Scanning slides.

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Tom - 21 Sep 2006 00:52 GMT

Hi
Can anyone recommend a reasonable scanner suitable for scanning slides? And
was the effort worth it.

Tom

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Dave E - 21 Sep 2006 05:53 GMT

> Hi
> Can anyone recommend a reasonable scanner suitable for scanning slides?
> And was the effort worth it.
>
> Tom

The answer is... that depends.

Depends on:

- what slides will you be scanning - 35mm only? XPan? 645? etc.
- what do you intend to do with the completed scans? Output on Epson 7800,
Canon Pixma 3000, Lambda etc.??
- what is your budget - $100 for small Canon or $35k for Creo or Imacon
etc.?
- how many are you planning to scan - 1 roll / month, 20 rolls / day (better
budget for staff)?
- what is your existing hardware/software base - Mac, PC, Pentium blah??

As always, there are no answers to 'what is the best scanner'. Try to get a
clear picture of what you wish to achieve and then google baby.

For me, I have a Canoscan 8400 for extremely basic proofs - cost about $300
IIRC and a Microtek 120tf - cost about $4000 for the real thing. The way
I'm blasting trannies, I could just be in the market for a Creo. I also
shoot MF.

Hope this helps,
Dave E (Sydney)

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Pete D - 21 Sep 2006 08:17 GMT

>> Hi
>> Can anyone recommend a reasonable scanner suitable for scanning slides?
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> Hope this helps,
> Dave E (Sydney)

I have the 8400F and once you learn how to drive it for slides the results
are quite good for $300.

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Noons - 21 Sep 2006 14:51 GMT

> Can anyone recommend a reasonable scanner suitable for scanning slides? And
> was the effort worth it.

already good replies. It's all about purpose and budget/commitment.
I'm using an Epson 4990 because I do both 35 and 120 formats. Seriously
thinking about investing in a dedicated 35mm film scanner: the 4990
is not quite there in that size. Although this:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~nsouto/photos/2006-01-F4S-08.jpg
is not half bad for the price.

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Pete D - 21 Sep 2006 20:53 GMT

>> Can anyone recommend a reasonable scanner suitable for scanning slides?
>> And
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~nsouto/photos/2006-01-F4S-08.jpg
> is not half bad for the price.

The 8400 also has adapters for 120, 35mm and one other that I can't think of
off the top of my head.

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Poxy - 21 Sep 2006 22:11 GMT

> >> Can anyone recommend a reasonable scanner suitable for scanning slides?
> >> And
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> The 8400 also has adapters for 120, 35mm and one other that I can't think of
> off the top of my head.

Kodak Disc I assume :)

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Pete D - 22 Sep 2006 13:48 GMT

>> >> Can anyone recommend a reasonable scanner suitable for scanning
>> >> slides?
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Kodak Disc I assume :)

POssibly. ;-)

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Tom - 22 Sep 2006 06:07 GMT

Thanks for the reply's, My plan is to scan all my fathers family slides, not
actually sure whether they are 35ml or not, but the main purpose will be to
have a copy of everything and I have no plans to print any out. My guess is
there will be under 1 thousand slides to copy maybe even half that.

Tom

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Noons - 22 Sep 2006 12:52 GMT

> Thanks for the reply's, My plan is to scan all my fathers family slides, not
> actually sure whether they are 35ml or not, but the main purpose will be to
> have a copy of everything and I have no plans to print any out. My guess is
> there will be under 1 thousand slides to copy maybe even half that.

OK you need *speed*, then! It takes an enormous amount of time per
slide with a flatbed to achieve the result I linked in my reply. And
a bit of experience, to get to that quality or better.

Go dedicated film scanner, is my advice. Find out what the
film sizes are, then buy/rent/borrow/steal the best film scanner
you can find for the largest size you'll need. They are much faster
than flatbeds.

And don't skimp on the dpi: you can always downress (decrease
the resolution) later. You cannot increase it *without* some loss.
Remember: disk space is cheap, memories aren't.

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Pete D - 22 Sep 2006 13:49 GMT

>> Thanks for the reply's, My plan is to scan all my fathers family slides,
>> not
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> the resolution) later. You cannot increase it *without* some loss.
> Remember: disk space is cheap, memories aren't.

I agree, 4 at a time on an 8400F will be cost effective but will take a
while.

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