DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> How to get Slides to Digital, please?
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 33, (reverse)
AuthorThread
03/19/2012 02:05:09 PM · #1
I have a really, really huge amount of slides that my father took that I need to put into digital form.

I've searched the internet and found several machines to do it, but there are so many and I have no idea what I'm looking for.

I don't have a ton of money to spend on it, but will pay extra for ease of use since my time is also valuable.

I think it would be best to have it read the slide and send it straight to my computer instead of on a card inside the reader, but tell me why that's wrong if it is, please.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

There really are a BUNCH of slides and I'm apparently the one in the family for the job of what Daddy left for us. :D

03/19/2012 02:18:08 PM · #2
I have a flatbed Epson scanner with a slide/film scanner in the lid. They are not expensive at all anymore. I bought mine on sale for $70 two years ago. The scanning won't be fully automated with one of these, but it's not bad.
03/19/2012 02:25:25 PM · #3
* It's a very very slow process.
* You can offshore it - see places like scancafe.com
* You used to be able to buy film scanners - they are rare now but doable on ebay or whatevere. I love my Nikon coolscan5000.
* A flat bed can do it at a lower but acceptable to some quality level.
* There are attachments that can be put on the end of a macro lens and you take a digital picture of it.
* You can buy some specialized machines but I cannot speak to their quality - I see then in costco e.t.c.

I have been working my way thru the family slides & negs (and my own) for a decade.... it's an off and on thing for me in batches.
03/19/2012 02:34:11 PM · #4
Everything depends on what kind of quality you expect. If very (and I do mean very) basic levels of quality are OK, then one of the mass-market machines might produce acceptable results. If you want to make high-quality digital archives of the slides, it will be a time-consuming and/or expensive process. You can pay someone to do it right, which will be very expensive. Or you can do it right yourself, which will be very time-consuming, and required some special equipment.
03/19/2012 02:41:43 PM · #5
The key question is do you want to rent a really nice one with auto feed and 7200dpi for a few days or a week and binge on scanning all hours of the day, or buy a lower quality scanner and make it a piecemeal project.If you aren't near a big city rental hub, folks like borrowlenses.com may be worth looking at.
03/19/2012 03:10:58 PM · #6
Thanks, folks.

This is all good information.

I'd love a Coolscan 5000, robs, but $3000 is not in the budget.

Thanks for the rental link, BrennanOB. That might be the way to go.

Yo_Spiff, do you know the model number?

That's what I was afraid of about the quality of those $100 versions, Kirbic. I didn't want to spend it without knowing the quality.
03/19/2012 04:03:02 PM · #7
Originally posted by LydiaToo:


Yo_Spiff, do you know the model number?

I have an Epson Perfection V300

The larger, deeper lid is where the backlight for the film scanner is located.


This was one of my first efforts using it, from one of my negatives taken in the 80's:


Message edited by author 2012-03-19 16:05:39.
03/19/2012 04:07:21 PM · #8
Thanks, Spiffy!
03/19/2012 04:25:08 PM · #9
Flatbed scanners are largely a waste of time for 35mm film. You can get decent results, but nothing like the quality of a dedicated film scanner. The Nikon CoolScan series was the best consumer option, but were expensive and have since been discontinued. Now Plustek is the way to go. They have three models, and the middle one seems to be the best bang for the buck.

Your other option would be ScanCafe. They do the work for you, and you can review the images and choose to delete up to 20% of them at no charge (the rest are 22¢ each). These guys are the top rated film scanning service with one caveat... the film is scanned in India (although there's probably no more risk in sending Fedex to India than to Idaho). Online coupons are widely available for 10-15% off, too.
03/19/2012 04:30:19 PM · #10
Originally posted by scalvert:

Flatbed scanners are largely a waste of time for 35mm film. You can get decent results, but nothing like the quality of a dedicated film scanner.

But what is the level of quality she requires? Everyone seems to be presuming she can't settle for less than the money-is-no-object Smithsonian institute archival level of scanning. Perhaps her relatives just want copies of the pics. I don't see a sub $100 scanner as a waste if it is more than sufficient for the need. Of course, Lydia is the one who knows what she really needs.
03/19/2012 04:45:20 PM · #11
While I use the $3600 Nikon 8000 film scanner and can do amazing things with it, some days my $99 Canon flatbed scanner with the included slide adapter is all that is necessary. So both get lots of use as I convert my archive of 30,000 film images 35mm positive and negatives, as well as 6x6 positives and negatives to digital format.

So, it all depends on the use for the pictures once the images are scanned. If they are for the web, then the flatbed scanner is ideal - low cost, fast, and simple to use. However, if they scan is for archival needs at 4kx4k with accurate colourimetry, then a real film scanner is best.

But, watch out for large file sizes.
03/19/2012 04:49:55 PM · #12
Originally posted by scalvert:

Your other option would be ScanCafe. They do the work for you, and you can review the images and choose to delete up to 20% of them at no charge (the rest are 22¢ each). These guys are the top rated film scanning service with one caveat... the film is scanned in India (although there's probably no more risk in sending Fedex to India than to Idaho). Online coupons are widely available for 10-15% off, too.

These folks often provide certificates to use their sevice as promo items during the local public raio station's pledge drives. I actually talked to the head guy once when I first heard of them, and he said they'd had no lost shipments up to that time. Seemed like an OK company to me ... if you are considering using them, try calling them first and see what feeling you get.
03/19/2012 04:54:32 PM · #13
Thanks, Shannon, Michael, and Paul.

Different uses, I see cost different amounts. :D

I also agree with Spiffy... well except for that last sentence (about me knowing what I really need). :D

I found a used Plustek OpticFilm 7600i SE Scanner for $318 shipped, so I pushed the button for that one.

THANKS BUNCHES for everyone's help!


Now, is anyone looking for one of these: Ambico all-In-One Video Transfer Model V-0652 ? One came in with my slides and I'm hoping to use that toward my scanner.

ETA linky: Ambico All-In-One Video Transfer Model V-0652

Message edited by author 2012-03-19 17:27:43.
03/19/2012 05:26:55 PM · #14
Originally posted by scalvert:

Flatbed scanners are largely a waste of time for 35mm film. You can get decent results, but nothing like the quality of a dedicated film scanner. The Nikon CoolScan series was the best consumer option, but were expensive and have since been discontinued. Now Plustek is the way to go. They have three models, and the middle one seems to be the best bang for the buck.
.


I disagree, flatbeds are perfectly fine for any type of film. I have the Epson V500 and it's great, If I shoot large format I use a friends V750.

Message edited by author 2012-03-19 17:27:27.
03/19/2012 05:50:22 PM · #15
Originally posted by JamesA:

I disagree, flatbeds are perfectly fine for any type of film. I have the Epson V500 and it's great, If I shoot large format I use a friends V750.

I said "decent," but a dedicated film scanner will do a better job. I've had high end Epson and Canon flatbed scanners and a Nikon Coolscan. The Nikon scans are clearly superior. Flatbeds have a maximum dynamic range of 3.2-3.4 while the Plustek 7600 has a Dmax in the 3.6-3.9 range, so it can pull in detail that doesn't even register on the flatbed. In addition, film scanners are designed to hold the film without a layer of glass in front of the sensor and offer sharper focus. They also tend to have automated filmstrip readers, calibration for particular film types and better scratch and dust removal. You can certainly get a good scan from a flatbed, but I look at film scanning as something you only want to do once with the best result possible.

Lydia, let me know what you think of it. I had the 7600 on my Christmas list, but didn't get one and connecting the old SCSI-based Nikon isn't practical in 2012.
03/19/2012 09:40:25 PM · #16
Lydia, I have the Epson Perfection V330 Photo Scanner and it is awesome. Has the same thingy Yospiff was talking about - where you can put in the slides. I intend to the the same as you since I have a ton of slides.
03/20/2012 12:09:22 AM · #17
Originally posted by scalvert:

... connecting the old SCSI-based Nikon isn't practical in 2012.

I have a (working) Mac laptop with a SCSI port ... but your're right -- I don't think your cable will reach ... ;-)
03/20/2012 10:15:58 AM · #18
I completely agree with your comments, this has been my experience too. I can tell the difference between the Nikon 8000 scanner and the flatbed. With that said, flatbeds are the only real remaining option these days. So, the debate is limited as a result.

Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by JamesA:

I disagree, flatbeds are perfectly fine for any type of film. I have the Epson V500 and it's great, If I shoot large format I use a friends V750.

I said "decent," but a dedicated film scanner will do a better job. I've had high end Epson and Canon flatbed scanners and a Nikon Coolscan. The Nikon scans are clearly superior. Flatbeds have a maximum dynamic range of 3.2-3.4 while the Plustek 7600 has a Dmax in the 3.6-3.9 range, so it can pull in detail that doesn't even register on the flatbed. In addition, film scanners are designed to hold the film without a layer of glass in front of the sensor and offer sharper focus. They also tend to have automated filmstrip readers, calibration for particular film types and better scratch and dust removal. You can certainly get a good scan from a flatbed, but I look at film scanning as something you only want to do once with the best result possible.

Lydia, let me know what you think of it. I had the 7600 on my Christmas list, but didn't get one and connecting the old SCSI-based Nikon isn't practical in 2012.

03/20/2012 11:25:53 AM · #19
I picked up one of these on the clearance table at Office Depot for $10 a few months ago. //www.amazon.com/FILM-35mm-Film-Slide-Scanner/dp/B001RUGOIY

You don't even need to attach it to your computer. You load 4 slides at a time, insert an SD card and start pushing the button. It saves the files to SD, which you then transfer to your computer. Basically, I suppose, it's a little 5MP digital camera. My only problem with it is that each time you format your SD card, it starts numbering the images from the beginning again. I have found that it's best to sort the slides first (I sort by year and month, as most slides are dated), scan them in groups and put them in the appropriate folders on your PC from the beginning.

It's quick and easy. And was a bargain for the $10 I paid (it came with a 2GB card).
03/20/2012 12:58:45 PM · #20
I used a sub-$100 flatbed (can't remember the model, sorry) with Vuescan software and then some pp to get very acceptable results from a lot of slides my father gave me. The software made a huge difference in the final quality over and above the 'native' results.
03/20/2012 01:23:19 PM · #21
Originally posted by cmcphee:

The software made a huge difference in the final quality over and above the 'native' results.

Probably the most important factor to consider is the "optical resolution" of the scanner -- ideally (for 35mm slides) it would be 4000dpi or higher, which would give you the equivalent of a 24MP sensor ... a scanner at 2000dpi gives you a 6MP image -- big enough for 8x10 (sometimes 16x20) without cropping, but not much flexibility.
03/20/2012 02:02:18 PM · #22
Lydia, I've been happy with a Plustek for both slides and film for several years after trying an Epson flatbed. You can probably find a basic Plustek for $250 or so. I paid $199 six years ago.
03/20/2012 02:40:37 PM · #23
Originally posted by GeneralE:

Probably the most important factor to consider is the "optical resolution" of the scanner -- ideally (for 35mm slides) it would be 4000dpi or higher, which would give you the equivalent of a 24MP sensor ... a scanner at 2000dpi gives you a 6MP image -- big enough for 8x10 (sometimes 16x20) without cropping, but not much flexibility.

It's not as important as you might think. 2400dpi is probably overkill for typical 35mm scans (files from ScanCafe are 7MP). The software is critical, though. I prefer Vuescan, but Silverfast is also good and comes with the PlusTek SE models.
04/09/2012 08:24:20 PM · #24
I'm having trouble with the scanning... The Silver Fast doesn't give me a .jpg output... and I have to edit it two diff places.. and it's really dark.

Any suggestions?
04/09/2012 08:49:19 PM · #25
Originally posted by LydiaToo:

I'm having trouble with the scanning... The Silver Fast doesn't give me a .jpg output... and I have to edit it two diff places.. and it's really dark.

Any suggestions?

I swapped from the old Nikon non 64bit drivers to vuescan a long while back and been pretty happy. I THINK you can still download a trial version of that software but it kick out watermarked small files. It's not expensive but you might want the pro version instead of regular as it has more options.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 10:16:16 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 10:16:16 PM EDT.