Scanning slides?

[Scubaroo]

Hey all,

Has anyone had any success getting slides scanned for use on the web? I've seen some consumer devices that can scan slides (and 35mm film negatives) for a few hundred dollars, but the resolution is only around 2400dpi, which I've heard isn't great quality for a slide scan if you blow it up to full screen size, though I'm interested in hearing any experiences. I want to put most of my stuff on the web, and would prefer to shoot slides over print film, because as a beginner I think I would benefit from the higher exposure latitude slide film offers.

cheers,

Ben

 

[Dee]

Other than buying a slide scanner, you can have your slides put on a CD when you have them processed. What I do is...take my slides home, view them and seperate the Keepers from the Suckers. I take the Keepers back and have those few put on a CD. I'll use the same CD for quite a few slides instead of using a new CD each time.

...would prefer to shoot slides over print film, because as a beginner I think I would benefit from the higher exposure latitude slide film offers.

You've got this backwards! It's print film that gives you more latitude. With slide film you need to be ALOT more precise in your aperature, shutter speed and strobe placements....it is not very forgiving at all.

 

[Scubaroo]

oops on the slide film
thanks on the CD tip

 

[scorpiofish]

Well....

First, Dee is correct, print film provides more exposure latitude.

Second, if you want to scan print film it is far better to scan the negatives, rather than the prints. To do this, you will need a film scanner, not a flat bed scanner or a flat bed scanner with an adaptor.

Third, 2400dpi film scanner will work fine for the web/monitor resolution. Adjusting the image via software will be far more critical.

Fourth, as Dee mentioned, the photo lab can put the images on CD for you. With print film they can scan the whole roll fairly inexpensively. Slides will cost you more.

I have an expensive 4000dpi Nikon slide scanner that can multi-scan the image up to 16 times. It's a time consuming process. If I shoot print film I just get a CD with the prints. If there is a particular shot I want for larger printing, I scan the film at 4000dpi. The high res scans are for large prints done on my ridiculously expensive printer.

 

[Greg G.]

Just how ridiculous are we talking price-wise? What would you recomend for the average schmoe who just does casual u/w photo and would like to get a half-way decent scanner for slides and/or prints w/o taking out a mortgage on their house?

Originally posted by scorpiofish
Well....

I have an expensive 4000dpi Nikon slide scanner ... The high res scans are for large prints done on my ridiculously expensive printer.

 

[scorpiofish]

The Coolscan 4000 runs about $1600. The Nikon Coolscan IV runs about $900.

I got the 4000 for high quality scans, since I print my own large scale photos on a dye-sublimation printer.

You can get a HP slide scanner for under $400 these days and an Epson 1270 or HP Photosmart printer for under $400 also. I've got a Photosmart, which I still use. It gobbles up ink jet cartridges pretty fast doing 8x10s. Plus the ink fades farely fast over time.

 

[UKPhil]

For my basic MX-10, I found a good option was to use print film and get the lab to give you the prints + CD option. Cost about £11 ($15) in the UK for a 36 roll, no doubt would be cheaper in the US...

 

[Brad]

me? i provision the good skiff for a couple of nights on the water and just head out.... Depending on the weather, i will either go past the east end or the west end of catalina and end up at some fascinating place. I slip into the water with my trusty MX10 and go searching for a subject! (on saturday evenings, i listen to garrison keillor's' A Prairy Home Companion' from the edge of the universe-splendid!).

We (my janeen and i) just acquired a new scanner (epson Perfection 1650 photo) it has the ability to scan 35mm negatives. Being a seafaring man who knows little about the technical aspects of the fine art, i will most likely have to stumble thru an alkward indoctrination to this new technology. We are waiting for the new epson printer to become available, then we will be put the scanner/printer to good use. (hopefully)

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this type of negative scanning equipment? It would be nice to have a few pointers!

Anyway, i'm a total amateur

Brad

(loves the sea)

 

[sillago]

Hi
THere is another alternative to spending too much money which I find might be alright if you just want to put stuff on the web. I have used a nikon coolpix 995 to scan in positives and the resolution you get is very decent. I think the cost of a digital camera plus the slide adapter is cheaper than most slide scanners. Also you get to have another toy for you to play with!

 

[Rooster]

Originally posted by sillago
Hi
THere is another alternative to spending too much money which I find might be alright if you just want to put stuff on the web. I have used a nikon coolpix 995 to scan in positives and the resolution you get is very decent. I think the cost of a digital camera plus the slide adapter is cheaper than most slide scanners. Also you get to have another toy for you to play with!

You can get a decent slide scanner for less than the price of the CP-995 and slide copy attachment. But your scanner won’t be able to take decent photos, and scan slides. I just got the slide/negative copy attachment for my CP-995. Although it is not as good as a high quality slide scanner, it does a very good job. It does a much better job than my Canon flat bed scanner with slide attachment. I wouldn’t recommend you go out and buy one just to copy or digitize slides, but if you already have a CP-990 or 995 this may be the ticket for you. Here is an on-line article on how it works. http://www.digitalsecrets.net/secrets/995SlideDupe.html

And here is a copy of one of my slides.


Diver safe,
Rooster