Slide Scanner?

[seascape]

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I have about 100 slides (out of 600 total slides) which I would like to digitize. I've read a few threads about various slide scanners, but the posts are several years old, and some of the products (i.e. the Nikon scanners) are no longer sold new. I'm hoping that many people on this forum have recommendations for new equipment.

 

My budget is $500, and I prefer the DIY approach, instead of sending it out to a service. The slides are family & travel pics (mostly taken with an old Leica camera in the '50s & '60s), which I would like to share electronically with relatives, who may print some at 4"x6" and perhaps a few at 5"x7".

 

All advice appreciated!

[250swb]

I think in this case an Epson V700 could automate it more by being able to batch scan 12 at a time, and give good enough scans for 5x7. Having the best of both worlds you would have a V700 for all the donkey work, like digital contact sheets, and a Plustek for higher quality scans, but since you don't need the extra size print the V700 is ideal.

 

Steve

[philipus]

For such a low number as 100 frames I'd say it is better to have it done professionally. It ought to fit well within the budget and will save you the trouble of learning how to get acceptable to good scans of slides, which can be tricky with particularly dense shadows.

[seascape]

I'm considering the Epson, but philipus raises a good point -- how much adjustment is necessary to make the slides look as good as they do when projected?

 

Other than the basics, I dislike the rather involved process of editing photos digitally, which is why I only shoot film. (I take my negatives to the pros, tell them what I want from each shot, and let them make the prints.) I'm wary about taking my slides to a service because of the loss of control.

 

Any recommendations for a professional service in San Francisco or Santa Cruz?

[myshkine]

I'm considering the Epson, but philipus raises a good point -- how much adjustment is necessary to make the slides look as good as they do when projected?

 

Other than the basics, I dislike the rather involved process of editing photos digitally, which is why I only shoot film. (I take my negatives to the pros, tell them what I want from each shot, and let them make the prints.) I'm wary about taking my slides to a service because of the loss of control.

 

Any recommendations for a professional service in San Francisco or Santa Cruz?

 

I think Philipus is right. Scanning can be tedious and difficult (although personally I enjoy it), and achieving scans that are equal in quality to the original slides is almost impossible, given the special nature of reversal film, which is meant to be projected on large screens.

But achieving digital results that are very similar to the original IS possible, if one spends long hours in the process.