarnation! They are alive again. Not only can they be shared and viewed again and again, they are set to a slide show setting complete with music. Seeing my parents, grandparents and siblings again brings me back to the time when these memories were originally captured on film. They have all passed on now so enjoying these slides brings me joy in ways immeasurable. I love SlideScan so much.

by Babyzoomer

First let me say I was disappointed that my iPhone 13 would not focus on the slides. So I contacted the developer and got a reply the next morning that they were working on a fix. Two days later it was done! Great customer service. So now I’m scanning slides that are over 60 years old. Not only are they crisp and clear, SlideScan is fixing the color (as much as you can fix a slide that old). I really didn’t expect quality like this in an app but thrilled with it ! In one morning I’ve already scanned over a hundred slides.

by Fms5739

Just started to use SlideScan today and I am very excited about being able to easily take a digital image of some very old and treasured slides. I had boxed them up and stored them in a closet and I now have a way of being able to see them on my phone or computer. The picture quality is good and I think it will get better as I become more comfortable and adept at the mechanics of the process. I have looking for SlideScan for many years.

by Mom Overloaded

I am amazed at how easy to use SlideScan is and the color correction is well done automatically.. even compensating for the movement of holding the slide. I save the images to my phone and download to my computer and can give a flash drive with hundreds of photos to all my siblings… wedding pictures of my parents and photos of my grandparents and family friends from the 50’s. Lost to us on slides — now saved and viewable to new generations. This is a great app.

by Okfantastic

My in-laws passed away recently, and we found a box of slides. We had a great time going through the memories with family on the old 80’s slide projector, but we wanted to share the photos digitally. I had my fair share of scanning experience from my experience as a graphic designer and knew the challenges that I was getting into.

this app was a lifesaver! We scanned about 1,600 photos with ease. So many family members had no idea many of these pics existed. And the quality is great! SlideScan over delivers.

by Dwiltzee

My mother-in-law gave me a few dozen slides, most from the ‘60s, and asked if I could somehow turn them into photos. I was stumped until I saw the this app app in a feed. I tried the trial version, it worked great, and so I signed up for the monthly subscription. Again, it worked great - and my mother-in-law loves me.
When I’d done all the slides, I had some concern about canceling because sometimes that’s a problem. I was wrong to worry; canceling was easy.
Believe me, I am not one to effuse over something unless it is worthy. SlideScan is.

by Docdajam

This is a great app for scanning slides, much better than an online device I paid $80 for a couple of years ago and stopped using because it was terrible. Just started using this and it is very easy but takes a little experimentation to get the best results. To help with back light issue I put a piece of 8x10 white paper behind the phone, which helps. Results even on first use are very close to the original slides. I’ve already paid for a 2 yr subscription as a one time payment. Looks like it will be worth it, i have lots of old slides.

by Uheavy

Most scanners only accommodate a few slides per scan. That takes a lot of time just loading them prior to scanning. this app makes it easy to get a rhythm going which speeds up the whole process. I experimented a lot before I settled on a setup. I have an old light table and ordered the suggested iPhone holder. The best feature (out of many) is the verbal trigger to scan. It helps avoid shaking and moving the phone, thus requiring repositioning of my setup. I’m only about 500 slides into a couple thousand and I’m moving through them at a good clip. I definitely recommend this app.

by Book Lady 58

I just found SlideScan and am already loving it! I have hundreds of photographic slides passed down to me from my dad. These pictures go back to the 60s and only exist in slide format. I’ve been hesitant to send them out to a company for fear they would be lost or damaged. Using SlideScan on my phone is so easy. I was up and running within minutes. I recommend signing up for the plan that allows unlimited scanning. It’s less than $40 for a two year subscription. It is so easy and quick to use I should be through those hundreds of slides in no time!

by Buddy14309888

I can’t believe how flawlessly these pics are turning out!! The darker slides are harder to get the reflection of the camera to not be a thing which is just a matter of position and angle.

The things that annoy me which also aren’t a big deal (especially with all things considered) when you select the option to say “go” to have the camera scan the slide a notification pops up explaining what the “go” function is EVERY. TIME. Knock it off 😅
Also when you go to the library and come back to the scanner you have to turn the “go” function back on. Just unnecessary repetitive stuff that would be better if it weren’t something to do.
Also… when you go to your library after scanning a slide it displays a “photos saved” message which takes a few seconds to disappear.
Just a couple of little things that slow down the process that I don’t think are necessary but nothing worth knocking stars off of a
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ rating! Very pleased!!!

by B3V$

This is great. Had slides from my dad over fifty years old. Had them tucked away didn’t know what to do with them. Those other places you send them away to cost too much per slide. This is a life saver. Having so much fun looking through the old slides. Didn’t even have projector to see them. My kids had never seen them before. They couldn’t figure out why I was so happy to finally take care of my dads “slides”. How small is this slide that we never saw before in the house. Kids!?!? So easy to use also. My hand shakes a bit when I hold up the slide to computer screen but it captures the picture perfectly. Did I say I love SlideScan. Best purchase ever.

by SanBC

I have hundreds of slides that I’ve put off scanning because it’s so complicated and time consuming. SlideScan has made it so quick and simple to do and I am finally getting my memories saved digitally. I love that it gives me the ability to share the scans on my phone or my computer. You can go to a page on your computer to view or download them. You do need to pay for a subscription if you want to scan a large number of slides. It also helps to have a stand for your phone, since it can be challenging to hold both a slide and your phone without moving one or the other. So far I’ve been very pleased with Photomyne’s this app app.

by Keeping Them Honest.

Nothing is said before you download SlideScan to scan slides and pictures that it will cost you $9.99 per month!!!!!!

by Ralph Arthur

They said it was free. After downloading they then say that it is free for only three day and then it is $5.99 a month. And they don’t tell you that until you have already downloaded it! Now I have spend time trying to cancel. How is this ethical?

by Jacqlennon

I use an iPhone SE and have an older MacBook Pro. The issue is that the screen resolution on the white background is not high enough and my phone photographs the white pixels behind the slide and it looks horrible. You either need a light box or a super hi Rez monitor for this to work correctly. Disappointed! Also not easy to unsubscribe. No way to do it from the mobile app and my email and Apple ID don’t work on the website. Frustrating.

by Draw Eric

There is no reason for this to be a monthly subscription. Why is everyone doing this? Stop.

by Bigsky321

App works fairly well. Better than nothing to recover slides. Does not crop properly all the time. Good app just not worth $5.99 a month.

by Spsbio

I just spent $42 on the Photomyne app to clean up old photos. Works well but you loose a great deal of resolution. I have a few slides to scan as well...tried SlideScan and have about the same results. Easier than scanning but poor resolution. My opinion is that if both apps were combined... be closer to being worth the high cost...and only for 5 years. Good night...lower the price, up the utility.

by Guardrail Gino

This program works much better than I thought it would. I bought a Kodak Mobile slide box, but the software that comes
With it is just ok. Using this program with the box works very well. The image are very sharp and it even catches small details in the slide. I have yet to try it with my light-table, but I’ll bet it works well. The only reason I give it 3 stars is because I think it is too pricey. Paying 4.99 a month to use this software is a bit much. I wish it was a pay one price, and that would be it.

by 66yearsold

Amazing algorithms straighten and focus slides. There’s a little color shift, usually OK. It has a hard time not cropping out sky, especially if it’s very light.

by Web Cohort

I have a brand new MacBook Pro and i have the screen setup according to the guide. If you lay the slide on the screen it takes a very good small photo but if you enlarge the picture you see grid lines in the background from the computer screen. I think a really bright light table or box with a clean white light in the background would offer the best results. If there is anything in the background besides pure white light it shows up through the slides. I’ve only tested a few but the results were consistent.

by Wrestlingmom125

So far seems super easy to use. I am using the light from a window and holding the phone. I think it would be super when I sit down with a real backlight (lamp) and something to balance my phone so I don’t have to worry about the phone moving! Can’t wait!

by Mistergizmo

I was a bit skeptical at first, but I’d been very happy with the companion photo scanning app, so I took a chance with this one (hey, it’s free to try out for 3 days). Pleasantly surprised at the quality, and easy to use. The developer has done a lot of work on photo processing software, so this is a natural progression for them.

One suggestion: Integrate with Photomyne cloud storage for backup, rather than simply saving to Photos on iPhone (but keep that as an option as well).

by Derryteach

I just discovered SlideScan. I have over 2,000 slides from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Thank you for the economical preservation of my memories.

by Alphjack

SlideScan is perfect for saving all your old slides. I have a light box that artist use for painting, and it is perfect for illuminating my slides. Love it!

by Firesword277

First day but so far is great quality and fast for digitizing slides

by Amarsky

I like SlideScan and I purchased it BUT after I took some pics the first day it blocked me from adding anymore and it’s still locked????? I was excited but now I’m just annoyed. How long to get an answer? A friend just informed me a limit during free trial. I couldn’t find that info but I’ll assume it’s correct. Tomorrow is pay day so hopefully I’m back on. UPDATE: I was having issues but it got fixed. Thank you!