Getting Negatives to Computers

CBL4 · 15th July 2006, 04:29 PM

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 · 15th July 2006, 04:43 PM

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 · 15th July 2006, 05:20 PM

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 · 16th July 2006, 06:37 AM

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

CBL4 · 16th July 2006, 07:59 AM

Meffy and teddygrahams,

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

Thanks,

CBL

Meffy · 16th July 2006, 08:01 AM

@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 · 16th July 2006, 08:36 AM

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

nimzo

Meffy · 16th July 2006, 08:56 AM

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 · 16th July 2006, 06:23 PM

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

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 http://froogle.google.com)

Starthinker · 19th July 2006, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by CBL4

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 · 19th July 2006, 10:57 AM

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 · 20th July 2006, 05:10 PM

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 · 23rd July 2006, 10:46 PM

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

15th July 2006, 04:29 PM	#1
CBL4 Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,349	Getting Negatives to Computers 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
CBL4 Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,349

16th July 2006, 06:37 AM	#4
kedo1981 Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: ohio Posts: 2,083	the trick with negs or slides is they have to be back lit
	__________________ "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21) I readily admit I don’t know enough to say for sure that there is no God. But I do know enough so say that anyone who claims to know the mind and will of a being such as God is a liar. I have no problem with Jesus, but his fan club sucks!

16th July 2006, 07:59 AM	#5
CBL4 Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,349	Meffy and teddygrahams, The Epsons look like what I was looking for. Somehow I missed them in searches. Thanks, CBL
CBL4 Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,349

16th July 2006, 08:56 AM	#8
Meffy Anthropomorphic Skunk Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Unincorporated Territory of Croatan Posts: 4,232	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. :-(
	Last edited by Meffy; 16th July 2006 at 09:00 AM.

16th July 2006, 06:23 PM	#9
Chris Haynes Perfectly Poisonous Person Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wacky Washington Way Out West Posts: 4,205	I have a slide scanner... it is this: http://www.imaging-resource.com/SCAN/DSEIII/DSEIIIA.HTM ... 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 http://froogle.google.com)
	__________________ I used to be intelligent... but then I had kids "HCN, I hate you!" ( so sayeth Deetee at http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=1077344 )... What I get for linking to http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/

15th July 2006, 04:43 PM	#2
Meffy Anthropomorphic Skunk Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Unincorporated Territory of Croatan Posts: 4,232	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.

15th July 2006, 05:20 PM	#3
teddygrahams Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 275	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.

16th July 2006, 08:01 AM	#6
Meffy Anthropomorphic Skunk Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Unincorporated Territory of Croatan Posts: 4,232	@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. :-)

16th July 2006, 08:36 AM	#7
nimzov Muse Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Montréal Posts: 917	Reading the thread title, I tought you had problem getting negative numbers in your computer. nimzo

19th July 2006, 10:02 AM	#10
Starthinker Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 5,014	Originally Posted by CBL4 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?
	__________________ \|¦¦\|¦ \|¦\|\|\|\|¦\|\|\|¦\|\|¦¦\|¦\|\|\|\|\|\|\|¦\|¦¦¦¦\|¦¦¦¦\|\|¦\|¦\|¦¦\|¦ \|¦¦\|¦ He who doubts victory has already lost the battle. Below the navel there is neither religion nor truth.

19th July 2006, 10:57 AM	#11
EricGu New Blood Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 15	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.
EricGu New Blood Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 15

20th July 2006, 05:10 PM	#12
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885	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.
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885

23rd July 2006, 10:46 PM	#13
Art Vandelay Illuminator Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4,790	The real cheapo route would be to just stick them right up next to a digital camera.