Another question for the Computer Geeks among us...

[Keroin]

I have a bunch of slides and videos I'd like to convert to digital. Now, I probably won't be making the investment right away but I'm wondering if it would be better to buy the equipment to do so myself or if there is someplace online that I could send stuff to?

Anyone had any experience with this?

 

[Sir_Winston54]

A quick Google search for "convert slides to digital images" lists a few services at the top (ads, of course) for $0.29 or so and also a "don't want, don't pay" service, and then some equipment for doing so oneself, ranging from $42 to $200 or so (US dollars, of course ). No personal experience with any of this stuff, but you might want to take a look at the DIY stuffs...

 

[Keroin]

A quick Google search for "convert slides to digital images" lists a few services at the top (ads, of course) for $0.29 or so and also a "don't want, don't pay" service, and then some equipment for doing so oneself, ranging from $42 to $200 or so (US dollars, of course ). No personal experience with any of this stuff, but you might want to take a look at the DIY stuffs...

I've heard that some of the DIY stuff produces pretty crappy results. That's why I'm kind of hoping someone here has some RL experience.

 

[ultramarineblue]

I've heard that some of the DIY stuff produces pretty crappy results. That's why I'm kind of hoping someone here has some RL experience.

I'm interested in knowing about the slide stuff myself. A friend whom I've lost contact with did that for me once and the external hard drive they were on died. I want to do that again before the slides deteriorate.

 

[Netzach]

If you look up a decent professional color lab they should be able to. I only know one local to me, so that could be pointless, but there should be one in a major city. See if there's a photo co-op or club of some kind and ask around there, or one of the good camera shops.

 

[DVS]

My sisters put some slides and 8mm video reels on a DVD which I thought was kind of crappy. Of course, I couldn't say so, or I'd be excommunicated from the family (what's left of it).

So, this is pretty much a list of how not to do this:
(1) They couldn't find the actual projector screen (if they had just asked me, I would have told them where it was) so they put up a sheet on the wall. They didn't even make sure the sheet was flat, so some of the slides had weird waves in them. And the sheet wasn't white enough so the images looked dingy.

(2) They didn't have the smarts to turn the audio off on the camera they were using, so when viewing the DVD, you hear them talking in the background and also hear the rather loud noise of the slide projector and the 8mm projector, too.

(3) They didn't level the projectors with the camera so the pictures all looked like they were going down hill. Well, either that, or you'd end up with a crook in your neck from tilting your head slightly to the right.

(4) Neither of them had ever run these projectors before. Some slides were in backwards, and they didn't even pause the camera when the reels ran out so you got a big flash of bright white that blinded you, not to mention it was terribly unprofessional.

When they were planning this, they asked me a few questions, but I could tell they wanted to do it themselves. I would have suggested to either have some CDs playing through the audio of the camera or at least have the audio turned off to save the viewer from the noise. I turn the sound down on my TV when viewing the videos. It could have been so much better with a little effort.

There is software out there that can be used to assemble the slides if you have a way to show the slides.

Take a digital picture of each slide and save them on a hard drive. Most computers with XP and above have Microsoft Movie Maker software installed. If not, it's free software that you can use to compile your pictures.

Just insert the pictures into the software and then follow the instructions to place them in a video. You can decide how long the picture will show, and you also have many different screen wipes to choose from to move from picture to picture.

You can also import your music of choice, such as with mp3 files. Import the music, then insert it into your movie. You have a separate audio track so you match whatever songs you have with pictures.

So, basically, you'll end up with pictures that have your favorite music in the background with fancy screen fades and wipes to look way more professional than my sister's version.

If you have 8mm reels, there is a little bellows that you can get that has it's own little screen with it. You focus your digital video camera on this screen and turn the 8mm projector on and it makes a video of your movies...and it looks professional. And with a separate Cd player, you can plug that into the audio of your camera so you have whatever music you want with the video. Christmas music with Christmas videos, etc.

Yes, I've done this, but it was years ago. I helped another guy do his, when he wanted to archive his family 8mm videos. I'm sure that bellows thing is still available. If not, there has to be something similar out there. If I remember correctly, he got his at Sears, but that was about 10 years ago.

You can send your stuff somewhere, but I'd wonder what would you do, if it got lost in the mail or something happened to them. Sure, you can insure your stuff, but if it's your only copy and it's lost, what good is the insurance?

If you plan on your valuable pictures and videos leaving your hands, I'd at least leave them with a local place and not somewhere with strangers you never even see.

Now, if you're like my sisters, just set up your stuff in the basement, get yourself a glass of wine and go to town. But if you're wanting your video to look more professional, it should only take a little more time.

You can also go to your friendly neighborhood audio visual rental store and rent something that will make your stuff look way professional, for sure. Don't know how to use the pro gear? I'm sure if you just act like the dumb blond and bat your pretty eyes at the clerk, you might get a free lessons on the use.

 

[Keroin]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I really want the best quality possible. So if I have to wait and get it done in the big city then so be it.

I'm sure if you just act like the dumb blond and bat your pretty eyes at the clerk, you might get a free lessons on the use.

Well that's just cheap!

(But I'll try it anyway)

 

[Etoile]

Allow me to recommend the company of my dear friend Sara: http://www.slidesinaflash.com/

She has rave reviews from actual customers and I can vouch that she is a great, trustworthy person.

 

[Keroin]

Allow me to recommend the company of my dear friend Sara: http://www.slidesinaflash.com/

She has rave reviews from actual customers and I can vouch that she is a great, trustworthy person.

Thanks Etoile! That's just what I was hoping for. I will check her out for sure.

ETA: Wow, price looks reasonable and I liked what I read. I'll contact her tomorrow. Bear hugs and sloppy wet kisses to you!!!

 

[Primalex]

As geek I wouldn't accept JPEGs or slides captured via digital camera. Slides have a large contrast range, no way you can capture this by taking pictures with a digital camera - and then you need to worry about errors due to dust, scratches, mold etc. on the slides.

A good comparison is on:
http://www.andromeda.com/people/ddyer/photo/slide-transfer.html

although it lacks the highest quality level, scanning with a drum scanner. You can see the difference here, f.e., the rightmost is done with a professional drum scanner.

http://www.dia-spezial.de/assets/images/autogen/a_Montage_A1-1_Ebene_640.gif

There you can also see the contrast differences. Black is black and white is white - and not just everything a puddle of a little brighter or darker.

Just my 2 geek cents.

 

[misterx1969]

Nikon Coolscan if you want to do yourself, BUT telling you

COSTCO-- if you have one, you're much better off Did 500+ slides there in 3 batches and got 14 cds, The Nikon is EXPENSIVE, and if you consider your time worth anything, you wont find less expensive either, and the quality is really good

3.3 MB .jpegs (typical image size) (16 Megabytes of actual image data)
Images come as 2000 (approx) by 3000 pixel (approx)

good enough for 7x9" @ 300 DPI

If you want to output LARGER than 8x10 I suggest you get the poster ones scanned higher at a quality photo lab, but for BEST home results...

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=nikon+coolscan&oq=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=9618246534463559722&ei=XGGUS7j0BoOksgPR_MGbBQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CB4Q8wIwAg#ps-sellers

2 grand---- if youve got a Hell of a lot of photos and a hell of a lot of time, you will be satisfied, the 2700 DPI models not as good as the 4000 DPI

But remember, scanning a 1" image at super high res will show the film grain @ over 800% So if you want a slide or 35mm done really really well for a LARGE poster, get that specific one made into a 4x5" transparency then make the poster from THAT. as trying to go digital in some huge size from a tiny original does not yield the best results. You need to spend 500 to 800 to get anything remotely decent. Then youre stuck doing all your own retouching, however the nikon has digital ice wich automatically removes scratches and what not, but it comes at a price.. TIME and money. Do the bulk at Costco if you are near one.

Used to be a drum scanner operator, you will get the very best scans from those, but an 8x10 JUST ONE could cost you 50 and it has to be removed from the slide casing. The very most sentimental you could do that way... AVOID like the PLAGUE ANY flatbed scanner with a transparency adapter, they are crap!