A common notion among photographers is that film photography is the superior standard of the industry. Therefore, when photographers, production managers and those in charge of developing photography for their business or agency need to develop their film photos, drum scanners are often the preferred printing method.

PMT vs CCD

CCD, or, “charge-coupled device” scanners are the general scanners used in everyday homes and offices. Like most digital photographic technologies, a CCD scanner employs a memory chip to capture the photo of its contents using a lens. The oversimplified way of defining a CCD scanner is that it takes a picture of your picture, but with a cheaper lens. It’s not hard to see why photography purists would prefer an alternative method that doesn’t jeopardize resolution.

Enter the PMT scanner; PMT stands for “photo multiplier tubes.” The PMT scanner is built using vacuum tubes that replicate the image one pixel at a time. It is this differentiation that film photography developers are looking for. By drilling down into each pixel of a photograph, the scanner is able to reproduce the original photograph more precisely than CCD methods.

PMT Scanners in Mainstream Media

Most big-name publishers and photography brands use PMT scanners to develop their film photography. From National Geographic to Rolling Stone and historical societies throughout the United States, the desire to digitize film photography as qualitatively as possible is in constant demand.

Drum Scanners at Duggal

With PMT scanners costing as much as $50,000 each, many photographers consult Duggal to digitize old film photographs without the upfront investment—especially knowing the importance of proper photo organization. Let Duggal help you properly and safely scan your film photos with our top-of-the-line drum scanners.