Converting 35 mm slides to digital

[KVCaveman]

Hi group. seems to be quite an informative forum!
I've been trying to find the best way to convert 35mm slides to digital using my G3. I had an HP Photosmart slide scanner that worked pretty well but it no longer works.
I've seen a gizmo that attaches to the G3 like a filter. It costs about $100.00 plus the adapter. You stick the slide in and shoot it with the G3.
Another option is to project the slide onto a clean white screen and shoot a photo of the screen projection.
Somebody suggested simply back lighting the slide and shooting it with the camera in Macro mode. I've been trying this one but am having major focus problems. Even in MF mode, the auto focus seems to want to take over.
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

[MegaTrixel]

Hey Caveman, I've been hoping someone would reply to your query.

I haven't tried using my G3 to digitize slide images yet, but I might try. I wonder how effective the end result will be though.

I don't own a slide scanner - so the few slide scans I own have been done by my local film processor. They charge $1.50 per scan for small image size scans at 300 dpi. This results in an image you could use for the web or even say a 5x7 print. They also do scans for $3.00 each resulting in a larger image size that they claim will allow you to print up to 8x10 or 11.5X14.

So there's always the professional scanning option, but I think it'd be cool if the G3 could be used to bring some of my older transparencies into the digital age.

I'm going to play around with it. If I get anything that works I'll let you know.

[ski-mountaineer]

I have used the gizmo that you attach to your camera on my G5. It worked real good for me. I have converted several hundred slided over to digital using it.

[EZRider]

What Gizmo would that be? ;) Link us please 8)

[DocFrankenstein]

They charge $1.50 per scan for small image size scans at 300 dpi.
:shock: :shock: :shock:

Maybe 3000 dpi? :?

[ski-mountaineer]

The attachment that I found I bought from a Ebay site it came with a adapter to fit onto my G5 but depending on what camera you have they will send the appropriate adapter. Do a search on Ebay for a slide duplicator and you will see them. The one I have is the one that is offered several times for different cameras. The difference is the adapter. It has worked good for me.

[EZRider]

Thanks 8)

[283CID]

I've been kinda under the weather, but when I looked here today, I found this topic. One that is near and dear to my heart... as I was faced with thirty-six (36) slide trays of sixty (60) each. Finally I came up with what FOR ME was the perfect solution. It took me a couple of tries to resolve some of the bugs but here is the final product, which produced amazingly good results. First, I got a piece of white poster board... card board. I thumb tacked that to a piece of plywood. I found that my old Argus 500 would focus nicely at around four (4) feet. I sat the Argus on the corner of the kitchen counter and projected onto the white 'board at around four feet. I mounted the G-1 on the tripod and wiggled it in AS CLOSE TO THE PROJECTOR LENSE AS POSSIBLE. Be SURE to use 'Spot' metering...no flash, and the "P" mode.
As fast as I could advance the slides and pull the trigger on the G-1, I ran through a tray. Since I was using subfolders in ZB, dated to match the Slide Tray, I did one tray at a time...downloading to ZB after each. I did the whole mess in three evenings, after supper.

I zoomed the G-1 so that the slide was filling the width...leaving a black border on top and bottom... easily cropped later if wanted. Since the G-1 and the Argus do have **slightly** different locations, there is a verrrry small amount of perspective 'wedging'... but having no visible effect.

We are very pleased with the results. I'm no youngster, and I wanted to get the job done before it fell to my kids to finish!!!

Good Luck

[Papaw]

The company that makes the slide copier is Speciality Photografic.com
http://store.yahoo.com/specialtyphotographic/l
It cost $100.00 and you need an adaptor to 52mm.
I might try 283CID"s method first.

[283CID]

Yup...the price was right.

[airborne]

I used a "Promaster" slide duplcator ($75 2yrs ago) attached to my Lensmate lens adapter with a 49 - 52 step up ring on my G2. Converted more than 2000 slides dating back more years than I care to remember. They had been stored in a closed box out of the sun and elements so were generally in good condition. Most were half frame taken with an Olympus Pen EE pocket camera (now you know how many years). Set up a simple light box ( frosted plastic from TAP Plastics; a flouresant light mounted in a heavy duty tomato box to maintain constant light; mounted my G2 on a table top tripod for convenience (not required); used that little remote 'thingie" (also not required) and cranked them out. Experimented with WB. Wiped each slide with a micro cloth but didn't try to get all the dirt. Downloaded to PC via card reader as usual and ran through PS El 2. Cloned out the dirt et al and tweaked the good ones. Great results! Lots of fond memories and more than a few keepers. BTW, The few slides that had succumbed to time and UV but were of sentamental or historical value, I converted to B&W on PS El 2.

[Ballen Photo]

I've got to ask you folks that have duplicated slides in this manner, ie gizmo and digital camera, how is the quality? I mean, does it compare favorably with slides, and negatives converted in an actual slide scanner?
-Bruce

[airborne]

I tried to convert several of my best slides using my HP 6300 Scanner with the included adapter. Because my slides were old and certainly not of professional quality, (I had taken the photos with an inexpensive camera and, did not expect them to be prize winners) I did not wish to invest in another scanner nor did I wish to pay for a lab to process them until I had determined their quality. It was worth the cost of the Promaster adapter and associated materiels to "find out". I was very happy with the results. Had these slides been taken by a photographer of greater skill and/or a better camera, perhaps I would have elected a more elegant and costly process. Also, as I am reasonably handy with PS, I was able to "clean them up". -- Worked for me!