Dean Sturgis

I use Scancafe as well as scanning my own work.
Sometimes they used the same model scanner as I have at home.
General thoughts:
1. They can scan medium format & larger, I don't have equipment to do it.
2. They do a better job with Black & White than I been able to do.
3. They do a very good job of cleaning the slide or negative before scanning or making the scan look like it is well cleaned.
4. They over crop (don't scan the full area of a slide) usually not a problem but I had to rescan a slide on my own because the composition only looked right by going out to the edge of the film.
5. Sometimes I don't like the color or contrast of of slide they scanned. I had some pictures taken during the golden hour before sunset, they scanned them so that the color was correct for daylight. I was disappointed the picture on the screen didn't match the warm glow of the slide. I find I often have to post process for color, contrast etc. if I do them or Scancafe does them.
6. They scan at 3000 dpi fairly cheap 4000 dpi scans are expensive.
You may have some pictures taken with fine grain film,
in good light, fairly high shutter speed, sweet spot for f stop of the lens, good focus etc. that you may what a higher resolution scan.

dsturgis

mooseeyes Loc: Sonora, California

I have an Epson V700 Photo Scanner. The software is great, and allows me to name and number as I go. Also, with the ICE software, and other abilities, this scanner will take care of dust and dirt.

I scan 12 mounted 35mm slides at a time. 35mm neg film I scan 20 frames at a time. I also can scan medium format film and 4x5 large format film. I have the ability to set my scan levels and other adjustments to match the film that I am scanning. . .positive, negative, color or b&w (including infrared). This scanner also does a great job on reflective material, and if you know what you are doing you can us this scanner like a camera (pretty neat trick).

I would never send any of my film off to some lab to be scanned. Two trips in the mail, plus being in the hands of some lab people who very likely smoke lots of dope, I don't think so. If it is important to me, it is important enough to not take any chance of having my film/slide materials getting lost by any of these people. To those who say they don't have time to scan their film themselves, I can only guess that they don't care that much about their work. Or they are lazy to a fault.

I have in the neighborhood of a million pieces of film that I am working through, getting them scanned, filed, etc. These end up getting put on one of two 3TB external hard drives that I have currently, and will likely end up with many more of these drives. Each 3TB drive is being duplicated for backup.

It is more than worth my time to never let my original film out of my hands. All it takes is one lost shipment, and you have lost much more that you will have ever saved.

David Kay Loc: Arlington Heights IL

I agree on the hesitation to send your slides out of the country to be scanned, for a couple of reasons. One is the security factor and two, lets use USA labor.

Could you pay a young person in your neighborhood to do this for you? It is a routine operation, Like factory work, and you could teach a young student how to do this in minutes and they could help you a few hours periodically until all scans are done.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Take them to Costco.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

If their scanning is dependent on the operator, and is as bad and variable as their printing, GOOD LUCK!

MtnMan Loc: ID

Interesting. We get consistently great results from the Boise Costco. Probably depends on their management.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

It's mostly operator/maintenance dependent. I've got three stores in my area and I've tried printing at them all. WOW did I get different results, even when I applied the printer profiles they provide. And you absolutely MUST turn off the auto correct. That's meant for the soccer mom who pops the card right out of their camera in the store to get them printed.