hwink29

I know this topic has been discussed before but not recently. I have years of slides to digitize. I want a higher end scanner under $3,000. I really do not see myself photographing slides.
Nikon scanners are old. Flatbed scanners seem to get only fair ratings.
Would appreciate your thoughts for a relatively new version of slide scanner

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Look here: https://gameslearningsociety.org/best-slide-scanner/
And here: https://www.scanplify.com/best-35mm-film-and-slide-scanner-reviews/

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I bet you could buy something like that, scan your slides, then resell it right here on UHH.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Great idea!

jwreed50 Loc: Manassas, VA

Plustek just released their new Opticfilm 120 Pro a few weeks ago. It's a multi-format scanner that does 35mm slides, 35mm film strips, and 120 film:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=plustek+opticfilm+120+pro&crid=6GCT31WID1AS&sprefix=plustek+opticfilm+%2Caps%2C149&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-o-p_10_18

In my view it's probably the best multi-format scanner that's on the market today. I am using both the Plustek 120 Pro and the Epson V850 flatbed scanner. Both will do batch scanning -- up to 12 slides per holder on the Epson and 5 slides per holder on the Plustek. The Epson gives high quality results and is faster, but I get the best quality scans on the Plustek, although it is slower than the Epson using pretty much the same settings in Silverfast. Scan quality is directly related to the time it takes -- the higher quality the scan is, the longer it takes.

Both of these are quality scanners under $3,000, and both use Silverfast scanning software (which I recommend). You can't go wrong with either option.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

There are no dedicated slide scanners that meet my needs. I have a lot of size 127 Superslides (1 5/8" x 1 5/8" image) and all dedicated scanners will not handle that image size. Flatbed scanners can, of course, but use of them is very slow.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

I would buy a used Nikon 850, the Nikon slide copier and the macro lens that matched. The total should come under $3000. Then I would take 3 shot brackets, which can be programed in the camera, to preserve the option of using HDR to in case I wanted to lift the shadows in post. It will be substantially faster than a quality scan. Besides, the parts are excellent for other photographic purposes and will retain their resale value more than a scanner.

JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC

I spent a number of weeks scanning a few hundred old slides. It became obvious that although (many) certain slides are clearly in focus on a light box using a loupe, they are not in focus with a dedicated slide scanner. Also, if a slide is very dark, in other words, badly underexposed, there is not much to be done to rescue it from a scan, even with photoshop. Then I read on this forum about photographing slides. I bought a Nikon ES-2 at my local camera store for under $100, a step down ring to mate it to my lens size, and used several “close up filters” which are not filters at all, but screw in macro adapters. I can fill the frame with the slide (proportions slightly off, not much). I adjust exposure in camera for the badly underexposed slides, and they turn out far better than I ever thought possible. And everything is in focus. So for under $200, IF you have a lens that will work for this, you can be in business. And instead of scanning 4 slides every 10 minutes, I can shoot probably 10 or more slides in 10 minutes with much better result. Tip, the first step is to see how close your lenses will focus (approximate) before you decide to go this way. If you want to know my combo, I am happy to share. JimR.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

The nice thing about high-end scanners is that they’re FAST at higher resolutions. They just smoke 'em

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Photographing slides is faster.

RB

JimR, please specifically what equipment You use when digitizing negatives and slides. Thank you.

hwink29

what about getting rid of dust and scratches. The scanning software is supposed to do a great job

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

With a camera, you can shoot in raw, there are no slide jams like I often had with the Nikon LS 4000 feeder- (even the newer feeder) and the camera is a lot faster at getting the initial image. The tradeoff is that method has no infrared dust and scratch removal. The LS 4000 IR scan for scratches and dust worked amazingly well for most slides and color negs.