Converting negatives to Digital format?

[zumbergc]

Can someone suggest a $$ way to convert about 12 rolls of film to a digital format. We are getting our negatives from our wedding, finally after a couple years from disney.

I don't know if negatives are different sizes at all. I just know right now that my 5x5 proof pics I'm getting the negatives. My other pics were shot with a digital camera, so they are just sending those on a hi res CD.

If anyone can suggest a place to reference these items, or recommend a good scanner they have used, or know about.

Thanks.
Connie

 

[manning]

I have looked into this a little. My wife inherited all her fathers pictures and slides and we want to put them to digital so others in the family have copies.

What I have learned so far is flatbed scanners are getting close to dedicated film scanners in resolution.

Canon and Epson seem to be the leaders right now in flatbed scanners.
Canon has the 9950F and Epson has the 4990. Epson also have just introduced two new ones, the V700 and the V750.

The cost of these are going to be high. The Canon is the lowest at $400.00. The highest I think is somewhere around $700.00. I have no idea what the dedicated scanners are but think they are higher.

One question I think may enter into this is how often will you be scanning prints. It may be cheaper to have it done professionally if this is going to be a one time thing. That's what I'm struggling with, I have film SLRs, but am I ever going to use them again? After I convert the FIL slides and prints will I have a need for a high end scanner, however knowing me I may get one anyway.

 

[WillCAD]

If your proofs were 5x5, and these were shot by a pro, then most likely they are medium format.

Medium format negatives are much larger than 35mm negatives (6cmx6cm is the common size), which makes it much easier to scan them on a flatbed scanner with a transparency adapter. However, they will not fit in the common 35mm film and slide scanners, or in the 35mm adapters that are available for many flatbeds.

Because of the much larger size of medium format film, scanning them at 1200dpi will still produce a huge file, more than sufficient to create 8x10 prints. 35mm negatives need to be scanned at 2400dpi or more to get a good 8x10 print.

The easiest way to get the negatives scanned is to take them to a photo lab. My friend the wedding photographer has his scanned to hi-res files on CD for $50 per disk. Check your local photo labs for pricing. Be aware that they may ask for a signed release from teh original photographer before scanning them, due to copyright restrictions (this release will likely be included with the negatives when they come).

 

[RadioNate]

I have a Canon 8400F and I've used to to scan medium format negitives.

ETA - here's one I just did very quickly from my Disney Wedding photos

the thing you have to worry about is finger prints and dust. Disney puts the negatives in cardstock type holders but you need to remove them from those to load into the adapter. It's hard to do and still keep them clean.

Last edit I promise. I know I didn't pay a lot for this scanner. I got it at the Apple Store as I'm on a Mac for $150ish.

 

[WillCAD]

Nate, you can reduce the fingerprint issue by using cotton gloves when handling your negatives. You should be able to get them inexpensively from your local photo lab.

Of course, you still have to worry about dust, but at least the gloves keep finger oils off the negatives.

 

[manning]

Homemade canned air

I don't know if they are still around, but this is what I picked up at a computer store one year. It is called Reair.

It looks like a can of pressurized canned air, with a small hand pump. There is a valve on one end that looks like a valve on a tire. You attach the pump like you would one of those portable air pumps to blow up your tire. You pump it up. It has a nozzle at the other end and you use it like the canned air you buy. It has saved me money.

It holds 100 lbs of air and is good for 50 bursts at a time.