Hello lwilson,
Thank you for your question.
What you will need is a slide scanner, or an attachment if available
for your existing flatbed scanner. Though you will find the
convenience and quality produced from a dedicated slide scanner may
well be worth the additional investment for you.
One of my very favorite resources for anything remotely related to
digital photography is Steve's Digicams. Caution: you can spend days
there reading articles and reviews making comparisons. Steve has built
a most impressive wealth of information and links.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/default.htm
Searching there for "slide scanner", I found the following:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/search/results.cfm
For example:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/scanners.html
This page is full of information and reviews on Image and Film
Scanners. Nikon has an excellent reputation for these products, so I
followed the link to the Nikon scanner pages:
http://www.nikonusa.com/usa_category/category.jsp?cat=7
Nikon has 3 models with recently lowered prices, although still
requiring an investment. They range from $699-$2599 retail, though of
course are available at discounts both on the web and mail order as
well as at your local photo dealers. I always check the following
sites when looking for "street" prices:
www.pricescan.com
http://shopper.cnet.com/ and
http://froogle.google.com/froogle
Nikon's lowest priced model, the Coolscan IV ED features:
-2,900 dpi Optical Resolution with fast 42 second scan times
-USB Interface for reliable, plug-and-play connectivity to Mac(R) OS
or Windows(R)
-Scanner Nikkor ED high-resolution lens, using Nikons extra-low
dispersion glass for sharp, clear images
-Nikons Color Management System, ensures vivid, accurate color
matching on monitors, printers and the Web
-Dynamic range of 3.6 for great detail throughout a wide range of
tones
-LED light source for accurate color consistency without having to
recalibrate/replace the light source
-High quality 48-bit images at file sizes up to 69 MB
-Applied Science Fiction's Digital ICE3 (TM) Image Enhancement
Technology incorporating Digital ICE(TM), Digital ROC(TM) and Digital
GEM(TM)
-Enhanced Nikon Scan(R) software for easier operation
-Advanced Photo System adapter available for IX240 film (Optional
accessory)
Steve's links to an excellent review of this scanner here:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/SCAN/CSIV/C4A.HTM
Nikon CoolScan IV ED Film & Slide Scanner
2900 dpi and improved electronics make for amazing scanning ability
This device should satisfy all but the most demanding professional.
For example, their top of the line Super Coolscan 8000 ED sports the
following features at 4 times the price:
-Multiple film format (120/220, 35mm, 16mm, and Microscope)
-4,000 dpi Optical Resolution (for ALL film formats) with fast scan
times
-IEEE 1394 Interface (interface card included for Mac(R) OS or
Windows(R))
-Large Diameter Scanner Nikkor ED high-resolution lens, using Nikons
extra-low dispersion glass for sharp, clear images (14 elements in 6
groups including 6 ED elements)
-Tri-linear CCD with a total of 30,000 pixels
-Nikon's Color Management System ensures vivid, accurate color
matching on monitors, printers and the web
-Dynamic range of 4.2 provides incredible detail throughout a wide
range of tones
-LED light source for accurate color consistency without having to
calibrate/replace the light source
-High-quality 48-bit images at file sizes up to 790 MB
-Applied Science Fiction's Digital ICE3 (TM) Image Enhancement
Technology incorporating Digital ICE(TM), Digital ROC(TM) and Digital
GEM(TM)
-Enhanced Nikon Scan(R) software for easier operation
-Multi-Sample Scanning, enhanced for greater flexibility
I returned to Steve's to find a few other alternatives for you.
Hewlett Packard, which makes a very good consumer line of flatbed
scanners, shows this accessory for their scanners and you will find
similar for other flatbed scanner manufacturers:
http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/document.jhtml?lc=en&docName=bps02904
HP Scanjet 5200C, 6200C, and 6300C Scanner Families - Scanning 35mm
Slides with the Passive Slide Adapter
If you read this page, you will find that this is a passive device
that allows light to be redirected so as to illuminate the slide from
behind and then be scanned as you would a document. It may be
sufficient for your needs, but it will not have the resolution or
clarity of a dedicated slide scanner.
Let's take a look at Canon, as well, for their consumer products:
http://www.usa.canon.com/html/conCprCatProdIndex.jsp?section=10200
Canon shows 7 models that will scan film starting at under $100 and
two dedicated film scanners. I think you will find their film scanners
very similar to Nikon's and their flatbeds very similar to HP's. At
some point you will want to narrow down the products you are
considering and search for reviews of the models that most interest
you. www.epinions.com may be a helpful resource.
Canon's top of the line flatbed retails for $399 and notes the
following:
"Professional Scanning for Photos and Film.
The ultimate choice.
The CanoScan 9900F Color Image Scanner has nearly all the features you
could ever wish for to handle any scanning needs, fast and easily.
Resolution as high as 3200 x 6400 dpi immediately identifies the 9900F
scanner as a powerful tool. Scan previews in approximately 3 seconds
and up to 48-bit depth for over 281 trillion possible colors - confirm
that this is the definitive scanner for professional-looking results.
Connections for either FireWire® or USB 2.0 Hi-Speed* provide
customers with rapid transfer rates of up to 400/480 Mbps - perfect
for large files. The 9900F scanner is built to deliver spectacular
scans all day long for your choice of photos, transparencies or
negatives in a wide range of sizes: 35mm, medium-format or 4" x 5" -
and photos or documents up to 8.5" x 11". To quickly and conveniently
add negatives or slides to any project, a built-in 35mm film adapter
scans up to 24 negative frames or 8 mounted slides at a time."
This seems to have very nice features if you choose to consider
flatbeds.
As you can see, there are many products and possibilities to fill this
need. I can think of no better resource to educate yourself on these
products then Steve's and Steve's even includes a link to this article
on how to make this choice:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/scanner.htm
How to Select a Photo Scanner
© 2002 Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved.
"I forget that most people coming to this site are new to digital
imaging.
Not to brag, but honestly I've been studying bits and pixels since
1973, and been working with it daily to earn my living at my real job
since the 1980s.
I hope to help you figure out what sort of scanner suits your needs...
...WHAT SORT OF SCANNER DO I NEED?
We need to ask ourselves two important questions:
1.) What do you want to scan?
a.) Prints: This is easy: just get the cheapest flatbed scanner you
can find, and if you want quality, just pick up the cheapest EPSON you
can find for under $100. It will be all you need. As I'll explain
below, even the cheapest scanners have twice the resolution you'll
ever need. You are lucky, I probably just saved you a few hundred
dollars.
b.) 35mm Slides or B/W Negatives: You want a real film scanner. You
can get good ones starting below $300 here.
c.) Medium Format Transparencies and B/W Negatives: You need either a
$3,000 film scanner, or possible a good flatbed like the EPSON 2450.
d.) 4x5" Film: I'm not very excited by the 4x5 desktop film scanners
out there today. I'd suggest a good flatbed like the EPSON 2450 or
Microtek 1800f.
e.) 8 x 10" Film: You are in luck: the many Microtek flatbeds have
special film drawers with glass holders that swallow up to 8 x 10!"
Color Negatives: You are in big trouble. You may get OK colors, or you
may get garbage. I don't shoot color neg and the few times I've tried
scanning it I got garbage, even on my $3,000 scanner. You need to
investigate special software from either Silverfast or Vuescan which
has the special files required to match color from all the different
kinds of color negative film. The problem is that unlike slides or B/W
film, every kind of color negative film requires different scanner
color settings. Therefore, maybe you'll get good color, maybe not. I
wish you luck. If you are happy with your prints you may save yourself
a whole lot of trouble by just scanning them.
Most amateur photographers coming to this site only work in 35mm. If
this is the case, one needs a film scanner, not a flatbed scanner with
a pathetic film adapter..."
As you can see, the author is opinionated. Do read this article as
well as others linked from Steve's site.
I trust my research has provided an explanation of the possible
products you might consider as well as excellent links to begin making
your choice. If a link above should fail to work or anything require
further explanation or research, please do post a Request for
Clarification prior to rating the answer and closing the question and
I will be pleased to assist further.
Regards,
-=clouseau=- |
