Hello All,
I was wondering if any of you knew of a way to take slides (like the kind you use in a slide projector) and convert them to digital pictures? Just scanning them does not seem to be doing it for me. The images are dark and quite pixely. I have thought about getting a slide projector and shining them on a wall and then using our digital camera to then take a picture of them. I was just hoping of an easier way of doing it. So any help would be appreciated.
Jaddis, I was almost positive one of the regulars mentioned having success digitizing old film slides. Tried to find it using my GAOTD-specific google site search shortcut, but guess I didn't use the best search terms. (found your post above, though)
Sorry.
Here are a few leads, though -
http://www.popphoto.com/howto/3363/how-to-digitize-slides.html
http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20080206/vupoint-35mm-film-scanner-to-digitize-old-film-and-slides/
http://www.kindredkonnections.com/DigitizingOldSlides.html
http://www.andromeda.com/people/ddyer/photo/slide-transfer.html
there are specialized high-resolution slide scanners- dunno about other options- kinko's? office max?
Jaddis, that's something I had to do a few times. Not with slides, but with pictures that were hanging on a wall. I just used my digital camera to take a pic of the pic.
I have recently been shopping for an All in One printer (scan/fax/copy/print), with slots for scanning in pictures, and some DID say slides!
Rune I'm glad you did the searching for me.
As I read Jaddis' post, I remembered, that there are tons of slides and negatives waiting to be digitized.
Month ago I bought a scanner with such a slide thingy. It should only be the beginning of my digitizing love that word career. Wanted to buy a better one, after having tried and learned. But this try and learn scanner is still waiting to be installed.
Now as everybody is speaking about pictures, I've got the kick of starting to digitize at least some of those tons.
Sorry, rambling again
goody I don't think I can afford those high resolution scanners.
Perhaps we can learn of each other ?
graylox
I think I mentioned before, I don't have slides, but do have a ton of negatives of 'who knows what'.. want to bring all of those to life, Rune, thanks for the links.
Gee I might have to shut down and unplug.. bad thunderstorms predicted here! Already thunder rumbling.
Thanks everyone. All this information is good. I will have to let you know what I end up doing and how it works.
used to be relatively inexpensive adapters to go on cameras that held the slides and backlit them- you got a digital camera with macro? wouldn't be hard to gin up, seems to me-
goody don't understand what you mean. Is there a thingy to connect directly to the cam ? never saw such thing for slides. There is something like that for those old super 8 films, but it's still way too expensive.
I just found this nifty gadget. I wonder how hard it would be to make one yourself. It looks simple enough.
This gadget looks in deed very simple, but I am rather doubtfully that it will be the best solution for lots of slides.
Graylox, that might be a modernday version of the stuff advertised in the backs of comic books, like the "realistic" cardboard submarine. Some might say $59.95 plus $10 s&h for 2 pieces of an erector set, a recycled deadbolt strike plate, and a small block of "exotic" southern poplar seems a tad steep. Wonder if the screws are extra? Comes with a ginormous 6-page instruction booklet:
Pg 1. Screw parts A & B into C
Pg 2. Stand upright
Pg 3. Mount plate into grooves
Pg 4. Carefully prop slide against strike plate (avoid wobbly tables)
Pg 5. Change angle of custom reflective cardboard shipping box slightly after each of recommended 12 bracketed test shots
Pg 6. Limted Warranty: End results should be acceptable to people who are not detail-oriented.
Do-it-Yourselfer Warning: Holding slides by thumb and forefinger may achieve same result, but that is prohibited by our broad patent that is still pending.
I'm thinking this sophisticated home-built rig might do a better job, but still wonder about finished quality after reading some of those links I found the other day. His samples look pretty darned good!
Maybe more ideas in this forum ?
Rune I'll tell you private and confidential and please don't denounce me : I tried that for some time, it was an absolute scream !
Hi RM! Just clicked your link and got "Page Not Found"! What now?
I won't tell anyone. It'll be our secret.
Mango Alert... Don't nobody read Graylox's above confession!!!
Try again, Maize, I dunno why it didn't. Mebbe I chopped off a trailing consonant?
http://thesybersite.com/minolta/slide-copying/index.htm
When goodgotd mentioned backlit slides, I dredged out my old, CHEAP backlit device. Still serviceable- blue plastic-lipped front section holds 4 rows of slides, cardboard box back with single bulb lamp fixture. Probably cost $5 at the time.
However, I found a cute/quick tip for an "instant" lightbox if you have loose negatives or slides sitting around and just want to see what they are -
http://www.camerahacker.com/Forums/DisplayComments.php?file=Film%20Camera/LCD_Lightbox.html
This gives me an idea... instead of single backlit source like a bulb, maybe abut the homemade styrofoam slide holder (my link above) to the monitor for more even lighting, if it's bright enough?
Oooh, I've got tons of thing like tripods, flash extenders and photo accessories. I'm talking 50+ film cameras and hundreds of miscellaneous items like filters, lenses, flash units, etc. I'll have to dig though the boxes and see what I can come up with. His results look very good.
I have to do some painting today....but afterwards I'll be on a mission to build one of those things. Thank you! I just hope I can round up or rig up all the necessary components. :D
Here's another site for you, Maizey.
http://flash.popphoto.com/blog/2007/04/how_to_copy_sli.html
BTW- How long can you hold your breath underwater???? I apologize if blackhawk choppers are surrounding your house right now, but I accidentally hit the "REPORT" link beneath your post (ask my brain why... I haven't a clue) so you may be in for a trip to Gitmo!
Ugh, thanks, I guess. Will they give me the boot from the entire forum? Or will they just remove the post?
Seriously, thanks for that last link too.
Here's another (my last... gotta run, possible Black Monday market meltdown today?)-
http://cyberelk.net/tim/2007/03/04/digitizing-35mm-slides-without-a-slide-scanner/
Happy St. Paddy's Day, my little leprechauns.
Maizey, if BubbyCo's on duty, he won't let that happen.
how about one of the twister florescent lamp and a hunk of translucent plastic, maybe a few layers, like those 'page protectors' at wal-mart or a stationary store, with an aluminum foil hood/reflector around the rest to prevent glare from light leakage? KISS.
once a joat, always a joat. I think I'll build one to transfer film negatives and reverse the color in post-processing.
It calls for the use of a pillow to steady the lightbox at a 30 degree angle. And if you get tired you can lay your head down. :)
Happy St. Pats to you too!! :)
just looked at the link, oops.
I see, that will be a good deal of work, with all my slides.
And what shall I do with all those super 8 movies ? I tried to look at one and it crumbled like Swedish bread. Pity for all our Scandinavian travels and baby movies of our children.
can you snap shots of the slide adaptor and post them? I'd like to see it.
Boy.. all those links about reproducing slides, negatives, etc., really got me sidetracked! I've sure been reading a LOT of great tips!
I will surely post my creation, with some notes on successes and failures. Hope you won't mind the expletives I may use along the way. :)
Well I rigged something together. I hooked up the Sony FD100 to see if it would work. A couple of problems were that there is no manual focus in macro mode, I had dirt/dust on the plexi-glass diffuser and on slides and I must have bumped the slide holder bracket while I was switching slides. I uploaded three pictures from slides dated 1959, two dated 1983 that must have had a red filter on the lens (some had a fish-eye lens - taken at the Poconos raceway) and two of my set-up.
I think I might have better luck with my Canon A570 using manual settings but I need a closeup lens adapter. The one Canon makes for this camera is 52mm and I have a 52mm closeup lens. Not sure if it will work or not. I can get the adapter for under $26 but the Canon lens $$$$$!
good job! more light may help focus, see twisty bulb.
I wanted to see rune's old one too.
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