Slide digitising

steveclem

steveclem

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Howdy folks, I don't particularly want to go to the cost of buying a scanner so can anyone recommend an outfit that will convert some of my mounted slides to disc for me?
Or....is a slide duplicator attachment worth trying?
Some of the slides are quite special to me so I would like to keep the quality there, maybe using a cheap duplicator so can see the bigger picture (pun intended, funny aren't I ?) followed by a professional service for the wheat I've separated from the chaff?
Can anyone help?
Cheers !
 
It really depends on the number you have and whether you have the time on your hands.
 
I can make time, only a couple of hundred, it's just a matter of cost and whether it's worth doing myself or getting someone else to do .....hmmmm.
 
One of my relatives got theirs done by this place a couple of years ago:

http://www.treasured-memories.org.uk/12.html

They seemed quite happy with them, and having a quick flick through the scans with them I couldn't see very much wrong with the scans. They do use all the proper kit (Nikon Super Coolscan 9000ED), but I would recommend going for the 4000DPI option ("permier best") which costs £28 for the first 50 slides/negs, and £0.36 per slide/neg over that, as a) you get the higher res b) it includes digital ICE infared scratch/dust reduction and c) they will do manual colour, contrast etc correction. My relative used that option and the results did seem quite good.
 
You're probably looking at around 45p'ish a slide for a company to provide you with TIFF file scans, so roughly £90 or you could buy a Nikon Coolscan (IV onwards) starting at about £350, the 4000 and 5000 models, are more expensive at £500'ish but will accept an auto slide feeder allowing you to scan 50 slides without you watching the whole process but will add about £250-300 to the price. The bonus of these scanners is that you could buy one, scan your slides then sell it on for little or no loss or even a profit if you buy carefully.
And there are other folk on here that swear by the Epson Perfection V500/700 flatbed scanners that produce very acceptable quality scans, these will hold their value as well.
 
A few guys are using their digital cameras for copying, some are using an old slide projector for lighting, best results are with an old enlarging lens (for flat field) or macro lens....anyway if you have the time to build a contraption to do this, then plenty of info on other forums or google if you can't get info here.
 
Many thanks for your suggestions gents, I'll not bother buying a scanner, I am pressed for space regardless and I really don't have many slides to copy as it is and I won't be getting any more either, RIP E6.
Treasured Memories are having a discount sale so I'd better get editing.
Once again, thanks all.
 
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