PHOTOGRAPHERS ! I NEED YOUR ADVICE PLEASE

[Grooved_Arete]

This topic is probably up Khun Peter's, or Khun Poul's street!

Has anyone any ideas for transcribing/scanning 1.) Photographic negatives and 2.) Photographic transparencies into digital format?

I have quite a large library of both negatives and transparencies that my late father developed and wish to preserve them into a digital format.

Are there any scanning machines that can do this at reasonable cost and if so what are they?

Or if this is not a feasible option, what would be the most appropriate route?

Please post on this forum or message me, thanks.

Robert

[zeusbheld]

most still take slides to a service bureau i'd imagine.

i'd also tend to agree that the nikon slide/neg scanners are probably still good.

generally you want to avoid flatbeds even good ones but i hear that's changing. there's an epson that everyone loves and is reasonably priced (compared to say an SLR) and it's supposed to be serviceable for slides.

one thing to watch out for no matter what you scan on: dust is mildly annoying and easily photoshopped when scanning prints. on negs and slides, a little piece of dust will look like godzilla.

[sunsnow]

Also, unfortunatly no help on the scanner topic. But I just read little side note on photography magazine about this kind of project.

SPEND couple of days on figuring out the best naming practice for the negs in digital format!

This saves a lot of time later and renaming them with some system, ppl in picture, year when it was taken etc from the start is essential..

[zeusbheld]

Also, unfortunatly no help on the scanner topic. But I just read little side note on photography magazine about this kind of project.

SPEND couple of days on figuring out the best naming practice for the negs in digital format!

This saves a lot of time later and renaming them with some system, ppl in picture, year when it was taken etc from the start is essential..

this is a good point for ANY computer related project.

file names are important, and one needs a system. the system should include date/version, type, etc.

also, start the file name with whatever you want to sort them with (for example alphabetical by subject name). each part of the name should reflect what you want it to look at next.

for example, if i wanted all the 'family' pics together, Family-dad-fishing-1977-201.jpg

i realize that this is incredibly anal but it saves time and energy in the long run, especailly if you tend to forget what cute names you gave your thousands of files. (it's a real nightmare editing a narrative video when someone has slated the clips with cutesy names instead of scene/shot/take. several filmmakers disappeared in new york for this reason; rumor has it they sleep with the fishes, editors are a cranky lot).

[baboe]

Just read this Robert so forget the PM I just sent you...

I have not really experience with this. But if I were you I would not buy a scanner if this is a one time job but get it done by a professional shop. Try to search for a shop that has an Imacon scanner, considered to be the best around (but at several thousands of $$$ not for the average person). They can indeed both scan negatives and transparancies. Not sure if such service is available in Thailand (would be surprised if not). But with google you should be able to find international shops who provide this service. Quality comes at a price however!

Hope this was at least a little bit helpful :wink:

[Grooved_Arete]

===<

Rob, Zeusbheld, Sunsnow and Baboe

Thank you all for these excellent replies and help on this project, it has given me some real food for thought.

Best wishes,

Robert

PS Mountain photos will appear in my journal soon!