Basic scanner questions for new user
goldtech
I have a bunch of old 35mm slides and color and bw negatives. I want
to by a scanner.
I'm looking for websites that very simply explain the process.
I also need a recommendation for the best value in a scanner. I see
the Nikons but the price of admission is about 1K for that high
quality. Is there a unit with comparible quality for less, or least
one that's less $$$ and not a piece of junk...
What is the difference between Slverfast and VueScan and Photoshop?
What software does a scanner need besides drivers? (I assume I'll have
to install drivers for it.)
What the best way to clean fingerprints and dust from old slides and
film?
Real basic questions I know, and I appreciate if you can point me in
the right direction.
thanks,
Lee G.
Art Kesler
convert my slides into digital files. Costs about $100 US and comes
with software.
I already had a flat scanner for photos. It does fine, but I do very
few photo scans. I think most flat scanners will do OK on photos.
Art
ray
How many? Scanning slides and negatives is SLOW. I've had good luck with
an Epson (refurb) from the online Epson store - would set you back about
$100 - just make sure you get one that scans slides/negatives.
I can't speak to what software you'd need on an MS platform, but with
Linux, xsane or (in the case of Epson) iscan software downloaded from
avasys.jp.
David J. Littleboy
"goldtech" <gold...@worldpost.com> wrote:
> I have a bunch of old 35mm slides and color and bw negatives. I want
> to by a scanner.
>
> I'm looking for websites that very simply explain the process.
> I also need a recommendation for the best value in a scanner. I see
> the Nikons but the price of admission is about 1K for that high
> quality. Is there a unit with comparible quality for less, or least
> one that's less $$$ and not a piece of junk...
The Nikon 5000 is very nice, and the "V" model is almost as nice.
I've not heard of a cheap scanner that's even close. If you are doing fine
art prints, you need a Nikon.
That said, if all you need is 5x7" and smaller prints, you'd probably be
happy with an Epson, Canon, or HP flatbed scanner. I'd look for a "4800 ppi"
Epson scanner with a slide scanning attachment (I'm not sure what the
current model number are). These scanners are nowhere near the advertized
resolution, so 5x7 really is the limit _for quality prints_. You'll probably
be happy with 8x10s from them.
> What is the difference between Slverfast and VueScan and Photoshop?
Silverfast (expensive and only works on one scanner per license) and Vuescan
(affordable and works on many scanners) are in competition. You may not need
either. For scanning, Photoshop elements should be enough (you will use it
to adjust and prepare scans for printing or display on the web).
> What software does a scanner need besides drivers? (I assume I'll have
> to install drivers for it.)
The scanner will come with drivers and a scanning program. After that, you
need a photo editing program, such as Photoshop elements. The Epson software
isn't great, but mostly works. (I use Vuescan with the V700.) A free copy of
Photoshop elements may even come with the scanner.
> Real basic questions I know, and I appreciate if you can point me in
> the right direction.
Scantips is where to start.
--
David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan
Bob Williams
IMHO, It is a real PIA to scan color slides. It it quite slow even after
you master the learning curve. After scanning about 50 slides, you get
bored to death with the overall process.
I personally recommend using one of the many vendors that offer a
scanning service at a VERY reasonable price. I would not consider
scanning slides for anyone else for 27-35 cents each, so why subject
yourself to the hassle. Google on SLIDE SCANNING SERVICE and you will
find a bunch of shops that offer to scan your slides and put them on a
premium CD or DVD for a mere pittance.
Here is one of many offerings..........Bob Williams
ransley
I did a buch of old Kodachromes with a 3 yr old Canon MP 950 canons
all in one. You realy dont need to spend big bucks for a good scanner
anymore. In the last 3 years scanners have improved alot. Depending on
camera, film, and photographer, you may not notice the difference in
a expensive nikon scanner
Keith Nuttle
It speeds up the process to scan as many as you can place on the
scanner bed. Individually or in groups they all get scanned a the same
resolution.
You can then go back when you have time and crop and save each picture.
I am doing my cropping and saving as I watch TV, sort of like a person
who knits.
Keith Nuttle
40000 slides that would take about 14000 to get converted.
Matt Clara
news:VeOdna-3_4yPXyjU...@giganews.com...
>
> "goldtech" <gold...@worldpost.com> wrote:
>> I have a bunch of old 35mm slides and color and bw negatives. I want
>> to by a scanner.
>>
>> I'm looking for websites that very simply explain the process.
>
> http://www.scantips.com/
>
>> I also need a recommendation for the best value in a scanner. I see
>> the Nikons but the price of admission is about 1K for that high
>> quality. Is there a unit with comparible quality for less, or least
>> one that's less $$$ and not a piece of junk...
>
> The Nikon 5000 is very nice, and the "V" model is almost as nice.
>
> I've not heard of a cheap scanner that's even close.
The Acer ScanWit I started out on before switching to a Nikon was really
quite competent. After time, though, spots started showing up in every
scan--a lot of spots. I was able to find instructions to clean the mirror,
but it didn't help. Here's comparison scan:
http://mattclara.com/misc/8000ED-vs-Acer2720s/scanner.html
I think it became a Ben Q after Acer sold their scanner stuff off.
Mark Thomas
The Scanwit uses a moving CCD array, so you won't get spots, only lines.
Any spots must have been on your slides/negs.
It *doesn't* have a mirror - only a thin fluoro light, a lens and the
CCD array, all in a straight optical path - so I suspect your cleaning
memories relate to a different scanner.
I have one sitting on my desk here, and have disassembled it once when
the original ccd array failed (under warranty). It still works fine,
must be nearly ten years old. The Scanwit is a surprisingly good
scanner, with very good dynamic range and competent optics.
If buying secondhand, beware of broken clips on the slide film holder
(easy to fix), hot pixels in ccd array (replacement or photoshopping
required!), and gunked up film holder drive mechanics (a little awkward
but possible to fix).
Matt Clara
news:gp6s25$a3e$1...@reader.motzarella.org...
> Matt Clara wrote:
>> "David J. Littleboy" <dav...@gol.com> wrote in message
>> news:VeOdna-3_4yPXyjU...@giganews.com...
>>>
>>> "goldtech" <gold...@worldpost.com> wrote:
>>>> I have a bunch of old 35mm slides and color and bw negatives. I want
>>>> to by a scanner.
>>>>
>>>> I'm looking for websites that very simply explain the process.
>>>
>>> http://www.scantips.com/
>>>
>>>> I also need a recommendation for the best value in a scanner. I see
>>>> the Nikons but the price of admission is about 1K for that high
>>>> quality. Is there a unit with comparible quality for less, or least
>>>> one that's less $$$ and not a piece of junk...
>>>
>>> The Nikon 5000 is very nice, and the "V" model is almost as nice.
>>>
>>> I've not heard of a cheap scanner that's even close.
>>
>> The Acer ScanWit I started out on before switching to a Nikon was really
>> quite competent. After time, though, spots started showing up in every
>> scan--a lot of spots. I was able to find instructions to clean the
>> mirror, but it didn't help. Here's comparison scan:
>>
>> http://mattclara.com/misc/8000ED-vs-Acer2720s/scanner.html
>>
>> I think it became a Ben Q after Acer sold their scanner stuff off.
>
> The Scanwit uses a moving CCD array, so you won't get spots, only lines.
> Any spots must have been on your slides/negs.
Nope. Definitely not on my slides/negs.
Bob Williams
And it would take you about 2,000 hours to do it yourself.
If you worked 8 hours a day , 5 days a week with no vacation. it would
take you a year to do the job.
You would be working for about $7/hour....... :-(
I can't imagine that you couldn't cull those 40,000 slides down to a few
thousand keepers.
Bob Williams
mardie...@gmail.com
I got an Epson Perfection V500 film and slide scanner for about $150
at Best Buy, It does a great job, came with Photoshop Elements 6.0
and has 0 learning curve. I did 500 slides in batches of four in
about 4 days off and on. I'd say the average scan time was a minute
or less. I just kept going and then edited and cleaned when all were
done. I've been very pleased with it and was able to save some slides
we thought were too faded or dark. The holders for the slides and
film negatives are removable so the scanner can be used to just copy,
although I have a copier for that. HTH