Getting Negatives to Computers

[CBL4]

I have lots of negatives from back in the days when there cameras used films. Does anyone have a good suggestion for getting them into a computer? I was a fairly serious amateur photographer so quality is a priority.

I have heard that some of Nikon's CoolScans are good but they are pricy -$500 for the moderate quality.

Is there some company that can convert a few dozen a reasonable price?

Thanks,

CBL

[Meffy]

Probably the big photo stores -- Ritz is the one we have hereabouts -- will do it. I've no idea how good a job they'll do.

You can also get a cheaper scanner. I bought an Epson 3490 for about $100. It comes with a film holder that you load by hand and flop down on the platen like a document. The next fancier model has a lid you can feed strips of 35mm film directly into, motorized and all. For $250 you can get a higher-resolution scanner that will give better, clearer scans than mine. (I bought it mostly for scanning printed text; my photography is almost all digital these days, so I didn't spring for a high-quality photo film scanner.)

If you do buy a scanner, and you haven't a good image processing program already, it might be a good idea to pick one that comes bundled with Adobe Photoshop Elements. It'll let you make your negatives into positives, make color and exposure corrections, all kinds stuff. Very functional for a "lite" version.

[teddygrahams]

I have an epson perfection 4490. It will automatically separate the negatives into individual pictures, because they go in a kind of klunky holder that goes into a fixed position on the scanner bed. It is not fast. On a 3Ghz Pentium, it takes at least 10 minutes per picture, with the "digital ice" turned on. It's something you will not want to sit there for, and I think it's the reason for the high prices for conversion services.

[kedo1981]

the trick with negs or slides is they have to be back lit

[CBL4]

Meffy and teddygrahams,

The Epsons look like what I was looking for. Somehow I missed them in searches.

Thanks,

CBL

[Meffy]

@kedo: Yuppers. Backlighting is built into the lids of many scanners these days. For my cheapo model, I'd have to remove the lid liner to reveal the backlight.

@CBL4: Good luck with it! Enjoy. :-)

[nimzov]

Reading the thread title, I tought you had problem getting negative numbers in your computer. :)

nimzo

[Meffy]

ISTR that can be problematic when programming in Kvikkalkul.


That's the last job I'll ever take with the Swedish Navy's submarine force. :-(

[Chris Haynes]

I have a slide scanner... it is this:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/SCAN/DSEIII/DSEIIIA.HTM[/URL] ...

I believe the company is now KonicaMinolta, and there are newer versions. But the one I have works well. I load either the film or slides (different holders) and can get several images in a few minutes when I am in the groove.

I believe you can find them used and reconditioned for about $150 (I used [url]http://froogle.google.com (http://www.imaging-resource.com/SCAN/DSEII/DSEIIA.HTM))

[Starthinker]

I have heard that some of Nikon's CoolScans are good but they are pricy -$500 for the moderate quality.


CBL

-$500? Does that mean they owe you money?

[EricGu]

In many places the "pro" stores will rent slide/negative scanners. In my area, they'll rent one from Friday afternoon to Monday morning as a single day.

[Soapy Sam]

Another Epson 4490 user here.
I'm happy with results from 50 year old B&W negs- not quite so pleased with 10 year old colour negs, but they are usable.

[Art Vandelay]

The real cheapo route would be to just stick them right up next to a digital camera.