I have been digitizing hundreds of slides using a Nikon D7100 with a 40mm macro in a modified duplicator. This is a similar rig to that shown in the DAM (DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT) book. Excellent reference. I shoot them using Lightroom on capture and I can then build a quick preset from one adjusted and apply that to all one batch (such as white balance, color shifting etc.) Also, I can also digitize b/w negatives. I have also used a Plustech 8100i, which does a good job of eliminating embedded dust in old slides.

I have one in pretty bad shape. Is it still available?

About 100, from a 1900 8x10 view camera, SpeedGraphic 4x5, minoxes, many box cameras, 15 or so polaroids, my first Ansco cadet, a few beautiful Kodak 1s to 3s, and currently Nikon D3300, D5200, D7200. Finally, I upgraded to Sony A7R3 for landscape photography.

I have been digitizing many slides from up to 50 yrs old using my Nikon D7200 and a 40mm macro with a rebuilt bellows I found at an estate sale. This is very much like the rigs used in the DAM book (Digital Asset Management). That is a great source of info on digitizing many types of slides, negatives, etc. I just bought one of the print scanners for my sister which does stacks of prints up to 8-1/2 x 11 (also good for all those documents) to do the 10 or so boxes of old prints from generations of relatives. The scanner does BOTH sides of prints so all the written notes on the backs are also done. I digitized about 200 old polaroid prints as well. The Epson can scan up to 1200x1200, although most of the prints are not really that good, due to being done by various old point and shoot small cameras. My aunt Omega did have an interesting way of shooting various grave markers in cemeteries but she did always take a snap of the entrance so we know where she was!

All these youngsters that do not know what a slide tray or cube really make me feel old! I have a dozen or so trays, many cubes and even some really cool leather slide cases with many slide drawers. Also, many many pages of negatives I am waiting for an easy way to convert neg to pos from digitized color negatives.

Is the Sony still for sale?

Is the Sony still for sale?

Everyone, THANK YOU ALL! These posts have given me a tremendous amount of information. The good thing about this site (well, the one that comes to mind with my post and the answers) is that people give real personal experiences from which I can see where my needs fit in. I see that I need to "percolate" on these and come up with the best systems for my use. And none too soon as I will be heading out in my motorhome in a few weeks to Carlsbad and area, then Meteor Crater, possibly other sites that strike my fancy. Later this summer, all the way to Oregon for the total eclipse and straight on till morning.

I am sure the advice given by everyone will allow me to travel with the right kit for on-site evaluation and the post-work whenever I get home for a while. This retirement bit is getting busy!

Regards, and thanks again.

Clif

The extra battery comment is spot on. Just when you are getting the hang of it (Drones, RC cars, flash units, etc.) is when the low bat light comes on.

I have done a number of panorama shots using Nikon 5300 and 7200 cameras. It is really eay to just shoot away (you do not really need a tripod) and stitch the images together, then crop for a great panorama. I saw one video where the photog took 12 shots in a 2-row by 6 wide shoot, then combined them in a really neat shot. Of course, the NASA dudes have been stitching many, many images together for years.

I am currently using an HP Envy desktop for all my Lightroom and Photoshop work. I have remodeled a storage unit into a photo workshop and I want to put a new PC in it for Photo work only. Any recommendations on processor power, gigs of RAM. I have some slowdowns with previews and the like on my current unit.

Second, I have a Plustek slide/neg scanner that is great, but slow and a new print scanner that I will be using a LOT once the shop is fully operational. I know that a lot of hard disk space (and an equal or greater backup system), but that is just good fast drives.

Third, I will be on the road a lot this year all over the US and would like a laptop for at least first-pass Lightroom and Photoshop work while I am living out of a motor home. I know there will be some performance trade-offs there, but are there any suggestions on a good one to use for the preliminary work?

Thanks in advance to any replies.

Clif Hunt

The 500 mirror is a fixed aperture lens, probably f8, like the Nikkor 500mm mirror. You should look in the owners manual and find the section on setting up a manual lens. I did that for my 300mm AI lens, and it works perfectly now. Also, the metadata shows the appropriate information. The 300mm "looks" like a 450mm due to the crop factor for the D7xxx sensor, so the 500 should look like a big ol' honking 750! I have a Nikkor 500, but it is still somewhere in storage from my move, so I have not tested it. You can find the information on pages 224-226 in the D7200 manual, which you can download from various locations with an app to allow you to look up items on your phone/tablet. Remember when setting up a non-CPU lens, the maximum, aperture is the smallest number (or, of course, the only number for a single aperture lens). Good luck! Let us know what happens.

I use an old Nikkor 105 f2.8 AI lens. I have seen many reviews on the clarity of this lens. I like macro photog work. I have a N7200, which I bought to use my stable of AI lenses. I really like the 300mm ED lens, which works as a 450mm with the DX sensor, so moon shots, etc, are fun.

I really liked image #2. The cropping is tight. If you use PS, maybe you could try lightening up the tall tombstone in the foreground a bit.

For smaller items, I use a 2' x 2' shadow box, where I can roll up the background. It is small enough to iron it when needed.