Scanning slides -- Sugguestions?

Find a local place to do it. Unique Photo in NJ has decent pricing.

Best way would be to use a service that does it for you. A cheaper but more involved alternative is to use a digital camera that can take macro shots. You'd need to set up a bench with suitable backlighting and take shots of the slides in macro mode. A bit tricky to set up but can be quite productive if you get it right. Just google DIY film scanner on the web.

I would generally advise against buying a scanner just for this one time job.

A friend of mine used ScanCafe for a similar job and was happy with the results. It took a long time (several weeks—you send your slides to India), but the quality was good and the price was reasonable.

- What are the sizes of the slides?
- How will the scans be used - for monitor display? for prints (what size)?
- What scan quality is he looking for?
- Is he savvy with Photoshop, sharpening and noise reduction sw?
- What is his budget for time and money?

Without knowing these context, the answers are not very meaningful.

It will take you several hundred scans to get the hang of it.

Any acceptable scanner is at least several hundred dollars.

If you use a camera you will not be able to apply dust reduction technology such as Digital ICE.

I suggest that you find a service. They should have better scanners than you may be able to afford.

Test them first with a few slides.

Bill
I agree that on a one shot basis a scan company would probably be best. A casual internet search:
http://www.slidescanning.com/states/new-york.htm
http://www.fotobridge.com/pricing.php

The price varies at .39 cents in the first to $179 for 500 scanned slides in the second company. I assume you are referring to 35mm slides. Personally, since Nikon stopped making scanners, the ones on the market are not so good. Some people are happy enough. I have also shot digital images from slides projected onto a screen. You can decide on the quality. Also be sure the slide images are in good shape, focused and not faded.

I use a Canon 5D Mk II and Apo macro 90mm Rodagon optimized for 1:1 on a dedicated slide duplicating set up. Much, much quicker and frankly as good if not better than any slide scanner - and without the annoying artifacts of excessive grain, dust and noisy shadows. I hardly ever use my dedicated scanner now. I set this up for about $400-500 purchased from ebay. Many of these "scanning" companies I believe use a similar system as it is the only way to be fast and cheap.

Robin, what do you use for a light source?

Built in - tungsten halogen (about 3100K).