I've got some slides I'd like to get scanned so I can finally (almost 10 years later) start working on them, but I'm not sure what is the best way to go about doing it. Anyone have any suggestions of shops to use and much I should expect to pay for each one?
Mike,
There's an economy of scale associated with slide scanning that will drive appropriate solutions. How many do you have? And what quality level do you desire? Are you expecting to perform serious post processing? How large printing output?
Mike, If your interested I have a Nikon LS4000 slide scanner I'd sell for a fair price. Its just like new, scanned probably only 1000 slides. Let me know if you have enough slides to warrant purchasing a scanner? Conrad
Lots depend on what you want to do with the images once you have them scanned. You can get desktop flat bed scanners that do an awesome job for the price (look at Epson). I post process every scanned image and you probably will, too. I have printed images up to 8x11 after scanning them with my little scanner and they look professional...can't tell how the image was made. Like I said, depends on what you intend to do with them and what size. You can scan a file into a 60 Meg monster when a 6 meg file would have been fine.
Of course, this all depends on your computer skills, too!
1 - what format? - this affect choices. 35mm and medium format can go to places like Scan Cafe. Large formats cannot.
2 - do you want to scan them yourself? This provides ultimate control, but costs time. The control also requires you learn alot about scanning process and software. Photoshop skills are important, but you'll have to learn much more to get good scans yourself. Are you willing to invest this time?
3 - what quality do you want to achieve? What print size would you like to be able to make? Format + this decide what scanners are going to meet your expectations.
I agree with Mel 100%, Mike. You really need to think carefully about what your needs are and then answeer the questions he poses. Once you do that, post back here with the answers, and we'll be able to offer more directed help.
--P
Posted by Rodney Ninow on March 10, 2010 at 2:25 PM
Hmm, Scan Cafe send your slides to India to be scanned. Not so sure I like that idea.
By saying "slides" I'm betting you have 35mm slides. If the slides are of very high quality to begin with a good flatbed scanner will do an OK job. The dedicated 35mm scanners are better but, again, a flatbed scanner will do fine for most applications. If you go to the Epson site, click on clearance center, and then click on scanners you will see they have a refurbished 4990 scanner for $109.00 including shipping. You might want to give this a try. Rich
Discussion
8 repliesThere's an economy of scale associated with slide scanning that will drive appropriate solutions. How many do you have? And what quality level do you desire? Are you expecting to perform serious post processing? How large printing output?
ME
Of course, this all depends on your computer skills, too!
Troup
2 - do you want to scan them yourself? This provides ultimate control, but costs time. The control also requires you learn alot about scanning process and software. Photoshop skills are important, but you'll have to learn much more to get good scans yourself. Are you willing to invest this time?
3 - what quality do you want to achieve? What print size would you like to be able to make? Format + this decide what scanners are going to meet your expectations.
--P