Microfilm vs. Microfiche: Understanding the Difference & Modernizing Your Records

Many agencies still hold extensive archives on microfilm and microfiche. This page breaks down the microfilm vs. microfiche difference, outlines the risks of staying on film, and shows how microfilm digitization and microfiche scanning support a clean move to digital access.

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What Are Microfilm and Microfiche?

Microfilm sits on a reel and holds thousands of images. Microfiche is a flat card with fewer frames grouped by subject or index. These basics help when planning microfilm digitization or converting microfiche to digital projects.

 
 

Key Differences Between Microfilm and Microfiche

The microfilm vs. microfiche difference comes down to how each format stores and retrieves images. This is what separates them:

Microfilm:

  • Reel Format

  • Holds thousands of images

  • Needs a film reader

  • Common in large historical archives

Microfiche

  • Stores fewer images

  • Needs a fiche reader

  • Common in indexed legal, medical, and agency files

  • Flat card format

 
 

Why Organizations Still Use Both

Many agencies still manage records on microfilm and microfiche because these formats were standard for decades. Governments, libraries, healthcare groups, legal teams, and universities built extensive collections of film, and those archives still sit in storage today. This is why microfiche scanning and microfilm digitization remain common needs.

 
 

Risks of Keeping Records on Microfilm and Microfiche

Aging microfilm and microfiche create real exposure for any agency that still relies on them. The following are the core risks associated with long-term storage:

  • Physical degradation over time

  • Reader machines break down

  • Compliance exposure

  • Slow record retrieval

  • High storage expense

  • Limited disaster recovery

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Why Digitizing Matters Now

Digitizing microfilm and microfiche removes daily bottlenecks and cuts long-term risk. Agencies gain fast access to files, better search tools, and stable retention across departments.

  • Fast digital access

  • Searchable files with OCR

  • Secure digital retention

  • Support for compliance needs

  • Easy sharing across teams

  • Lower long-term cost

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How RDS Digitizes Microfilm and Microfiche

RDS follows a clear, controlled workflow for every microfilm or microfiche project. Each step keeps your records accurate, organized, and ready for use.

 

Intake and sample scans

High-resolution capture

OCR for searchable files

 

Indexing and metadata

QA checks

Secure delivery of digital files

 
 
 

Why Agencies Choose RDS

Public agencies and enterprise teams work with RDS for reliable microfilm scanning solutions and microfiche scanning projects. We focus on accuracy, security, and smooth delivery.

  • High-resolution scanning

  • Secure chain-of-custody

  • Custom metadata

  • Government-ready practices

  • Large archive capacity

  • Fast turnaround

  • Scalable project management

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Use Cases 

RDS works with public agencies and institutions to digitize microfilm and microfiche collections at scale. 

  • Modernize public archives by converting reels into fast digital access.

  • Move legal discovery files from fiche cards into searchable images.

  • Digitize county clerk and recorder archives for daily record requests.

  • Convert healthcare imaging records for secure digital access.

  • Turn university fiche collections into searchable research files.

 

Ready to Digitize Your Microfilm or Microfiche?

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