What are my options for getting slides onto the computer?

[Andy_Pearlman]

I beg to differ, but the 3200 does not do 8x10 transparencies (if that's what you were implying, since he asked about slide scanning) but will do 8.5x11 flat art, and it sells for $400 (unless you want the better software package, which adds $200). While it is an excellent scanner (only up to 3200dpi though, not 12,000) it only has something like a 5x9 light source in the lid. I tested it, and it comes with three plastic frames for holding different sizes of film. I know people who have used it for 120mm and larger film, but anyone with a serious 35mm library (like me) would want a dedicated film scanner. They're getting cheaper all the time. The Minolta 5400 is $850 at B&H, the Nikon Coolscan IV is like $950.

You can find used film scanners on Ebay for under $300, BUT a word of warning. Make sure the shipper will warrant that it works, and that it has the proper "lock down" screws before they ship it to you. If they don't and it gets bounced around in shipping, in the case of Nikon, you can spend another $250 to have it repaired (calibrate, clean, etc) it. Also, be sure you know how it connects. Older scanners used SCSI (and came with a SCSI card), the newer ones are on USB and Firewire. Also make sure you get the software (and there are updates on manufacturer's websites).

Or if this is a one-time thing, look around for a place (call some of the bigger labs in NYC, like Duggal) that does Kodak Photo CD. They're usually around $2-3 per 18mb scan (but make sure you get the free Kodak software to open the proprietary file format). I've had good and bad experiences with these, which is one reason I got my own scanner. The one bad experience produced a set of flat, awful-color scans, which when I complained, turned out to be from an uncalibrated scanner, so they were re-done with excellent results.

Regards,
Andy Pearlman
Andy Pearlman Studio

[objektiv]

Is this what you're using? I already have a cheap flat bed and my primary interest is scanning negatives and slides and I hear that flatbed's don't do a great job with slides/negatives.

[Art]

Hi Andy,

Didn't mean to imply that the Epson is anywhere near the range in quality of the Nikonetc... or a drum scanner for that matter. Just for me, a mostly non-professional, it's good enough for the price. And it can scan 120 film at 12800dpi, I know 'cause I made the mistake of trying that setting right after I bought the thing and then went out grocery shopping for 65 minutes while it scanned in a ridiculus gigabyte size file. Now I set my scans at 800 or 1200 dpi. I made a mistake about the 8x10, it's 4x5 transparencies that's the largest size, and 8x10 prints or artwork. You are right about the better quality scanners coming down in price. Looking forward to even more price drops, particulary for 6x6 backs!

Art.

[Art]

...for now. Yes it is what I use.

I know that as Andy pointed out, dedicated scanners will come down in price soon and I may chuck this next year. One reason I got this was that I did not have cut my film to make a scan. Not a big deal, but combined with the costs at the time I bought the machine, this was the best value for my needs.

One day, hopefully, I won't have to bother with scanners when the prices of 6x6 backs become reasonable. Now that'll be the day!

Art.

PS If you do get this, buy a lot of Dust-off!

[Andy_Pearlman]

Art - not to give you a hard time, but I would be really interested to know how you got a 12,800 dpi scan? That would make it the most high-resolution scanner in the world, and for only $400? That scanner is a 3200pdi scanner, no matter what size film or print you are scanning - that's why its 3200 dots (or, pixels really) per inch. Only interpolation (which is a valid tool) could get you up that high. If you scan a piece of 2 1/4" square film, at 3200 dpi, that would give you (theoretically) 7200 pixels in one direction, times 7200 pixels in the other direction, for a about a 150mb file.

Regards,
Andy Pearlman
Andy Pearlman Studio

[mhickey]

Actually my scanner has a resolution (interpolation) for that size but it sucks up all the ram etc as well as every stray ion in the room that it is not worth doing.

[Art]

I just selected 12800 and hit scan. I'll never do that again! Here's the window where you can make that selection.



Art