The ION Pics 2 SD is a slide-to-digital image converter with a top-loading port for converting physical prints. Its decently large screen makes previewing and converting classic media and navigating its menu easy. The included SD card and standalone functionality allow you to digitize your memories immediately. While it’s a relatively inexpensive converter, it lacks a few features and accessories that may hinder your experience.
The slide converter will work well enough for you if your classic photo collection consists mainly of 35 mm slides and film or printed photos. However, if you’re a classic film enthusiast and have boxes full of 110 and 126 film negatives or Super 8 films, this converter cannot help you. It comes with plastic frame loaders for your slides and film negatives, helping hold them in place during conversion. The device digitizes your images with a resolution output of 10MP, which is low compared to the best slide-to-digital converters.
The most impressive thing about the ION Pics 2SD is its large preview screen. It measures 3.2 inches and is the second largest screen of any converter we reviewed next to the Wolverine Titan, Having a large screen makes it easy to preview and edit your images, or to view all of them once you’ve finished converting them. If you want to transfer your newly restored images to your computer for safekeeping or share them online, you can use the included SD card, or one of your own, up to 4GB. If you plan on digitizing many images, you’ll have to pause frequently to transfer converted images to your computer and empty the card before continuing. The unit measures 8.7 x 8.2 x 5.8 inches and weighs 3.5 pounds, the second-largest converter we tested next to the Pacific Image ImageBox MF.
The slides to digital converter ships with a one-year manufacturer warranty. Should you ever have a concern or question about the product, you can contact the company’s customer support reps by either telephone or email. ION also hosts a variety of educational resources about the product on its website, such as a FAQ section and user guide.
Considering that the ION Pics 2 SD has “SD” in its name, we were disappointed to learn that it doesn’t allow for SD cards larger than 4GB. Additionally, we found its massive lack of format compatibility to be surprising, along with its low output resolution. However, suppose you aren’t too concerned with these features and need a simple device to convert your physical prints or 35 mm media. This converter may be just the right choice for you, especially since it’s the second most expensive unit we reviewed.
