Slide scanner...

[thequintessentialman]

Can anyone recommend a good hopper fed slide scanner? Got a couple of boxes of slides from "back in the day" that I would like to convert to digital. I have an older flatbed scanner with an attachment that will do about five slides at time but at that rate I won't live long enough to get through all of them...

I am open to suggestions for other solution.

Thanks
John

[Jim Victory]

You may want to check out these guys. It would be cheaper in the long run than buying a good scanner.

ScanCafe - Photo Scanning, Negative Scanning, Slide Scanning, Video Transfer, Photo Restoration

[thequintessentialman]

Thanks

John

Originally Posted by Jim Victory

You may want to check out these guys. It would be cheaper in the long run than buying a good scanner.

ScanCafe - Photo Scanning, Negative Scanning, Slide Scanning, Video Transfer, Photo Restoration

[venchka]

The only bulk feed scanners I am familiar with are the discontinued Nikon Coolscan models. The bulk slide feed attachment cost more than a decent Epson with 12-15 slide holders.
Jim is probably right depending on the actual number of slides you need to scan. If a couple of boxes are 2 @ 36 exposures each that is a nights work for me. Count what you have.

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by venchka

The only bulk feed scanners I am familiar with are the discontinued Nikon Coolscan models. The bulk slide feed attachment cost more than a decent Epson with 12-15 slide holders.
Jim is probably right depending on the actual number of slides you need to scan. If a couple of boxes are 2 @ 36 exposures each that is a nights work for me. Count what you have.

I looked into a bulk unit too and the Nikon Coolpics 5000 was the one I kept finding. Some said it worked well with the feeder, but many said it could jam easily. Still may be better than 4-5 at a time.

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by Jim Victory

You may want to check out these guys. It would be cheaper in the long run than buying a good scanner.

ScanCafe - Photo Scanning, Negative Scanning, Slide Scanning, Video Transfer, Photo Restoration

I need to give them a shot. My wife's great aunt had probably close to 5000 slides. It would set me back $1450+, but I think it may be worth it.

[venchka]

Any Epson scanner set up for 4x5 film will come with a slide holder that accepts at least 12 slides. No jamming ever.

[jeeper]

Originally Posted by venchka

Any Epson scanner set up for 4x5 film will come with a slide holder that accepts at least 12 slides. No jamming ever.

$540 for the Epson V700 @ Newegg ($800 for the V750). At $0.30 per slide to scan at that place Jim linked to, 1800 slides would be the break even point on the V700 - not counting the hours (days/weeks) you'll be sitting at the computer scanning and editing.

If you have more than that, it would be cheaper to buy a scanner and do it yourself - not counting your time (which will be a lot) though.

If you have less than 1800 slides, it would be cheaper (and much faster) to send them out. Assuming that you don't want a scanner anyway.

[Jim Victory]

Originally Posted by jeeper

$540 for the Epson V700 @ Newegg ($800 for the V750). At $0.30 per slide to scan at that place Jim linked to, 1800 slides would be the break even point on the V700 - not counting the hours (days/weeks) you'll be sitting at the computer scanning and editing.

If you have more than that, it would be cheaper to buy a scanner and do it yourself - not counting your time (which will be a lot) though.

If you have less than 1800 slides, it would be cheaper (and much faster) to send them out. Assuming that you don't want a scanner anyway.

The one thing about ScanCafe is you only pay for the slides or negative scans you want. You can send them 10,000 to be scanned and then review them and only pay for the ones you want.