Old Disney slides to Computer-TIPS?

NewRVLady

Registered

Joined

Jan 26, 2014

• May 30, 2015

• #1

I have some 20 or so year old slides from our early trips to WDW
I finally have the time to deal with them
any tips on best machine to transfer directly to computer?

Thanks!

 

boBQuincy

<font color=green>I am not carrying three pods<br>

Joined

Nov 26, 2002

• May 30, 2015

• #2

There are a few options ranging in price and quality from cheap/low to $$$/excellent.
First is to project them and photograph them, quality can be better than we would expect and cost is low (if you have a projector). Speed is fast.
Next is a dedicated slide copier lens that attaches to a dSLR. You really need a full-frame dSLR to get the entire slide in the photo. If you have that the cost is maybe $50 for the lens, quality is good, speed is medium.
Next is a flatbed scanner such as Epson V500/V600. Cost is about $150 to $250, quality is good, speed is slow.
Finally we have a dedicated slide/negative scanner. Cost is high and quality is great, speed is slow.

I have tried all of these and for now have settled on the copier lens as the fastest with good quality (sufficient for full screen on a monitor).

 

elmoandzoey

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 8, 2013

• May 30, 2015

• #3

We just scanned using our slides fro our Disney trips in the 80s using a flatbed scanner. We have a HP (forgot which model) which takes 12 slides at once. Quality is good, even better if you do post editing (our slides are pretty faded). Speed is pretty slow though - but it's mom's scanning the pics. She's retired, she's got the time We also have a slide copier lens but with a crop frame it's a no go. It just crops too much from the pic.

 

boBQuincy

<font color=green>I am not carrying three pods<br>

Joined

Nov 26, 2002

• May 30, 2015

• #4

The slide copier lens can be made to copy the entire slide with a crop dSLR but it requires taking the copier apart and moving the internal lens a little closer to the sensor. It's not as bad as it sounds, I did two of them and talked someone else into doing theirs. Some mechanical ability and tools helps... I will post some examples and information if anyone is interested (I posted this a long time ago but got no takers).

 

M

masmmdj

Earning My Ears

Joined

Jul 23, 2013

• May 31, 2015

• #5

I got this stand alone converter off of Amazon -- Jumbl High-Resolution 22MP All-In-1 35mm Film Scanner/Converter I converted 700+ slides for my parents with good luck in a few days. The quality was good considering some of the slides were 50+ years old. It uses a thumb drive to capture the data which allowed me to setup the slide conversion area independant of where the computer was.

 

NewRVLady

Registered

Joined

Jan 26, 2014

• May 31, 2015

• #6

masmmdj said:

I got this stand alone converter off of Amazon -- Jumbl High-Resolution 22MP All-In-1 35mm Film Scanner/Converter I converted 700+ slides for my parents with good luck in a few days. The quality was good considering some of the slides were 50+ years old. It uses a thumb drive to capture the data which allowed me to setup the slide conversion area independant of where the computer was.

Click to expand...

Thanks!
that looks good!
I also have some VERY old slides also

 

J

jec6613

DIS Veteran

Joined

Apr 21, 2015

• Jun 9, 2015

• #7

boBQuincy said:

Next is a dedicated slide copier lens that attaches to a dSLR. You really need a full-frame dSLR to get the entire slide in the photo. If you have that the cost is maybe $50 for the lens, quality is good, speed is medium.

Click to expand...

Actually, this is incorrect - a crop sensor or even a compact camera with decent macro ability will happily copy your full slide, just at a different distance and with a different focal length. When lit from behind, it will come out beautifully, and is also exceptionally fast. It is, however, one of the most expensive options - entry level to get 24 MP involves at least a Nikon DSLR (sorry Canon, but the Nikon sensors are just better at this), D3200 or better, a Micro Nikkor lens (you definitely don't want third party) with at least 40 mm f/2.8, and the ES-1 slide adapter, plus off camera lighting. All told, it's at least $400 worth of equipment. But once done, you can drop a slide in and capture it as fast as you can feed them in.

Yes, it's on my to-do list as well ... but as my Micro lens is the 105 f/2.8 VR, it involves another lens purchase.

 

boBQuincy

<font color=green>I am not carrying three pods<br>

Joined

Nov 26, 2002

• Jun 9, 2015

• #8

jec6613 said:

Actually, this is incorrect - a crop sensor or even a compact camera with decent macro ability will happily copy your full slide, just at a different distance and with a different focal length. .

Click to expand...

Actually what I wrote is completely correct, the inexpensive slide duplicators were designed for film SLRs and the image circle projected on a crop sensor will only be about 0.6x of the entire image. As I noted, this is an inexpensive option, about $50.

 

J

jec6613

DIS Veteran

Joined

Apr 21, 2015

• Jun 9, 2015

• #9

Actually what I wrote is completely correct, the inexpensive slide duplicators were designed for film SLRs and the image circle projected on a crop sensor will only be about 0.6x of the entire image. As I noted, this is an inexpensive option, about $50.

Click to expand...

The ones I found on Amazon for $35-$50 attach to the filter threads of your existing lens, and the ones with built-in lenses all will slide in and out to adjust to slightly different sized slides. An old one with fixed positioning may be restricted to full frame only, but the ones available today seem not to be at all.