Converting Photos to Digital

[Andy M.]

As a young man, I was into photography and had a Nikkormat and a couple of lenses. I used up a LOT of Kodachrome and had shoeboxes of slides of vacations, family, cars, etc. Sadly, I lost access to those slides when I divorced.

Recently my ex passed along a shoebox of slides via my daughter. I was glad to have them but have no viewers/projectors to view them. I quickly found out you can't just put a slide on your scanner bed and capture the image. I looked into buying a piece of equipment made for the purpose but they were expensive.

Just the other day, an ad popped up on Twitter for an app called SlideBox that enabled you to take a picture of the slide with your phone to create a digital image. I was skeptical of the quality I'd get but it was worth a try. Turns out it works very well. Here is an image I copied from a Kodachrome slide from the 1960s to my phone/laptop using the app.



There is also another app called FilmBox for converting negatives and photographs.

 

[taxlady]

Wow! I'm impressed Andy. I once bought a specific scanner, instead of a cheaper one, because it could scan negatives and slides. It was a PITA putting the film into the holder. I don't think slides would have been easier. And, it took a lot of foofing to get a good quality picture. It turned out to be more work than I was willing to do.

 

[Andy M.]

Wow! I'm impressed Andy. I once bought a specific scanner, instead of a cheaper one, because it could scan negatives and slides. It was a PITA putting the film into the holder. I don't think slides would have been easier. And, it took a lot of foofing to get a good quality picture. It turned out to be more work than I was willing to do.

This is basically simple. The app maker has a website and there is a page set up as a bright white backlight to illuminate the slide/negative. You hold the slide in front of the screen and snap a photo with your camera. The hardest part is holding everything steady. I ordered a "helping hand" to hold the slide for me so all I have to do is handle the camera/phone.

There is a cost to using the app after the introductory trial period but it's reasonable. I plan to set a block of time aside to do a large block of slides so I can minimize the cost.

 

[CWS4322]

Funny you should mention this. I have those "slides" to convert. Locally it is $1/slide. I found a device, but it is about $200 (takes 25 slides at a time). I have considered sending them away, but Dad wants to support the local business. I used to have one of those readers...the app might be worth a look! Thanks.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I need something for negatives, most of the pictures of my Grandfather are negatives.

 

[Andy M.]

I need something for negatives, most of the pictures of my Grandfather are negatives.

PF,there is a sister App called FilmBox for negatives and photos.

 

[roadfix]

Nikkormats were great cameras! I also had one. .... Nikomat (domestic name).

 

[PrincessFiona60]

PF,there is a sister App called FilmBox for negatives and photos.

I suppose you have to have a Smartphone...

 

[Andy M.]

I suppose you have to have a Smartphone...

Yes.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

Yes.

Dang...I have a perfectly good dumb phone I don't NEED to replace.

 

[bbqcoder]

What is the cost monthly and one time? One review mention that it’s$5.99 per month but I couldn’t find a total cost.

 

[Andy M.]

What is the cost monthly and one time? One review mention that it’s$5.99 per month but I couldn’t find a total cost.

As far as I can see, the $5.99 rental fee is it. I've downloaded the app and done several tests as you saw above.

I got my "helping hands" from Amazon last night. I'm ready to go.

 

[dcSaute]

I had&have literally _thousands_ of slides/photo to digitize. years back got an Epson flatbed - has an insert for four slides at a pop, has also the film holder 'inserts'
I looked at the idea of one with the automatic feeder but opted for the slower more paced approach. the Epson Perfection series is still sold.



the biggest issue on slides was cleaning/blowing off the years/decades of accumulated dust! for most snaps-of-the-day, a few specks won't matter but for those 'special' ones, a good cleaning is necessary.

 

[RCJoe]

A few years ago a friend of mine was trying to scan his complete slide collect to digitalize it. It seemed when he was a young father that all the men were shooting slide photos opposed to prints. They enjoyed showing their photos to
family gatherings with a projector. By the time the kids were young teens this stuff was put away and in large part forgotten.

Then came technology and a load of flatbed scanners promising to scan slides. Most of them didn't do that great of a job as the back light was too obvious in the center of the slides that were scanned. HP was developing better equipment for slides and old negatives.

He and his son (in the military at that point) showed me a new scanner just for slides and negatives. Like this. HP s20 Photo Smart slide & negative scanner.

Not very large at all but it did a fine job. It was expensive though. There was also one with a SCSI card that installed into the tower. (C5100 I think)

 

[Andy M.]

...Like this. HP s20 Photo Smart slide & negative scanner.

Not very large at all but it did a fine job. It was expensive though. There was also one with a SCSI card that installed into the tower. (C5100 I think)

That HP S20 sells for $700.00!!

 

[CWS4322]

I am looking at the Wolverine Titan or the Hammacher Schlemmer Slide And Negative To Digital Picture Converter. I am leaning toward the HS because I like the customer service and the lifetime warranty. I really don't need this forever, but I have hundreds, if not thousands, of slides to convert. Both are pricey...Hey, PF, if I buy one, can I interest you in buying it used off me when I am done with it by the end of July? Ha-Ha. Free shipping from MN to WY.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I am looking at the Wolverine Titan or the Hammacher Schlemmer Slide And Negative To Digital Picture Converter. I am leaning toward the HS because I like the customer service and the lifetime warranty. I really don't need this forever, but I have hundreds, if not thousands, of slides to convert. Both are pricey...Hey, PF, if I buy one, can I interest you in buying it used off me when I am done with it by the end of July? Ha-Ha. Free shipping from MN to WY.

Absolutely! I like the product HS sells, never been disappointed.

 

[CWS4322]

I am looking at the Wolverine Titan or the Hammacher Schlemmer Slide And Negative To Digital Picture Converter. I am leaning toward the HS because I like the customer service and the lifetime warranty. I really don't need this forever, but I have hundreds, if not thousands, of slides to convert. Both are pricey...Hey, PF, if I buy one, can I interest you in buying it used off me when I am done with it by the end of July? Ha-Ha. Free shipping from MN to WY.

I say Ha-Ha PF because I want to be back in Ontario the end of July, so want to get this done before I leave. I don't have much on my agenda for the month of March except a haircut and pedicure. Don't need a smartphone, just a computer or m-stick as far as I understand. If I remember the HS will take 25 slides at a time--didn't check how the negatives feed since I don't have nearly as many of those. I'd split it 60/40 with you once I am done with it--so you pay me 40% of what I paid, I ship it to you, and we'd be square.

 

[RCJoe]

@ Andy. I don't know if you are inclined to purchase on eBay or not, but I've seen those for sale for as little as $30 dollars. You may need a computer with an earlier operating system so the software would work (I'm thinking XP Pro) and
the editing program serve you.

A lot of these items come from estate sales and are in good shape.

 

[CWS4322]

I will order it on Tuesday so I can get going on this project. Thanks, PF.