Why Pros Still Use a Film Drum Scanner Today

If you're serious about getting every last drop of detail out of your negatives, the film drum scanner is basically the end of the road. It's the high-water mark of analog-to-digital conversion, and even though we're living in an era of 100-megapixel mirrorless cameras and AI upscaling, nothing quite touches the output of a well-maintained drum scanner. It's a bit of a beast to operate, and it's certainly not the fastest way to get your photos onto Instagram, but for fine art and massive prints, it's still the undisputed king. ...

May 12, 2026 · 6 min · Pat Cassie