Scanning Slides - What do you do?

Submitted: Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:04
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Hello Folks,

Have quite a few colour slides that I'd like to scan into my ever increasing My Picture file.

Did have an HP scanner that did a fair job, but it died. We bought one of those scanners off some mail order mob, and while it does the job, the results are VERY disappointing. Read in an electronic mag where a bloke had similar problems,with his scanner, and ended using a screen, and slide projector, to put up an image, which he then phtographed. Bit like running an inverter to charge a 12v item.

Image Could Not Be Found

The above photo, colour rendition is ordinary, and the left side of photo is poorly focused.

Have seen a couple of scanners on internet. One screws onto the 52mm lens of camera, and a photo taken. Cost $115. The others actually scan the slide, and transport it to PC via USB. They're $400 & $700.

Anyone got any other methods they'd like to share.

Thanks,
Bob.

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Reply By: Member - Rod N (QLD) - Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:22

Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:22
You can get them scanned at some photo places like Kodak etc but I don't think Hardly Normal or such could do them. It depends on how many you have as to whether your own scanner or 'contracting' out is more economical. Google 'slide scanning' for more options.
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 08:56

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 08:56
Thanks Rod,

Did a google and found at least 2 places that do the job. Costs didn't seem too bad either.

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Reply By: Member - Michael P (QLD) - Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:31

Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:31
Bob Hi,
Had literally hundreds of 35mm slides. About 3/4years ago after a bit of research, settled on a Canon MP970 printer/scanner. Has proven to be an excellent printer and the scanning function is first class. Not the cheapest option but!!!
You would need to check with Canon re the current models, HP and Epsom are also good equipment.
Hope this helps.
Mike.
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Follow Up By: Member - Michael P (QLD) - Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:39

Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:39
Bob,
Following on from the above. Any deterioation of the originals will show up, then you will need to use "Photoshop"
The MP970 also scans negatives that you can convert to photos.
Mike.
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:03

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:03
Looks like 3 votes for Canon products so far, Michael.

Already have an HP flat bed scanner, but at the price, about $140, one couldn't expect it to be too refined. Will have to check the Canons out further.

Thanks,
Bob
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Reply By: Member - John and Val - Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:37

Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:37
Hi Bob,

We rigged up a homemade "thingy" which worked a treat for the relatively few slides that we needed to scan. Found a plastic lid of the right size to just slip onto the front of the lens, (admittedly we were using a mount that came with some other lenses) cut a slide shaped hole in it and slots to hold the slide, put the camera on macro setting, point the camera at a uniform light source eg bright overcast sky (not blue sky) - and that was it.

Some of our slides had deteriorated and we were able to correct this a bit by using our standard photo editor (XnView - free to download). We also cropped off the edges of the slide mount etc this way.

We use the cameras for most scanning tasks these days, including copying colour prints - easier than a scanner and good resolution.

Cheers,

Val
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Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:53

Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:53
Hi Bob,

Just to give you some idea of what you can do by playing around with photo editors. Image Could Not Be Found. Of course I dont know what your original slide was like but with just a few minutes of experimenting it was possible to at least get a slightly more natural looking result.

Cheers,

Val
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Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 22:15

Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 22:15
This is a copy done with our "home made" set-up from a half frame slide which was not good quality to start with. Taken at Old Sydney Town in mid 70s, copied 2007.


Image Could Not Be Found

Cheers,

Val
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:10

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:10
Many thanks for your responses, Val.

For such a simple gadget, your "scanner" certainly does a good job. Bit time poor at the moment, to make anything, and as for a bright, overcast sky, we are short of those too. Western Qld winter has been bright blue skies for some weeks.

Like what you did with my old slide too, shows some promise, though I don't think it was a quality film, to start with.

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Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:45

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:45
Bob,

Bright overcast sky is good, but light from a lightbulb is ok too. Best to set your camera to the incandescent light setting. Flourescent lighting isn't so good because the flourescent "white" is in fact usually too green,

Cheers

John
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 07:49

Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 07:49
Thanks for advice re lighting, John.

Didn't know about flouro lights, so that's a plus. No chance of overcast weather in Winton today, clear, blue sky, that comes down to your feet.

Thanks,
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Reply By: Member - Phil 'n Jill (WA) - Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:45

Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:45
Hi Bob - I think the quality of the outcome depends on the quality of Slide.

I purchased a very economical 'QPix' digital scanner from Officeworks and scanned my slides and negatives (4 at a time) with mixed results - but those in good condition are great in reproduction.

Keep in mind that batches of Kodak negs were quite varied in colour back in the 70's - some varied from emphasis on reds to greens - I figure depending on how often the solutions were changed - bit like changing the cooking oil for fish 'n chips I guess.

The product came with little in the way of instruction, but after a bit of experimentation, I found the gadget quite useful.

Have over a hundred odd scans turning over on the screen saver these days and quite enjoy them.

Your pic appears to be on Carlton or Ivanhoe - if that is Carlton Hill in the background. Great country.

Good luck.

Regards - Phil
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:21

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:21
Judging by the slides I've viewed recently, I may have some varied results, Phil. Always preferred Kodak film, but sometimes ventured into some lesser quality stuff.

At this stage, really only want to digitise everything, then work from there, with the better ones, or the ones have real "value". Can remember the often artifical colours of some Kodak stuff, but they seem to have stood up better than other brands.

Well, you're nearly right about the photo, Phil. Would have been on Auvergne Station, either 72 or 73. Think it's over near the West Baines River, that's why the cattle are so quiet. Anywhere else, and any photos of cattle usually consisted of a cloud of rapidly moving dust, heading off through the timber!!!

Thanks for you suggestions,

Bob.
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Reply By: Member - John G- Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:49

Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 16:49
G'day Bob

I bought an Otek digital film and slide scanner fS-501-S. Around $80 from memory. Have had good results thus far on a limiyed sample of about 20. As others have said, imperfections show up, but clarity and colour have been good.

Cheers
John
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:29

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:29
Thanks John,

Looks like you've had good results for little expense. As long as the end result is acceptable is the main thing. We all have a lot of memories hidden away on these slides, so to have them readily available is a big plus.

Bob.
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Reply By: Gone Bush (WA) - Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 17:30

Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 17:30
As mentioned above, the top end Canon multifunctions with the slide scanning lid do a terrific job.

Image Could Not Be Found

Photo taken in 1977 in PNG.

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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 01:36

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 01:36
Hi Gone Bush, what model Cannon do you have? we've got a multifunction one but I don't think it's got the slide scanning lid you mentioned.
Cheers
D


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Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 08:32

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 08:32
I recently bought the MG8250 after my previous Canon gave up following many years of good service.

It can print onto CDs/DVDs (as most can these days), scan slides and print from my iPad and PCs wirelessly. I'm very happy with it.

I shopped around for the best price (Officeworks) but they didn't have stock so I went into Hardly Normal and they matched it. Also, much against my usual cynicism, I bought their extended warranty (replacement or refund) and when I got home I found that it also gives me 50% off a full set of cartridges each year for the 3 years of the warranty. A full set is well over $100 so I've entered "reminders" into my iPhone for the next 3 years.

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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:38

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:38
Thanks GB,

Looks like the Canons might be a good starting point. The quality of your reproduction looks prety good to me.

Those little Hondas were honest workhorses. We used the 175's for mustering, and they did the job, though in a somewhat asthmatic fashion. Don't think as many of the young blokes got hurt then either, the acceleration and terminal velocity weren't quite enough to break many bones.

What were you doing in PNG, other than riding bikes, and wearing flares?

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Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 10:05

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 10:05
That was an XL100. Anything larger had great gobs of import duty on them. Poor little thing strained a bit (a lot). We used to go out and explore the remnants of WW2 activity. There was a lot to see, especially around Shaggy Ridge near Madang. Shaggy Ridge was Australia's only "one man" front, it was so steep and narrow.

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

In this photo the statue was untouched by the bombing.
Image Could Not Be Found

Mrs Bush and I went up there in Dec 74 and came home in Feb 79. Both our kids were born up there (an adventure in itself). I was an Air Traffic Controller and we lived in Goroka, Madang and Lae.

Image Could Not Be Found

All these photos are scanned slides. If you don't buy the right equipment you end up with a poor result and all those memories are put away in a drawer somewhere.

These days I put the photos onto a thumbdrive and stick it in the side of our tellie and set it to Slideshow. It just plays in the background and you can look at it and talk about the pictures while socialising.

Some memories are too important to lay idle somewhere.


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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 07:55

Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 07:55
Know what you mean about memories in a drawer somewhere, GB.

The reason for the post was I'd found some slides of my time in the Kimberly, that I hadn't seen for maybe 30 years. Note your comment about good gear, good result.

Great photos too. Must have some good memories from your time up there, eh? My Dad was up in Milne Bay, Aitipe(spelling?) and other spots around during the war. He talked about it a lot, like everyday almost.

Thaniks,
Bob.
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Reply By: Gnomey - Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 19:40

Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 19:40
G'day Bob
I too had/have a bunch of slides to digitise. Did a lot of research and a fair bit of head scratching. Forgetting the top end dedicated slide scanners, most of which aren't made any more, there is still a lot of difference between the bottom end and the middle of the range in price and quality.

There ain't no cheap and easy way to get slashing scans in no time at all. What you need depends on the end quality of the files you want and what you want to do with them. If you just want digital copies you can store and maybe print small versions of, then a basic scanner or multifunction device will do. At the other end of the scale if you want poster size prints then you need a high resolution and high quality flat bed scanner built with photography as a primary rather than incidental concern.

The quality of the outcome will also depend on a bunch of other things like careful setup of each scan, the quality of the scanning software and how much time you are prepared to spend with post scan processing.

FWIW I decided 1) to be very discerning in what I chose to scan 2) to scan at medium/high resolution and 3) to get the best of bunch, the one or two in a roll of film shots, scanned professionally as and when I wanted to print biggies.

With all that in mind I chose an Epson V600, used the proprietary scanning software and Lightroom to post process and manage the files. Your mileage may vary. Managing the files as a database is an important part of the deal. Otherwise you get a large digital mess that is a copy of the analogue jumble.

Cheers
Mark

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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:44

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:44
Thanks for your detailed thoughts, Mark.

Mainly want an easily accessible record at the moment, and then work on the "keepers" at a later date. Though I'm supposed to be retired, am not at home enough at moment, to devote the time to this. Too many other projects, or more correctly, distractions.

There's a place in Perth that gives about 4 levels of scanning, including slide cleaning on their top line scans. Might be the way with the keepers.

Bob.
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 21:15

Monday, Aug 06, 2012 at 21:15
This is a copy of a half frame slide taken in April 1970 using a home made holder and compact fluro in front of a digital camera.


(West of Coward Springs, on the way to Billa Kalina)
I have just purchased a commercial version of the same thing, but not used it yet......

Cheers,
Peter
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:54

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 09:54
Nothing wrong with that copy, Peter. I'd be happy with similar results, though I doubt if some of my slides would be that good to start with.

Intrepid travellers in a Mini, Peter. Love the "fat" front wheels too. My late parents had one of the panel vans. Went everywhere in it, though came to grief at Timber Ck, when a rock got up near the output of drive shafts, and punched a hole through the block. Couple of days, and some Plasti-Bond did the job, and he sold some years after, still going.

Thanks,
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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 10:14

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 10:14
Dual 12" Hillman Imp wheels on the front Bob, with adjustable height front suspension :-)
The duals did not really work too well though :-(

Cheers,
Peter
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 07:57

Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 07:57
Peter,

It would have had "armstrong steering" then, eh?

Bob.
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Reply By: Polaris - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 08:23

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 08:23
Hi Bob Y.
WE use a CanoScan 8800F and achieve great results with mounted 35mm (or half frame) slides, negative filmstrip or any printed images.

Have a look at the Canon site

It comes with Included Accessories and Software
• USB cable (USB 2.0 Hi-Speed certified type) • AC adaptor • Film guide for 35mm filmstrip • Film guide for 35mm mounted slides • Film guide for 120 roll film • CD-ROM (includes ScanGear CS 10.2, CanoScan Toolbox 4.8, Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0, and Scanning Guide for Windows and Macintosh; ArcSoft PhotoStudio 5.5, ScanSoft OmniPage SE, and other software for Windows; ArcSoft PhotoStudio 4.3, ScanSoft OmniPage SE 1.0 for Macintosh)

I also have commercially available screw on lens adapters for mounting slides directly in front of digital SLR's - and went to the trouble of constructing a number of different light sources. The results were of varied success, but the Canoscan results are consistently good. Highly recommended.
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Follow Up By: Polaris - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 08:32

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 08:32
PS. Bob, I think that our 8800F is now superceeded and replaced by the CS9000F.

CS9000F link

Shop around - you will do better than the Canon advertised price.

Polaris in FNQ
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 10:00

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 10:00
Thanks Polaris,

As I've been typing these follow-ups, have remembered all my film strips too, so something like the Canon might be the go. Many of our old photos have deteriorated to some extent, so a chance to improve them too, would be good.

Yeah, wil have to do some research, as most of our purchases are mail order. All food for thought,

Bob.
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Reply By: Brett H - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 13:53

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 13:53
Hi Bob,

I went down this path a couple of years ago and ended up buying a Nikon Coolscan 5000 scanner from the US with a slide feeder. Reason was that I wanted to scan mine and my dads old slides which add up to around 2500 slides. Buying a scanner that just holds a few of slides was never going to do it (time wise) and getting someone to scan them was going to cost close to the cost of bringing the scanner in.
I now have them all done and will be doing some friends slides soon.

How many slides do you want scanned? This will determine what path you go down. If its not a lot then the canon mentioned earlier will fit the bill. It holds 4 at a time and does the dust and scratch removal. Not sure though if it will restore faded slides though. Some have software that do and some don't.

Some of my scanned slides can be viewed here: http://bretthampson.smugmug.com/Slidescanning

The old navy ones are from the early 60's I believe and are kodachrome. Dust and scratch removal doesn't work as well for kodachrome and they need to be treated a little different by the software. So that would be another thing to check on the scanner if you have kodachrome slides. If you could see what those slides looked like originally you would be amazed at the difference.

Brett
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 08:02

Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 08:02
Checked out a lot of your slides, Brett, they came out pretty good.

Especially liked the Blue Mountains(old home country) and the NT trip ones.

Sounds like a scanner is the go, though not sure just how many slides I have. Probably no more than 1,000, or even less. We'll see how we go.

Thanks,
Bob.
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Reply By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 15:38

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 15:38
Hi Bob,

Jaycar have some film scanners which are usb gizmos.
They are $45 at the moment Jaycar scanner

I have seen one recently for around $140 but I cannot remember where it was. It was in a flyer that I had but have since sent to the rubbish bin

They have another unit there also which is dearer.

Cannot give any advice on these units as I have not used them.

Like others I have a cannon D 1250 U2F flatbed with slide facility which cost over $300 many years ago.

Cheers, Bruce.
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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 15:48

Tuesday, Aug 07, 2012 at 15:48
I went back and had a further look at the other scanner that Jaycar have which is
$129. I thought it was much dearer for some reason.???

My prefference would be this dearer scanner as it has many more features like storing your slides direct to a memory card if you are not connected to a computer or directly into the computer when connected, if you wish.

It suggests you can store directly to memory card without being connected to a computer. Handy feature especially if someone else wants you to convert some of their images to digital and they do not have a computer handy.

See hereJaycar $129 USB scanner

Cheers, Bruce.
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 08:08

Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 08:08
I'm one of Jaycar's valued customers too, Bruce!!! Ha ha.

Will have to check these out. As yet undecided as to which way to go. Something for a rainy day, so that gives me 3 - 4 months to think about it.

Have to go back to work today, so any further investigation will have to wait another 10 days.

Thanks,
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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 08:15

Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 08:15
Everyone,

Many thanks for the valuable replies & follow-ups, to my post.

There's so much info here now I might have to print the thread out, and reflect on it at my leisure. Thanks for all your thougths, suggestions, and the photos. Especially the photos. There is so much talent within the EO family!!!

I am off this morning, for next 10 days, to drive Garry the Grader around some beautiful Diamantina country, so will be without phone and internet for that time. Except for the Irridium, to ring the Bride every few days.

Stay safe,
Bob.

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Reply By: The Bantam - Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 13:15

Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 at 13:15
While there may be many "proper things" to do slide scans, there is absolutly nothing wrong with setting up a projector and photgraphing the image.

There are "propper things" to do film to video conversions, but I know several people who do these professinally ( some major production companies) and they video the image off a screen.

I have done quite a few 16mm to video coppies myself and have had blokes from up the hill ( commercial television stations) comment that I got better results than their multithousand dollar "propper things"

here are the tricks.

A good quality bright projector helps

a dark room, pitch black not needed

a reasonable sized screen that is clean and white about 2 feet by a foot and a half is good.....plain white paper or a clean white bed sheet works better than a high gain screen..or simply a flat wall painted mat white.

set up an focus the projector well and absolutly square on.

set up the camera on a tripod, as close as possible to the line of projection and with the lenses level or the camera slightly forward and frame it up accurately.

white ballance with blank film or an empty slide

Done well the results can be exceptional.

one reason is that you are working with large images and not trying to scan an image that is 20mm x 30mm.

For many of us this will cost diddly squat.

I know a couple of duplicating houses that had these permanently set up under the stairs or in a cupboard

cheers
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