Scanning 35mm

[Mark2703]

Hi All,

New around here so please be gentle, I see there are lots of threads on scanners and I am going round and round in circles reading them all.

First of I am looking to scan a few thousand 35mm negatives and slides, all are family photographs and the intention is to digitise them for future medium proofing as well as the ability to view them on the TV computer etc. The chances of wanting to print them are slim to nil. I will probably end up doing all my Father's too and he has a few more than me.

Appreciate its a laborious job I am halfway through getting all the VHS tapes onto the computer so I have a year or so of projects to get through.

I have access to a canoscan 4400F which I think is a stated max DPI of 2400 but I have my eye on an Epson 500 which are now down to 140 quid on amazon, but read that they are not particularly good for 35mm - why?

Second question - should I stick with the 4400 or is it worth going to the 500, I think the 500 will be a lot quicker and can scan twice as many negs which would be a bonus.

I think 140 quid is quite a small investment to make to ensure the safety of our precious memories but is the 500 the right tool for the job?

Regards

Mark

 

[AJQS]

If youre scanning 35mm it'll be a far nicer job to buy a dedicated negative scanner.

 

[menthel]

I would not be scanning that many negatives and slides myself, it will drive you insane. I would strongly consider paying for someone to do it!

 

[Knikki]

Hi All,

I have access to a canoscan 4400F which I think is a stated max DPI of 2400 but I have my eye on an Epson 500 which are now down to 140 quid on amazon, but read that they are not particularly good for 35mm - why?

Regards

Mark

Simply size.

The flat bed scanners are really designed to scan A4 size pieces of paper so if you have large negs like 6cmx6cm or 5x4 / 10x8 inch then because you have a larger area the scanner will do a better job.

35mm is small and so you have a lot of wasted space in the faltbed scanners. Deicated film scanners will do a better job as that is what they are designed to do from the out set, but then it will cost more to get one.

The Epson 500 from what I have seen is a good scanner but weather it is better than a 4400 best do the Google and see what the reviews say.

 

[PeterA]

As Jim points out scanning film requires a lot of time & patience, so may be worth considering paying someone else to do it unless you have a lot of time on your hands.

Either way I would suggest you look to cut down the number by reviewing all & only selecting the ones you really want.

 

[Mark2703]

Thanks for the replies so far

I realise its a long job and I have the time, I spend more time messing on the computer than watching the TV and have recently retired (although the DIY and other house jobs seem to eat into my life more and more.) Also I won't want every single negative scanned, which is another reason I don't want to pay by the scan as it were.

I did look at the plustek but read mixed reviews and a nikon scanner I think is a bit more than I want to pay, Ebay is not quite the bargain corner it used to be.

I like a challenge and hunting around for the right tool at the right price is half the fun, I doubt if I will be using film again so once this momentus task is complete if I were to get a 35mm scanner it would be sold on.

Which dedicated scanners should I be taking a look at, I see a lot of cheapies out there, but I am assuming you get what you pay for.

Regards

Mark

 

[FruitFlakes]

With the Nikon scanner, you could probably use it to scan all the negs and then sell it back on at the same price - they're very sought after.

 

[RaglanSurf]

I posted this a little while ago in reponse to similar question...


If you trawl through the F&C section you'll find a whole load of discussions about scanning but briefly.

Apologies for this quote from another thread but you get the idea..

If you're really set on scanning them at home and don't intend to shoot any film yourself in the future then your best bet is to get something like the Epson 700 or 750 or the Nikon Coolscan IV or V from ebay. Scan what you want at home then stick it back on eBay when you're done, it's unlikely you'll lose any money, or if you buy carefully you might even make a little profit.

You can read the whole thread here, it's about slides but the same goes for negs pretty much.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/for...d.php?t=337964

There are a whole load of other threads but I think this is the most recent.

Oh, and beware it is one of the most time consuming things I've ever done so it's best left to the long, dark winter evenings when there's nothing on TV and you haven't got any money to go out and spend on beer.

 

[freecom2]

I've used one of the Plustek scanners and they are very respectable pieces of kit, and far above any flatbed. Massive shame they don't do medium format, because I'd probably be all over it. Most of the Nikon offerings have no spare parts, no servicing and very little love from the Nikon service department anymore - and they are a lot of money used considering you are buying into a system that, once dead, is irreparable.

 

[Mark2703]

Snipped -useful info

Oh, and beware it is one of the most time consuming things I've ever done so it's best left to the long, dark winter evenings when there's nothing on TV and you haven't got any money to go out and spend on beer.

Thanks for the link, it got corrupted but I found the thread will probably be scanning whilst monitoring my astro camera and reading forums and making the wife tea

I've used one of the Plustek scanners and they are very respectable pieces of kit, and far above any flatbed. Massive shame they don't do medium format, because I'd probably be all over it. Most of the Nikon offerings have no spare parts, no servicing and very little love from the Nikon service department anymore - and they are a lot of money used considering you are buying into a system that, once dead, is irreparable.

Good to get the view of someone who has used it, maybe I need to dig a bit deeper but I read a few bits indicating the epson range was better. I also have some reservations about buying a s/h nikon and failures, especially if I am going to be wringing its neck.

With the Nikon scanner, you could probably use it to scan all the negs and then sell it back on at the same price - they're very sought after.

Yep, something I was looking at too, but I do tend to hang onto things as I am not really a seller type.

Would be interested in hearing any other opinions of the plustek. In the mean time I had better get searching.