rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Joe, I'd suggest you check these folks.
http://www.scancafe.com/
--Bob

Clifster

I have recently started using an Plustek 820i slide/film scanner. I then load them into Lightroom and "fix" them. This process usually entails color balancing, etc. Also, the scanner does a seperate scan for surface dust, etc. and can automatically remove these by subtracting the IRscan from the slide scan. I find this process quite good as removing dust (and some fingerprints) from 30+ year old slides/film can be very difficult if the problem is bound to the surface from many years of storage.

I used to do a lot of slide duplicating using a Nikon slide dup bellows adapter. That is still in storage, but I think it will work incredibly well with a flash softbox or with different kinds of backlights as a source. I plan to try this later, when my workshop is done. Wish me luck!

Clifster

I have recently started using an Plustek 820i slide/film scanner. I then load them into Lightroom and "fix" them. This process usually entails color balancing, etc. Also, the scanner does a separate scan for surface dust, etc. and can automatically remove these by subtracting the IRscan from the slide scan. I find this process quite good as removing dust (and some fingerprints) from 30+ year old slides/film can be very difficult if the problem is bound to the surface from many years of storage.

I used to do a lot of slide duplicating using a Nikon slide dup bellows adapter. That is still in storage, but I think it will work incredibly well with a flash softbox or with different kinds of backlights as a source. I plan to try this later, when my workshop is done. Wish me luck!

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I too have an Epson flatbed scanner. My version is the V500. I think the current version is the V550.

Although not exactly IN Vietnam, I flew the oceans around it in a P-3 Orion taking lots of boat and ship pictures with a Beseler Topcon loaded with Tri-X for "Naval Intelligence". My personal camera was a Nikkormat and I shot a lot of Kodachrome and Ektachrome.

I do not have the goal of scanning all my slides, but I enjoy going through and finding old favorites. The Epson scanner will do a few slides at a time. I've also got a Canon Pro-100 printer to make prints of what I've scanned. The results exceed my expectations.

The scanner is about $180 and the printer (after rebate) about $130. Assuming you already have a computer those two devices make for a complete digital darkroom for a total of $310! Together they make better prints than I did when I had a real darkroom that cost thousands in 1970 dollars.

Here are a couple examples of scanned slides from a short "diplomatic" trip to Iran via Diego Garcia.

(Download)


(Download)

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/film-scanners

There are Service Centers who will copy and print or deliver digital copies.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

It is a piece of history, and I encourage you to try to save them. I picked up an old SCSI interface Polaroid SprintScan 35 for about $50. Worked well, but slow, and the Polaroid SW was so-so. In the end, I bought an Epson V600 for ~$200, and as others have said, the SW that comes with it is very good. I shot primarily B&W (Tri X of course), so no color fading to deal with. I was asked to present to a high school course on the VietNam conflict when my son was in HS, and the slide show was a hit - the instructor said it was the best class they had all year. Give it a try, and save that piece of our history. Here are a couple from '68/'69 (SOOC - contrast is too high, highlights blown out, and they need PP)

jim quist Loc: Missouri

You can photograph them with your camera using one of these that attach to your lens.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=slide%20duplicator&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

HarryBinNC Loc: Blue Ridge Mtns, No.Carolina, USA

We used to dabble in art show slides, mostly of jewelry and small art objects. One of our clients had a few slides that he wanted to convert and print to 16x24 to display in their show booth. The results from print labs were always disappointing. We had a flatbed scanner and a 35mm scanner - neither was up to the client's expectations.

Fortunately, we had just acquired a D700, and already had a 60mm Micro Nikkor lens and a small light table that had very even LED daylight illumination. I set the camera up on a boom pointing down at the slide/light table, and filled the viewfinder with the positive image inside the cardboard frame. Voila! - I was rewarded with the best slide copies I had ever seen! After some cleanup in PS, I did some 6x9 proofs, which turned out great. Finally, I took the cleaned up "scans" to my favorite print lab for the 16 x 24's.

After getting the prints, we matted and framed them, and handed them over to our client - they were ecstatic over the quality and faithfulness to the projected slides! Since then, We have never bothered to use a scanner for 35mm slides.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Authentic pictures of the Nam era, if they show any action (not necessarily combat), seem to be quite popular on YouTube right now. I would think that a selection of pictures might make an interesting coffee table book. Of course, you'll want something besides two dozen pictures of canopy. One thing I seldom see is pictures of quiet moments at FB's. In 65-66, they didn't allow cameras in our areas.

philphotog Loc: Perth, Scotland

Hi Joe. Good to have hard copies of memories. Best way, I suggest would be to purchase (if you think you would use it again) would be a separate slide and negative scanner.....they're not too expensive...and scan to your computer......quite simple, really....and then print from your computer in the normal way as you would normally. As a matter of interest, my local Lidl stoe outlet is currently retailing these scanners which do 35mm negatives as well as transparencies for £26.00 ...not sure what this would be in US dollars an are ver straightforward to use. Might be worth purchasing similar if you plan ti perhaps use it again in the future. Hope this helps.
As a matter of interest, I was in the Royal Air Force...not as a flyer though..on the administrative side in Courts of Enquiry and air accidents......termed on this side of the pond as 'a shiney arse' due to the fact that we 'fly a desk'......
Cheers, cheers.
Philphotog. Perth, Scotland,

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It's not cheap, at about $0.35 per slide, but ScanCafe does an excellent job of scanning slides. They clean them and correct for color shift. When they have scanned them, you get a preview, and you can delete some you don't like. Then they let you download all the slides while you wait for a disc to arrive in the mail.

Alternatives -

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.photos.scanner&hl=en
http://opteka.com/slidecopier.aspx
https://smile.amazon.com/Wolverine-Super-20MP-Digital-Converter/dp/B00GIDADP0/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g2609328962?_encoding=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&ie=UTF8
http://www.scancafe.com/services/slide-scanning

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I second this thought! If you have them on a CD you can print them, give copies to friends and relatives, etc. AND - if you have them in digital format you can post some of them here - I am sure many of us would love to see them and appreciate them very much! Those who served and those of us who lost loved ones there especially would appreciate seeing them.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

This crops from time to time. I asked the same myself a while back but forget quite why I didn't proceed. What I did find out was that this is often a one time experience so it's worth looking for a good secondhand recommendation. On this, and another U.K. based forum I use, the Plustek Optifilm 7500 / 8100 so maybe worth a look there for new or pick up 2nd hand. If you buy 2nd hand the seller should be able to show you some examples of work he/she has completed.

http://plustek.com/uk/products/film-and-photo-scanners/

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

I scan slides with an Epson 4490 scanner; it does a good job. I got the software from Vuescan, worked first time, everytime, better than the Epson software. Thescanner is good, plenty of them available.

barrdennis

I do slide by putting them on a light board and shooting them with a d-800 with a macro lense in raw and process them through raw and take them into photo shop for final edit. Denny Barr