Digitising pictures

[nandbytes]

I have got a couple of pictures/prints I'd like to digitise.

I have access to a scanner in the office which is of course simple to use. While its works well for documents not sure its great for digitising pictures.

So the next option is to shoot with camera. I have an A7RII with 16-35mm f4, 85mm f/1.8, a cosina 100mm macro and a bunch of manual prime (but no macro lenses).
I get that the usual idea is to put the picture on the floor, make sure camera sensor is parallel to the floor, use good lighting and shoot.

Just wondering if I should consider borrowing a good macro lens for this to get even sharpness across the frame with no distortions? Has anyone done this before?

 

[droj]

Hmmm - no takers? Nowt to lose by trying the office scanner? Is it connected to a pc, does it have a scanning app? You need to be able to control tonal range (as with curves / levels).

You have a Cosina 100mm macro, but no macro lenses? That doesn't make sense.

How big are the prints, and what type of prints are they?

Sounds like you're being over-fussy about lenses. But you're not going to use the wide zoom. Are you? Your enemies with the photo route are likely to be specular reflections (control the lighting - don't use flash), and dust.

 

[nandbytes]

I meant I have a bunch of manual lens none of which are macro lenses (apart from the cosina 100mm which isn't a manual lens, which I suppose doesn't matter in this case)

So I have a few pictures of baby scans so I imagine something like 4:3??
They are rather small, flimsy and sensitive. Also can't be put into albums. So I want to digitise them and may be print it too.

It's a huge office network scanner+printer. So yes it's connected to my laptop. I could try but since these scans are light sensitive and scanning directly shines light on them I didn't want to risk it.

I wasn't going to use flashes. since the scans are very glossy I imagine reflections are an issue. I hadn't considered that. Hmmm... Dust too... Also hadn't considered that. This is why I posted here, thanks for the heads up

 

[4wd]

You'll probably find photographing and cropping in plus some PS surprisingly effective.
You are used to deal with the camera files and it's quick and easy to take several shots , plus you have RAW so better for any adjustments.

 

[droj]

Ah. Sounds like a tripod and macro lens job then. Although since you don't have to fill the frame (you have enough resolution to crop later), maybe the 85mm (which is likely free of linear distortion) - if that's easier.

Could be done with window light. Play with the position of the print till it's reflection-free.