I am interested in purchasing a (preferably used) dedicated slide scanner for high-volume scanning of old family Kodachrome slides.

I understand that it's important to use an actual slide scanner instead of using an adapter on a flatbed scanner. Because I have lots and lots of slides to scan, an adapter would not be practical, so it would be nice to have some kind of automatic feed. I have also heard that it's important to have a particular kind of software if scanning Kodachrome slides.

Of course the problem with slide scanners is that when you're done with the actual scanning, what do you do with them? That's why buying either a used or low-priced one is important, because it will eventually be sold again when I'm done with it. :)

Thanks in advance, Roberta

Rheadabovewater
Dell Desktop/Windows 2003
SBCYahoo hi-speed internet thru Outlook 2003/IE 6.0.2
AntiVir & Comodo Firewall

Here is some good information about slide scanners

http://www.flatbed-scanner-review.org/35mm_slide_film_scanners/35mm_slide_scanner_list.html

After you decide what models appeal to you, start looking by name for new and used ones on sale. Check Google, Amazon, eBay.

Here is a pretty decent one for the job you want to do. At a reasonable price.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&kw=PAPS3600&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=287975

Thank you so much Shelly! (and here I was thinking no one had answered, but you had moved it instead) ;)

So far we're not having much luck finding anything that's decent and halfway priced so that we can afford it. Actually, we're not finding much of anything, period. I was wondering if maybe they are so far out of the technical limelight, that people just don't use them much anymore (slide scanners, that is - not film scanners).

Roberta
Rheadabovewater
Dell Desktop/Windows 2003
SBCYahoo hi-speed internet thru Outlook 2003/IE 6.0.2
AntiVir & Comodo Firewall

>So far we're not having much luck finding anything that's
>decent and halfway priced so that we can afford it. Actually,
>we're not finding much of anything, period. I was wondering
>if maybe they are so far out of the technical limelight, that
>people just don't use them much anymore (slide scanners, that
>is - not film scanners).


Right, there was a brief golden age of slide scanners just a few years ago when prices had dropped to popular consumer levels and there were lots of models to choose from. By now, most people who want to scan slides have already got their scanners, so the market is shrinking.

The good news is that maybe there are a lot of people out there who have finished scanning their slides and want to get rid of their scanner.

The information at flatbed-scanner-review.org is out of date (Minolta doesn't exist any more), but it may be helpful if you find a used scanner.

You shouldn't necessarily go for the lowest price you can find. Look for a scanner like the Nikon Coolscan V ED (link to B&H page: http://tinyurl.com/ya6kfk ) which includes software to detect and remove dirt and scratches. Getting the slide scanned is only the beginning of the job. If your scanner faithfully includes all the dirt and scratches, you'll be spending hours photoshopping your results.

You'll also want a bulk loader, like this one for the Nikon: http://tinyurl.com/ybguom

Hey ronslog, thanks for the info.

Actually we found a pretty good scanner this morning, made by Canon. Here is a link to it - best price is about $166 at a local store :)

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=120&modelid=13977

Opinions are most appreciated.

Roberta
Rheadabovewater
Dell Desktop/Windows 2003
SBCYahoo hi-speed internet thru Outlook 2003/IE 7
AntiVir & Comodo Firewall

That one looks pretty decent.

Thank you Shelly! :)


Rheadabovewater
Dell Desktop/Windows 2003
SBCYahoo hi-speed internet thru Outlook 2003/IE 7
AntiVir & Comodo Firewall

Looks good. Best o' luck with your project.

Yikes!....if that's the right page, it's $600....hey, I'm sharing the cost with a poor-as-a-church-mouse retiree, and I'm a single parent.....know anyone who'd like to donate one to a charitable cause? :lol:

BTW the other link you posted is GREAT, lots of wonderful info - thank you again! :)


Rheadabovewater
Dell Desktop/Windows 2003
SBCYahoo hi-speed internet thru Outlook 2003/IE 6.0.2
AntiVir & Comodo Firewall

There are less expensive slide scanners available. When I Googled them I saw them as low as about $150. Those are new prices, I'm sure they are also available used at lower cost. The one I mentioned has a magazine feed that loads 50 to 100 slides at a time and scans them automatically. You did say you had a lot of them to scan.

Yes, true - I have about 400, but my friend has around 5,000 (YIKES!)

He's interested in quality (vs. speed), but I can picture him scanning till he has a long, grey beard (and we see pigs flying) :lol:

Rheadabovewater
Dell Desktop/Windows 2003
SBCYahoo hi-speed internet thru Outlook 2003/IE 6.0.2
AntiVir & Comodo Firewall

Split the cost with your friend 90% to 10%.