Negatives to CD? $$$$$?

[Kate and Pete]

All my wedding photos (from 6 years ago) are on negatives (we had a friend who's a photographer do our pics....) and I'm looking at getting them all put on CDs. Walmart will do them for 28 cents/image. (I'm just got off the phone with the rudest Target in the universe, and they do $19.99/CD, whatever that means) I don't need top quality, I just want to have them all in one place. Where do you get yours done??

 

[safetymom]

I would reconsider the resolution they scan them at. You might need to print them some day. It is better to scan high for possible printing then scanning at a low resolution and then try to print them.

 

[perdidobay]

.

 

[safetymom]

If you don't care about the quality of the scan you could buy this. But if you think you are ever going to print them don't waste your money.

 

[MN_Gal]

Check your local Target. I have been in the process of scanning all my negatives to CD through them.

The cost for a Target CD with up to 100 images (not strips, but images from the negative strips) is $1.99. You can also get an index print of the images on the CD.

I have just been grouping mine together by event/year so that there would be 100 images (thereabouts) per cd.

The cd comes with both high and low res images. I have been very happy with the quality. Just remember that this can not be done in an hour and usually takes a few days.

 

[MN_Gal]

Just re-read that you did call Target. Is there another one in your area? All of my CD's have been $1.99.

 

[heartbeeps]

this place does it for 19 cents/negative @ 3000dpi http://www.scancafe.com/

 

[Kate and Pete]

this place does it for 19 cents/negative @ 3000dpi http://www.scancafe.com/

This looks like a great site - I'm going to do a search on some reviews! Thanks!

 

[Kate and Pete]

Check your local Target. I have been in the process of scanning all my negatives to CD through them.

The cost for a Target CD with up to 100 images (not strips, but images from the negative strips) is $1.99. You can also get an index print of the images on the CD.

I have just been grouping mine together by event/year so that there would be 100 images (thereabouts) per cd.

The cd comes with both high and low res images. I have been very happy with the quality. Just remember that this can not be done in an hour and usually takes a few days.

Let me make sure I'm reading this right - I can get 100 images from negatives scanned onto a CD for $1.99? That sounds too good to be true - there's no price per image?

 

[mountdew1]

If you are concerned with long term quality and usability I would check with a local reputable photo place. They are probably going to cost more, but will also most likely do a much better job and use equipment meant for it, instead of multipurpose gear. I would check with your friend. They may have the equipment themselves, or will almost definitely be able to recommend someone who does. (And at least offer to pay the friend if they do it for you, even if its dinner out or something similar)

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

I only want to caution you about sending your photos or negatives off for these services. Know that you are taking a risk. There was a company in AZ that did the same thing, send them your photos (not sure if they did negs) and they would scan them. About 2 weeks ago, their warehouse went up in flames. Some stuff might have been saved however the majority of it was lost. This includes the servers they put their clients' things on.

If you can find someone in your area that does this and you can stay with your pictures or negatives while they do it, all the better. I offer a scanning service (just pics at this time) and my clients can stay with me while I do it if they choose.

 

[ZuZugal]

If you are concerned with long term quality and usability I would check with a local reputable photo place. They are probably going to cost more, but will also most likely do a much better job and use equipment meant for it, instead of multipurpose gear.

Absolutely!

Target/Walgreens/etc photo labs are great for some things but not in this case. I wouldn't mess around with my wedding negatives. Have them copied at the best possible resolution...that's very important. If you just want to have it done cheaply then I think you have found your answer but if you really want it done well do a little more research.

 

[Kies99]

I have well over 2000 color slides and on top of that another 1000-2000 strips of negatives of various sizes.

After doing a lot of research and checking around, I do these myself now. I picked up an Epson Perfection V700 scanner. I've done the 2000 slides so based on average prices I've just about broke even. It does take time. 12 slides at high resolution can take about 2-2.5 hours, but these are items that I can't take the risk of them being lost or damaged by someone else so the time is worth it to me. Besides, all I do is put the slides/negatives in the attached holder, put them in the scanner and press a button. I then walk away and do something else and it works automatically.

http://www.amazon.com/Epson-Perfect...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1211465766&sr=8-1

 

[MN_Gal]

Yes-I get about 100 images scanned on a Target CD for $1.99. I also get an index print of the CD images for this price.

On the CDs, there are both high & low res images. I have had no issues with the quality and I then transfer all the CD images to our external hard drive for storage.

In fact, I am taking in another 10 envelopes today. I have been doing 10 a week, so that's 1,000 (approx) images that they are scanning for me with no issues.

In the end, you have to decide what's right for you. This option has worked well for me for the past year (I should add that I only did about half of negatives last year and just unearthed another box in cleaning out our storage area)

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I have well over 2000 color slides and on top of that another 1000-2000 strips of negatives of various sizes.

After doing a lot of research and checking around, I do these myself now. I picked up an Epson Perfection V700 scanner. I've done the 2000 slides so based on average prices I've just about broke even. It does take time. 12 slides at high resolution can take about 2-2.5 hours, but these are items that I can't take the risk of them being lost or damaged by someone else so the time is worth it to me. Besides, all I do is put the slides/negatives in the attached holder, put them in the scanner and press a button. I then walk away and do something else and it works automatically.

http://www.amazon.com/Epson-Perfect...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1211465766&sr=8-1

I have a Minolta Dimage scanner that does hi res scans of negatives and slides. It's slooooow. After scanning photos for about 6 months, I just can't face it anymore, it eats up so much of my time. Be warned, unless you have a lot of time on your hands and a LOT of patience, you might get sick of doing it yourself before you're done...

Here in Atlanta there's a place called Video Impact that's a local guy's shop, they do the xfers to CD. I've been bringing my slides every now and then when I think of it.

 

[zumbergc]

one other thing to remember is some wedding film negatives are from medium format film, which is more a of a pain to scan in.

At least I found that so, I couldn't get it right. I could put regular negatives, the ones from strips, in the scanner, and things scanned in very easily. The medium format negs, not so much, i gave up. should have just taken them somewhere else for someone else to deal with.

 

[Tiff in MO]

I know this is an old thread but came across your forum when searching for this particular topic. I am going to give Target a try with a first batch of negatives to see how they turn out. The prices I was quoted was $2.49 for an off-brand CD, or $3.99 for a Kodak cd. 100 images each CD. They said some can be done within an hour, but if I were to bring an entire box of negatives in, it could take a day or so. I will report back after I get my cd. Thanks so much for the info thus far, I am excited to see what pictures I'll uncover in my boxes of CD's!

 

[TheRatPack]

I purchased an Epson scanner that had a negative/slide scanner insert and it took FOREVER to scan those things. Then I couldn't figure out how to get more than 3 or so on a disc.....they are scanning at the highest possible resolution so I'm sure they take up a lot of room but good grief!!! I've heard that Sams does it too, I'm going to have to figure out something as I have thousands of slides from my childhood and would love them on CD.

 

[PiperPizzaz]

I used to do that for a living. If it were me, I would get a scanner like this one and do them myself. It is not difficult, just time consuming.
I would never want to ship my wedding negatives anywhere they could get lost or damaged. You may have to do a little bit of reading to see what resolution you should scan them on but, it may say in the manual. We also used a cleaner on all strips and slides. I found some on amazon also. There were a pack of the wipes at the top of the page too you would want to get.

Also, save them as JPGs and you should have no problem getting them on a disc. You don't have to go overboard on the resolution to get good prints from them.

 

[Terrialvarez]

I dont know how many negative you have, but Kodak makes a real nice personal photo scanner that does 4x6 pics and negatives also. I bought mine at Kmart right before Christmas for $30, regularly $100. I think I got a great deal and have already scanned over 1000 negatives with this scanner. Im gonna keep watching for more sales so I can get at least one more of these, just in case this one wears out. I have 100s of 1000s of negatives between me, my mom, my brother and some aunts that I am gonna work on. Good quality machine and very easy to use.