Photographing Slides vs. Scanning

[janis]

Was sorting through my dad's slides this aft, wondering how to get them on my computer. Commercial scanning is prohibitively expensive, given that I also have slides of my own I would like to digitize, but I was just reading about these slide copiers/duplicators that you can attach to a macro lens (plus appropriate-sized extension tube in the case of DX camera). I just now tried to shoot a couple held in the arm clip from my R1C1. It was a little too awkward adjusting the clip to make it a feasible solution for shooting a large quantity of slides.

Have any of you tried shooting slides? Could I expect, with the right setup, to get comparable quality to scanning? I'm shooting a D90, so I assume I would get adequate resolution.

FYI, this is what I got shooting with the setup pointing towards the window. I think it is my focus that was off. My setup was just too unsteady, even though I was on a tripod.

[chrisc]

this would take some trust on your part in giving me an address (PM of course), but I have a digital slide copier I would be willing to loan you for however long you needed it if you can afford the postage. It's not overly heavy so shouldn't cost much to ship. Not sure about duty or such crap but since there is no money exchanged, wouldn't think it a problem.

[janis]

Chris, that's very generous. Is it the kind that attaches to a lens, and if so, is it universal? Is it with optics or without?

[chrisc]

This Stratford Labs scanner has a 4-element glass lens, a 5.0 megapixel CMOS CCD and can scan and preview an image in just 5 seconds. From the website: This easy-to-use, compact USB scanner allows you to load a strip of negatives or a color slide, and with the push of a button, transfer it to 5.0 megapixel digital files. Automatic color balance settings help correct negatives that have degraded over time, bringing new life to faded exploration memories. Outputs to JPG or TIF formats. * Required: USB port and Windows® XP * 3 1/2"W x 6 1/2"H x 3 1/2"D

It's certainly not the best product on the market and is a bit dated but works pretty well once you get past its idiosynchocies. You can go online and type in Stratford Labs gfp-001 and get the driver downloads. It's a pretty simple device and I found it reasonable for my immediate needs but it isn't my Epson slide scanner/negative copier but then I didn't pay that kind of money for it either.

[janis]

Thanks very much for the offer, Chris, but I'm looking for a solution that gives me a bigger file. Plus, I would rather be able to import directly to the Mac side of my computer where I have my photo processing tools than have to go through Windows.

[chrisc]

Understand completely...when I got it, I used it to process a bunch of old slides I'd shot on a bicycle trip in 1972. I used it just as a backup to the ektachromes which don't hold up nearly as well as the old kodachromes.

[chrisc]

Using NIK's bag of PP tricks, I was able to get a bit more out of the color image, but wonder if you've given thought to some of them as B&W images.

[janis]

Nice job, Chris. I am in fact thinking of using some of them as raw material for manipulation, which is why I want the best quality reproduction I can (affordably) get.

When I get my hands on the family projector, I am going to see if I can't use it to hold and illuminate them for me. I ran across instructions for how to do that somewhere yesterday; will have to dig through my browsing history to find it. I gather I would need to diffuse the light from the projector's bulb?

[chrisc]

I would think so, but between the bulb and the lens, not at the lens.

Also, remember the image will be backward at the lens, but DON'T reverse the slide, do that in PS as the chemistry in the slide demands it be put in correctly to get the right color balance. It follows the same rules as negative printing, "shiny side toward the light" except in reverse. With a slide, it is always dull side to the light.

[janis]

Chris, I never knew that rule! Or if I did, I forgot! I used to do a little darkroom...