Converting slides to digital files

[Ken L]

There appear to be three options for converting slides and negatives to digital files for storage and display on a PC:

 

1. Go out and buy a scanner for £350 - £700 - Very expensive when all I want to do is convert my uncle's photo's of me, my brother and my cousins from when we were kids.

 

2. Use one of the compainies that offer their services on the web - Sounds good but I'm wary of sending off prised family photos (that arn't mine) to an unknown company where I may or may not see them again.

 

3. Try one of the digital camera adapters that seen to be available and simply photograph the illuminated slides one at a time - A complete unknown.

 

Has anyone actually tried doing this and can anyone make any firm recomendations for companies that offer this service ?

[Guest NickInTheNorth]

Hi Ken

 

Do a search, you will find that there are scanners out there for less than a £100 that will do the job just fine.

 

For example:

 

http://www.infotechshop.co.uk/products.asp...rox-90-8001-200

[Ken L]

Hey, that's a bit good. Have you tried one Nick ?

[Guest NickInTheNorth]

Not used that specific model, but several years ago I used a cheap xerox scanner to convert about 20000 slides for a museum. That worked no problem.

 

The sort of price you mentioned gets you into some serious professional uality kit.

[poledark]

Ken, I have an Epson 1250 photo scanner, comes with neg and slide holders. Here is a neg scan at 1200 dpi........

 

 

You can get the inks cheap as well.

 

I think you should be able to get better quality with it than I have, I just put a neg in and pressed "Go"

 

 

Den

Edited December 31, 2005 by poledark

[Guest franticfisherman2]

I have had good results from a slide viewer/holder which screwed to the front of my video camera. I can save an image to the camera card (3 megapixel) for loading onto a PC or to video tape (640 x 480) for making a video for the TV. If you just buy the viewer/holder you will need a camera to fit it to using stepping rings. slide holder Hope this helps