Digitising my old transparencies

[OwenY]

Having given some thought to scanner/slide copiers, at this stage I conclude that a suitable bellows unit on a digital SLR is the best option...however I have neither

(I have a load of old Fujichrome, ektachrome & kodachrome treasured slides.)

[AshleyK]

This is a tough one. You want to do the job right but it's generally a one-off procedure, so buying the gear to do it is an expense that's hard to justify. Any second hand high quality scanners out there I wonder or even a service that can do the work for you?

[OwenY]

I've seen a bellows unit + DSLR work v well indeed & may have to borrow a pal's setup one day.

It's been a long time since I lugged around a bag of SLR gear.

These days it has to be a pocketable digicam....Canon S90 presently.

[AshleyK]

These days it has to be a pocketable digicam....Canon S90 presently.

I'm with you. I went from dragging a bag with a DSLR body and at least three lenses around with me all over the place to just the DSLR and a 35mm lens to a Canon S95. Simple works, especially if you've actually got the camera on you when you need it, instead of a bag full of kit sitting at home.

[glennb99]

I have years of negs and slides from the 70's-90's before going digital. Currently have a Nikon D90. Couple of lenses but mostly use the 35/1.8 as I love it for taking photos without flash when my kids are performing with their bands.

Anyway, back on track, I did actually go through the process over many months of scanning them. Scans weren't great but I needed them as the original prints were being stored in some crappy photo albums that were discolouring. All my new albums are Henzo. Expensive but beautiful. I just used an Epson 3in1 machine that came with a neg and slide holder. I re-printed about 400 6x4 images at Harvey Norman. Results were OK but nowhere as good as originals. But hey, I did it myself and I've saved many years of important images.

I considered buying a better neg scanner but I Ashley in that it's only a one-off exercise so why spend thousands on getting a machine to do a high-quality scan. And if it's only going to be for a 6x4 family shot then ....
Different story if you were going to blow-up to A3 size or enter in competitions etc.

[WitchdoctorGaz]

Having worked in Pre-Press during the time of the drum scanner it's a shame to see this skill disappearing from the world of photography.
As Owen said probably a decent DSLR/bellows set-up would be a decent solution, although you can purchase film/tranny flatbed scanners off places like TradeMe - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-ph ... 977349.htm

Then there is the question of colour correction and retouching once your scans are on the desktop. Not an easy task in itself...

[OwenY]

Retouching old shots is something else that is attractive if I can get the slides scanned, esp the treasured ones!

Glenn,
I spent most of my yrs with a 35/f2 main lens as I love 'avail light' shooting too &...

Ashley,
As you will prob know, one of the S90's strengths is low light shooting, I've found...I've had v good nightclub shots up to ISO6400/8000.

[MovingStill]

Nikon Coolscan film scanners pop up on TradeMe every now and then, usually between $400 and $800. Be worth buying, scan at your leisure, then flick it off on TradeMe again. Chances are you won't lose any dosh, maybe even make a little when you sell it again if you're lucky.

[AshleyK]

Nikon Coolscan film scanners pop up on TradeMe every now and then, usually between $400 and $800. Be worth buying, scan at your leisure, then flick it off on TradeMe again. Chances are you won't lose any dosh, maybe even make a little when you sell it again if you're lucky.

That's a plan! If you could find a few mates who have the same requirements, you could all chip in for the cost and then sell the thing when you're all done with it.

Glenn,
I spent most of my yrs with a 35/f2 main lens as I love 'avail light' shooting too &...

Ashley,
As you will prob know, one of the S90's strengths is low light shooting, I've found...I've had v good nightclub shots up to ISO6400/8000.

The best lens I own is my Nikon 35mm F2. They can pry it from my cold hands...love that thing. Focuses super close, sharp as a pin and quick to boot.

As far as low light shooting goes, isn't that new Canon 10MP sensor from the S90/G11 onwards a revelation? It makes the sensor in the G10 I used to own look like it was designed in 1993...

[OwenY]

I have indeed found that the S90 excels in low light situations - I use Candlelight mode often....

This shot taken in a nightclub, @ ISO3200 1/50 F2.0, not bad for a genuinely pocketable camera...