Scanning colored slides: I have boxes and boxes full of colored slides dating back to my college days in the '60's. I want to scan them into my computer and save them on disks so I can...

FairwayPhotos Loc: Massachusetts, USA

I have boxes and boxes full of colored slides dating back to my college days in the '60's. I want to scan them into my computer and save them on disks so I can make some room in my storage area.

Any suggestions on what scanner to get and any other hints on making this daunting task easier.

Jim

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

The Epson scanners are wonderful for the price V500, V550 and V600 are the best choices and all between $130 and $200 new. You can pay more, but you really won't get any better scans without going to a professional drum scanner and we are talking 5 figures to do that.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

From what I understand, any of the Epson scanners starting with the V600 and up will do the job. Here's a link to the Epson lineup. http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/ProductCategory.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=-16223

I have been thinking of getting one too because I just came across some transparencies and stereo slides of my fathers. I know that the V600 will scan 4 slides at a time and the V700 will scan 12 (I think) slides. I don't know why there's a $500 difference between the two. Maybe someone with more information about Epson scanners can chime in.

canoneer

Good Luck . I too am scanning slides and negatives by the box load. some family photos from the 20s and up. My first slide/film scanner was a nikon ls2000. I still have it but I have no computers that support it's scsi interface.
I'm now using a plustek Opticfilm 7600i. It does a good job of dust and scratch removal. I'm happy with it so far. my scanners only do 35mm. Braun makes one that uses carousel slide trays for slides and will batch scan large numbers of slides.

FairwayPhotos Loc: Massachusetts, USA

Thanks for all the input and suggestions. I'm new on the site here and am certainly impressed by the quick responses and more importantly the quality of those responses.

I finally responded to the "junk" email I kept getting from Ugly Hedgehog and joined. I have been impressed by the discussions I've looked at.

Jim

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

(1) I had an Epson scanner but was dissatisfied with the scans I was getting; I believe the glass interferes with the scan.

(2) I was much more satisfied with a Plustek scanner,

(3) Eventually I got an old WinXP computer and went back to my Nikon LS-2000 scanner; unfortunately Nikon no longer makes scanners.

The scanners are listed in order of increasing quality according to my experience. Interestingly, they are also listed in order of increasing time required for a scan.

Dale40203 Loc: Louisville, KY

I've been watching for more information on the Pentax film duplicator announced last February (2014) at something called the CP+ show.
People have been adapting slide duplicators like the Bowens Illumitrans for film copying but the devices are in short supply. I have scanned film on the Epson V750 and not found the quality I need. Dedicated slide scanners are too slow.

Here is a link to the Pentax product announcement:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/articles/cpplus-2014/pentax-film-duplicator-overview.html

lbrandt79 Loc: League City, Tx.

FairwayPhotos wrote:

I have boxes and boxes full of colored slides dating back to my college days in the '60's. I want to scan them into my computer and save them on disks so I can make some room in my storage area.

Any suggestions on what scanner to get and any other hints on making this daunting task easier.

Jim

Before you decide, consider Scan Cafe, I have had over a thousand scans done by them this year, well last year now, and have been real pleased with their service and the quality. If you are like me, your scanner after you are done scanning will gather dust. I use it occasionally mainly for archiving documents and scanning a check to deposit, nothing however that I could not do without.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Dale40203 wrote:

I've been watching for more information on the Pen... (show quote)

There are already several "scanners" on the market that basically provide the duplicator + lens + sensor. They are inexpensive and claim to be fast, but I have heard negative things about them. I believe that true scanning is needed to properly handle scratches, dust, etc.

Dale40203 Loc: Louisville, KY

rehess wrote:

There are already several "scanners" on the market that basically provide the duplicator + lens + sensor. They are inexpensive and claim to be fast, but I have heard negative things about them. I believe that true scanning is needed to properly handle scratches, dust, etc.

The Pentax is not a scanner (check the link) but a bellows device for use with a camera. Resolution would be that of the camera attached. You're right about infrared based scratch suppression, but - as I mentioned - even a mid level flatbed like the Epson V750 does not give what I consider good results as far as resolution, sharpness.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Dale40203 wrote:

The Pentax is not a scanner (check the link) but a bellows device for use with a camera. Resolution would be that of the camera attached. You're right about infrared based scratch suppression, but - as I mentioned - even a mid level flatbed like the Epson V750 does not give what I consider good results as far as resolution, sharpness.

Yes, I understood that the Pentax device is a copier kit - add camera - but I believe it would be no better than the cheap "scanners" for which they provide some kind of camera.

lbrandt79 Loc: League City, Tx.

FairwayPhotos wrote:

I have boxes and boxes full of colored slides dating back to my college days in the '60's. I want to scan them into my computer and save them on disks so I can make some room in my storage area.

Any suggestions on what scanner to get and any other hints on making this daunting task easier.

Jim

Here is a Scan Cafe Example.

(Download)

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

FairwayPhotos wrote:

I have boxes and boxes full of colored slides dating back to my college days in the '60's. I want to scan them into my computer and save them on disks so I can make some room in my storage area.

Any suggestions on what scanner to get and any other hints on making this daunting task easier.

Jim

My best advice would be to check out the cost of someone who offers this commercially as others have indicated.

Even if you spend the money on a good scanner it is going to take you quite a while. Need to figure your time into the equation and once that's done, it's probably cheaper to buy this service.

I still have a Nikon 5000 (I think its a 5000) that runs on a scsi interface and a computer just to handle it, but I haven't turned it on in so long I have no idea if it would even fire up! Good Luck.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

I have an old Konica-Minolta Diamage (no longer produced) that I use. The associated program lets you color correct as well as lots of other stuff. Getting all of the dust and crud off the slides or negatives is most important. Otherwise, it serves me well, but won't work with Windows7.

superpijak Loc: Middle TN

I have had wonderful success so far scanning by 30+ years of negatives with the Epson V500. Haven't tried slides yet although it has the capability.