The USB port acts as the power source. You just plug your USB 35mm scanner into the USB port, place your slide or film negative into the holder or the scanner, and the image will appear on your computer screen via the software that comes with the machine. Next your just hit the scan button and the machine converts the slide or negative into a digital image that you can either view on the scanner or transfer to your computer’s hard drive where you can print it, email it to family members and friends, post to social networking sites such as Flickr, or store on CDs for later viewing.

A USB 35mm negative film slide digital converter scanner come from a wide variety of manufacturers and can cost anywhere from $99 to over $1000. The wide difference in price is mainly determined by the quality of the digital image that you get. For example, the Wolverine F2D 35mm film scanner scans at a quality of 1,800 dpi , whereas the Nikon Super CoolScan 5000 ED, retailing at $1199, scans at 4,000 dpi. So there is a wide range of prices and quality to choose from.

Before investing in a USB 35mm scanner you will need to decide on your budget and what quality of image you are willing to pay for. You also need to take into account what film scanners are compatible with your computer and operating system. Some only work with Windows XP and Vista, while others are also compatible with Mac computers and software.

A film scanner is a great way to preserve and digitize all of those old family photos and travel slides you may have accumulating in your closet or attic. A USB 35mm scanner is convenient to use. You just need a USB port on your computer and the software that comes with the particular scanner you decide to buy. Place your slide or negative into the machine, push a button, and within a few seconds you will have a brand new digital image of that old slide or negative.

Here are some of the major features of this top of the line Nikon 35mm film scanner:

• 4,000 dpi true optical scanning
• Scans are previewed in in 11 seconds, and full scans can be done in as little as 20 seconds
• Digital ICE4, a suite of advanced image correction technologies
• High performance Nikkor ED lens that minimizes image distortion and reduces color aberration
• High speed USB interface which makes for easy and fast image transfer
• PC as well as Mac compatible
• A color management system that is enhanced for higher precision and is in compliance with ICC  version 4 standards

Included are the 35mm film scanner, USB cable, power cord, slide and negative mount adapters, Nikon software on CD-ROM (Nikon Scan 4, Nikon View) and a user’s guide.  The CoolScan 5000 ED comes with a limited one year warranty.  There is also an optional slide feeder that holds up to 50 mounted slides as well as a roll film adapter that is optional, holding as many as 40 frames of uncut film rolls.

This Nikon 35mm film scanner truly is a high performance machine.  It consistently gets great reviews from users who are very pleased with the image quality that the scans produce, as well as its flexibility and ease of use.  The automatic contrast and color compensation as well as the ICE 4 suite help to produce accurate and beautiful scans.  The film scanner is easy to operate with the plug and play, user friendly USB interface and one touch scanning.

One potential drawback is that, although it is advertised to be compatible with Macs, some Mac users have had difficulty using the  Nikon Super CoolScan 5000 ED with their computer.  Also, if your computer is not well optimized, the software could cause system crashes.  There is a learning curve, but most users find the users manual to be well documented.

If you are a professional photographer, this Nikon 35mm film scanner is a must.  If you are a serious amateur or if very high quality digital images are a priority for you, then you should consider investing in the Super CoolScan 5000 ED.