35mm to Digital

I was recently going through some 35mm slides mostly velvia. I need to get them scanned and converted to digital. I must say it almost makes me want to go back. Anyway, my question is simple but I need some direction.
The Tango drum scans are pricey and I dont want to go out and buy a scanner for less than 100 slides. Anyone know the best route and maybe a lab that does a good job. I dont mind sending them out. Please feel free to be descriptive if necessary as I want to get it done right.

Thanks again

Buy the scanner you want at a good price, maybe even used, then scan the images, then sell the scanner. If you shop carefully you should be able to score a new Nikon Coolscan 5000ED for around $1100, and sell it with low mileage for around $900-$1000. Unless you can get someone to give you high quality scans for $2/ea this would be the least expensive route. What I would not do is to buy a flatbed scanner and hope to get decent results - it is not possible.

Just to reemphasize the comment on flatbeds, they work well for large format film (4x5 and larger). That is because you are not enlarging the image all that much. Even then, the recommended upper bound is usually 4x to 5x, or a 20"x24". In 35 mm terms, this is a 4x6 print or slightly larger. If you are going to go through the effort of getting your slides scanned, don't go this route.

With respect to slide scanners, there are some other used options out there. The Nikon Coolscan 4000, which is an older model, works almost as well as the 5000. Canon made a model with 4000 in its name - also a good scanner and fairly inexpensive.

I would give some thought to buying a used 35 mm scanner, scan the images you want, and then reselling it, especially if you already have some experience in scanning.

I recommend using the services of the Scan Café.
My neighbor used this outfit and I was surprised at the quality of the scans.
They use Nikon film scanners and you only pay for the scans that you like.
The scans will cost less than $28 or so. A no lose deal, and much more convenient (and cheaper) than purchasing a film scanner, scanning the slides yourself and then reselling the scanner.

Calumet Photographic in SF rents time on their Imacon scanners. I don't know where you live, but you may have a service bureau that does the same.

- Dan

Scan Café is a good deal, but the cost will be double the consumer-oriented low price, if you are looking for the best quality images. They have a Pro option that generates TIFF files at 4000 dpi, as opposed to compressed JPG files at 3000 dpi. The quality of your Velvia transparencies will benefit from the higher quality uncompressed scan, but it will cost you .58 per slide. Also, you have to give some thought on file storage, since each TIFF at 4000 dpi will require almost 60 mb each. One last thing - at 3000 dpi you are not likely to see any film grain, but at 4000 dpi you probably will, even with Velvia.

I too almost went back recently but then after comparing the quality with digital 35mm I was appauled at the film.

If you're near a Calumet Photographic, some of them rent time on Imacon scanners.

- Dan.