BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Scanning Photos and the Digital Darkroom

Photography Question 

Kim Lampkins
 

How to Scan Slides


I recently developed my slide film and would like to know if it is possible to scan the slides onto my computer and if so how do you do it? I tried and they are too dark and you can not see them very clearly. Is it possible? Thanks for your help.


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August 17, 2004

 

Bob Cammarata
  Slides can be scanned with great results with a dedicated film scanner. It sounds like you attempted to scan with a flat-bed type scanner. These don't work very well for slides. Check out online auction sites for a good film scanner. Prices have come down considerably in recent times.


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August 18, 2004

 

Kim Lampkins
  Thanks for the information, Bob. I was using a flat-bed type scanner. I'll check out the others.


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August 19, 2004

 

Michael Kaplan
  The trick in not nescesarily to not use a flatbed scanner, but to use the right one. I bought a good flastbed and it does a wonderful job on scanning slides/negatives. SOme of the newer models like the Epson 4870, in test repots are said to rival the quality of 4000 or 5000DPI scanners. I would not purchase a dedicated slide/neg scanner as I don't have that many to scan and I have gone perminantly digital ans once the collection is scanned will almost never need it again. My scanner (Epson 3200) will also scan photos and any other documants I may need (for faxing as an example) and is a much better value.
Michael Kaplan
Canon EOS-10D
http://www.pbase.com/mkaplan


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August 24, 2004

 
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