Mounted or Unmounted

For those of you using 35mm slide film, I'm wondering if you get your slides mounted or not, and why. I just tried a couple rolls unmounted, in part to save space since I've been shooting more lately, and in part to more easily scan from edge to edge (since mounts tend to infringe slightly on the image). I was hoping for a slam-dunk that unmounted would be better, but it also had some disadvantages. Any thoughts?

While I agree about the scanning, filing and storage are issues for me. I resort to mounting mine after scanning, then filing in slide sheets on hanging frames in file drawers. Another advantage of scanning without mounts is ease of dusting and cleaning chromes beforehand.

I use the standard cardboard mounts to easily view them, both on a light box and then on a Leitz projector. For those I wish to keep and/or have scanned, I remount them in Gepe full-frame(24mm X 36mm) glassless plastic scan mounts (Art.nr.7012). B&H carries them. I save them in polypropylene pages that are kept in color-coded notebooks.

How do you get the slides when they are unmounted? In strips like negative film? If that is the case then editing becomes more complicated. If you don't like the third image, for example, how do you elliminate it? Only by very careful cutting; not as easy as you think. If you get them unmounted and seperate, I find that they tend to curl. Handling them is not as easy either and chances of getting a big fingerprint on it is much greater. Eventually you would want to have them in mounts anyway so why not get them mounted in the first place. Some mounts have glue inside to keep the slide secure; others do not. Ask for the kind that do not. You can open the mounts and take the slide out for scanning purposes. When finished you can put it back into the mount. It takes a little careful handling proceedures. I have instead found a way to "trick" my scanner to scan the entire image while in its mount as I had found it annoying that it did not scan all of it. So my slides stay safe and secure in their mounts

Will
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada

I'm recently shooting some slides in addition to my digital images. I have traditionally had my slides mounted. However I've just begun scanning and I have not been satisfied with the slide mount cropping the image. I'm considering going unmounted - and later mounting slides if I choose to show via projector. To my initial impression it is probably not be worth the effort for a very slightly larger scan file.

I tried not getting them mounted one time that was my one and last time. I just find it easier to handle mounted slides. I don't have to worry about fingerprints and loading mounted slides in my scanner is faster and easier.

John, I also get all of my 35mm stuff mounted in paper mounts. My Nikon Coolscan 9000 scans them just fine in the mounts and they are much easier to put in hanging folder sleeves in the mounts (more rigid and I don't have to wear gloves to protect from finger prints).

Long term, the down side of paper mounts is "lint" fraying from the window around the slide. Lots of nerts to deal with on scans. If you need to dismount a slide from a paper mount, get out the razor blade and do your best. Plastic mounts for me all the way, whether my own or from the lab.

Well John and all I feel pretty dumb! I meant to say that I have all of my slides mounted in plastic mounts not paper mounts. I put my mouth (or in this case fingers) in gear before the brain engaged. Sorry!

I know what you mean Bill! I've confused more than a few people refering Yellowstone as Yosemite and Yosemite as Yellowstone. I still have to stop and think about it every time I open my mouth or start typing.