Danielmb

Ed Hamrick drafted new software for my old Nikon Scan IV -- my old favorite slide scanner. Ed did a great job and I have been using the new software to scan hundreds of 35mm slides. It is as though the good old days of slide scanning have taken on new life. The big problem is finding a version of the Nikon Coolscan iv.

Steved3604

Lot of discussion on this and other sites regarding slide and negative scanning. I feel what it comes down to is labor, equipment and quality. Most projects have those three elements. Quality can be defined and is somewhat subjective. Usually quality in scanning is resolution. So the question is what size file/resolution and what size print from the scan. Labor is you (not really free - it just seems like it) or you pay someone to do it. And equipment will also decide he quality and amount of labor and time. As suggested above budget is a concern. If it was me and I don't want to make a career out of this project, I would use a very good digital camera which is much, much quicker than most scanners. (Is the quality good enough?) Or an automated slide scanner that holds more than one slide. I like the Nikon Coolscan 5000 with the auto feeder (real expensive) I also like Vuescan software. Silverfast is good too. As suggested, any equipment you purchase can be resold. Haven't used some of the scanners listed above but they have good specs. I like Epson, Canon and Nikon scanners. I've heard of setups with older computers (multiple) and scanners (multiple) so you can keep loading and scanning. The computer doesn't really matter if it works well and is the latest model because its only acquisition of the image. I also like the idea of doing other things when I am scanning. I would do 20-36 slides at a time on automatic and it still seemed like I was always needed at the scanner. I can't image the labor of 4 to 8 or so at a time. With the camera you could do a box (36) or two a day and that would be a thousand or so a month. Since you probably only want to do this one time don't skimp on any of the items needed. PS you will also need a can of Dust Off because even though you have Digital Ice, etc. if the slides are older than a few minutes dust is always an issue. And it doesn't hurt to do an Alpha test (you or someone has done it on line) that can give you answers to the important questions before you embark on a few thousand slides. Good Luck and stay safe.

Chessysailor Loc: Southport, NC

I think you need to decide why you want to convert your sides. If you are a casual "snapshot" photographer, I think you will find that you only want to convert a very small percentage of your slides. Do you really need another photo of the Eifel Tower taken 30 years ago? You will probably keep a lot of personal photos and only exceptional photos of non-people. Secondly, do you have a plan on how the slides are going to be indexed? Now that you are all done, what are you going to do with the files? How many times are you going to show them your wife and kids? I would suggest that you show them once and then they will never ask you again.
This string has lots of good suggestions on scanners. If the slides are for commercial purposes then you might want the very best that your budget allows. Commercial scanners make great pictures but in my experience, they are very slow. If your slides are snapshots, then the quality of the scanner is not so important. I use a Epson V370 with fine results.

Lou Razzano Loc: Miami, Florida

I have a Plustek 8200 that comes with Silverfast softwarethat I've had for over 5 years and it works flawlessly for scanning both slides as well as 35 mm negatives--I love it! It can remove any imperfections or dust that lies on the surface of a negative and is capable of scanning at up to 7200 dpi (takes about 3 minutes at that high of a resolution) which is amazing as you can have a 35 mm negative that can be printed at 12 X 18 inches at that high of a resolution. You can set it for any particular type of film that was used to take a picture.

crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

Consider the Epson V750 PRO.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Virtually every photography topic under the sun has been discussed on this forum. Perhaps there should be a general statement up front stating that anytime anyone has a a question or inquiry that they make a thorough search of the archives rather than irritating those of us who find find repetitive requests for advice annoying.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Of course, you COULD just not read them. Nobody is twisting your arm.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Actually that was the point I was trying to make to Louparker who complained about this question being posted ad nauseum. I thought I had used "quote reply" but perhaps I missed doing that.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

And, actually, I thought that your idea was/is a very good one. Better than my usual "Just ignore it and it will go away" approach.

Hip Coyote

I have the Epson v600 and like it. On of the limitations is the speed of the computer...in my case, the faster the computer, the faster the scanning process. In any event, I just started doing slides and negatives. The scanner works great for my purposes. I simply set up the scanner and start a scan, leave and come back (doing what ever), save the work and start a new process. The software supplied with the V600 works well.

One thing...not every slide or negative is worth keeping. I have really started curating my collection...if it is not something that evokes a memory, is a very good piece of art or has a bit of history to pass on, I toss it. Pictures of some mountain on my vacation in 1972 might have been interesting in 1972, but not today. The other thing is that on the "keepers" for photos, I write a small description on the back. I had a relative that wrote a small story on every photo (back in the day.) What a gift that has been for years.

adedeluca Loc: holbrook ny

I use an Epson 4490 photo scanner

It takes a little practice .
If you PM me I can set you up with what have found to optimize this scanner especially for
Kodachrome slides.

I have scanned thousands and it is blast to see you images again and then digitize them to do whatever you want .

Mike

adedeluca Loc: holbrook ny

Awesome pictures

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

I bought the V600 earlier last year. It does an amazing job.