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Thread ID: 83120	2007-09-20 01:54:00	Scanning 35mm Slides	B.M. (505)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
593155	2007-09-20 21:26:00	I've got heaps of slides to scan and have been watching Trade Me for months. I've never heard of the Plustek OpticFilm 7200-who sells those? And is the $450 you mention new? Thanks. Price is for a new one. Any camera shop should be able to get you one. Mine came through Colin Kirk photographics in Wellington. They also appear on Trademe new from time to time. Actually there are a couple listed there now. If you would like to see a review take a look at www.justechn.com	tutaenui (1724)
593156	2007-09-20 22:45:00	I owned a PrimeFilm 1800 slide scanner, which was subsequently shuffled off to my son. It was made by Pacific Image Electronics. He got good results out of it, but even with the latest drivers it was really unstable (ie. it had its own ideas about if and when it would co-operate - if it did fire up, the images were really good quality). I see they have lots of later models, and they may be better than the original model that I owned. Slide scanning is a really slow process if they are mounted. It would certainly be quicker if they were in strip form.	John H (8)
593157	2007-09-21 07:23:00	Hmmm, looks like an expensive operation to get anything off comercial quality. I tried this this (www.abstractconcreteworks.com) but although it sort of worked on one scanner it didn't on another. Anybody with any No.8 wire modifications? :D I say it doesn't have to be the pro places, some 1hr labs does do a v good job and price is even cheaper but you need to know where to go. When you do want quality archival for future enlargements, minilabs may not be that good, when you are looking at is might be CCD based scanners and for the best - drum scan services. Much of the cheap prices at even the v pro places are basically minilab machines - ie .. Kodak Noritsu or Fuji Frontier or Agfa D machines - the same one the 1hr lab uses or the Warehouse or Kmart etc. If all you want is archive some and now you are using digital its not bad but don't expect top quality printed A4. Like film, a good lab is essential or you may get color cast etc.. however you can edit yourself on the computer but from a bad scan it does limit what you can achieve. The operator can also make your images contrasty that limits it, such as making the sky too white detail lost or shadows so dark that also loses texture. Unlike RAW files changing the white balance isn't so clear cut, you can have the traditional color balances but you won't have the easy scroll bar within the RAW converter software. I think thou the $1 places are minilabs machines but they should have CCD if you want or the others may have. The reason why a good lab using the same minilabs machines are better is b/c they have a good skilled tech behind the machine who corrects the color for each diff frame and if not ok they will redo it .. much the cheap places pharmacist, diaries, bookshops, warehouse etc., and many/most 1hr labs and even some of the standard pro places, they just press the also button and give you whatever the printer spits out. I say for a computer geek maybe get a $400 scanner and see how that goes. Nikon scanners has been reputable used by pro's and pro's that also write books and National Geographic books - get it used or at the similar price you may get a middle model flatbed scanner that does film as well. If for $400 I would prefer the Nikon used than the Plusek ..	Nomad (952)
593158	2007-09-21 10:27:00	Thanks guys. I’m not looking for anything of even remotely “Commercial Quality”. It’s all about "No.8 Wire" and "Baked Beans" cans. The exercise is to get a copy of a photo that the subject matter can be easily recognised. Grain etc, etc, is not a requirement. Oddly enough, I’ve managed to get a couple of old Slides onto the computer using some white plastic, Selotape and staples and of course a very ordinary scanner. The odd thing is I get one, but the next slide is a disaster, although I’ve used exactly the same method. :confused: I’m finding it an intriguing exercise. I just wish now that I had stayed awake all those years ago when my science teacher explained Reflection, Refraction, Focal Lengths and all that boring stuff. :D So come on all you guys from “Tomorrows Schools”, help an old fellow out. :thumbs:	B.M. (505)
593159	2007-09-21 10:43:00	A not too $$ stuff .. tradeoff .. a slide thingy .. that you attach in front of camera I think it maybe illuminated, may work for strips only.. dunno. So pop this strip thing holder in front of your digital camera and fire the camera .. may get something for your std.	Nomad (952)
593160	2007-09-21 10:44:00	Alt.. geta lightbox .. those things you pop slide film on it .. you may have one already .. and then just use a digicam to capture them. Or make your own box .. using a color corrected lightbulb with a piece of plastic of some sort on top .. just be careful that the lightis even throughout the thing ..	Nomad (952)
593161	2007-09-21 10:48:00	Alt.. geta lightbox .. those things you pop slide film on it .. you may have one already .. and then just use a digicam to capture them. Or make your own box .. using a color corrected lightbulb with a piece of plastic of some sort on top .. just be careful that the lightis even throughout the thing .. Now you're talking. I'll explore the Digicam possibility. ;)	B.M. (505)
593162	2007-09-21 20:54:00	Now you're talking . I'll explore the Digicam possibility . ;) BM, I bought a scanner with a 35 mm film adapter, but I found a much quicker way - simply use a slide projector and a digcam . Its so simple and the results are terrific . If you don't have a slide projector, ask around because someone will have one gathering dust in a cupboard, or you can probably hire one . You can use white artist cardboard if you do not have a screen . I have done this with 100's of old slides . Once set up (digcam, screen, projector, a dark room) the process of copying slides goes quickly . One day my 86 yr old father in law set up his old cheap slide projector to show us some fishing pics from the 1960's . The room wasn't perfectly dark and instead of a screen he used a wall . I popped out to the car to grab the digcam and held it not-so-perfectly to get the shots . Results? Surprisingly good - rellies asked for copies by email or CD . If you only want to copy several slides and want technically perfect pics (e . g . for a publication), the scanner adapter is the way, but for the usual holiday family pics, slide projectors + digcam will give you near-perfect results . BTW, you do of course have to turn off the digcam flash .	Strommer (42)
593163	2007-10-04 07:24:00	Well I've taken the plunge an bought a Plustek OpticFilm 7200 from a dealer on Trade Me ($400 new). It arrived today and if it wasn't for Bathurst I'd be getting stuck in to my pile of slides on Sunday ( I probably won't be able to resist having a go on a few anyway)!	Grimy (3041)
593164	2007-10-04 21:03:00	I had a HP scanner and one of those adapters mentioned in previous replies. Worked fairly well but found snow scenes almost impossible. I dumped the scanner but kept the device and have loaned it a time or two. But the results have been useless. My replacement HP scanner came with a special powered device for negatives and slides. Results - negatives - poor, but slides - superb. Now I use a HP combined scanner/printer - and have all my old slides scanned so will never need to worry again. But I kept the old scanner and slide device. Just in case it came in useful. If you live in Christchurch I could scan for you. Nominal charge (you decide) - I'm retired and would rather do this than fish or play golf. Tom	Thomas01 (317)
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