Converting Slides

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Feb 12, 2009 | 3:15 pm

missydarlin

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Converting Slides

My parents 40th anniversary is coming up in a couple months, and I want to have some old slides converted to digital pics.

I don't really want to buy a converter, because in all likelihood it would sit and collect dust and never get done.

So I'm willing to pay someone else to do it. Any recommendations? Should I trust craigslist? What is a reasonable price to pay for this kind of thing?

My preference would be to stay local rather than have to mail them somewhere... but would be willing to do so with a reputable company.

Feb 12, 2009 | 3:34 pm

Oxb

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You might find this article from Popular Photography interesting. You do have to send the slides away (to India

) but it is only 24 cents a slide. They did a great job with mine and they all came back.

Feb 12, 2009 | 4:34 pm

cheepneezy

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A friend of mine had good luck with DigMyPics and your slides only go to Arizona.

Feb 12, 2009 | 7:25 pm

Gargoyle

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In my area some of the local camera shops do this, prices seem to range from 45 cents to $1.10 per slide. It's a common service at the small, old line camera shops- the ones that have been in business for 30+ years, love photography, and aren't franchises or parts of national chains.

I had a couple hundred done last year, output was approx. 2400 x 3400, 72 dpi .jpg, cost me less than 50 cents each.

Feb 12, 2009 | 7:57 pm

SJUAMMF

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Try this one:

SlideConverter.com

Feb 12, 2009 | 11:21 pm

pdxer

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you can also rent slide scanners (and very good ones too). if you don't have that many slides to scan (i.e., can do it all in a day or two), it might be well worth it.

Feb 13, 2009 | 9:53 am

blue_dolphin

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This is not exactly what you asked for, but I used YesVideo to convert slides and old 8mm reels to DVD and was quite pleased with the results. They work with local Ritz Camera and other retailers where you drop off your originals.

Mar 25, 2009 | 9:03 pm

Wainwright

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Slides to digital images?

My relatives and I have inherited years worth of slides of my grandfather's photography and I was curious if anyone has any experience with either equipment or service providers to have these converted into digital images?

Mar 25, 2009 | 10:32 pm

lin821

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While I was shopping for (regular) scanners, I recall seeing certain models that can handle slides & negatives. An extra folder-like frame is provided to hold the slides. I've never tried one so can't comment on the quality of the end result.

You may want to start looking for scanners and see how they hold up in reviews.

Mar 25, 2009 | 10:49 pm

#10

Gardyloo

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I have a Plustek 7300 - http://www.plustek.com/product/7300.asp - and have been pretty happy with it. Old slides tend to have a lot of gunk on them, so cleaning the film before, and use of decent photo processing software after, really improves the results.

Here are a couple of examples of 30-40+ year-old slides I scanned with it, only at 400 dpi if memory serves ('cause it's faster.)

http://gardyloo.us/iranscan0802s.jpg
http://gardyloo.us/eugeneantiquessm.jpg

Mar 26, 2009 | 1:39 am

#11

SJUAMMF

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Here are a few previous threads on this subject:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ng-slides.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ggestions.html

Mar 26, 2009 | 4:37 pm

#12

Wainwright

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SJUAMMF

Here are a few previous threads on this subject:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ng-slides.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ggestions.html

Thanks. A hurried search was not enough on my part.

Mar 26, 2009 | 6:33 pm

#13

TRRed

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I used DigMyPics a few years ago and was quite satisfied. However, as I recall, several months ago, they had a major fire at their facility. I have not pursued since then so I don't know what their current status is.

Also, Costco offers a slide-to-digital conversion service; however, when I asked what resolution the slides were scanned at, I never received a clear answer. Unless bad reports follow, once I get motivated, I will probably give them a shot at a few as a test.