Converting photo slides/negatives to digital

[Messie]

I've got boxes of my dad's old slides that I'd like to convert to digital. I think you can get a reasonably cheap gizmo to do this but does anyone have any advice as to ones to avoid etc? Is it an easy job as there must be several hundred slides to do.

Ta x

[the_lone_wolf]

You're presumably shooting digital now?

If so why not save the money you'd spend on a device that'll get used once and get them converted in one go by a professional with much more expensive high quality kit?

my mate is a partner in a company called Veho, had a quick scan on their website and they do something which might be useful..

http://www.veho-uk.com/main/shop_detail.aspx?article=60

[Messie]

I thought of that, but there are literally hundreds of them and the places I've seen charge by the slide. I though I might also use it to put the hundreds of old negatives onto disc as well sometime

[Messie]

keithd - that looks perfect! And simple too.

[Viney]

I think that ION are the only company that make a home device for this and i take it you mean 35mm slides in little plastic frame things?

Ok i sit corrected

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by Messie

I thought of that, but there are literally hundreds of them and the places I've seen charge by the slide. I though I might also use it to put the hundreds of old negatives onto disc as well sometime

Fair enough, I don't know enough about the process to judge, only thought it might be an idea if it's a one off thing

Bear in mind that no media is truly future proof, DVDs and CDs will degrade over time as film negatives do

If you're creating digital copies make backups, at least two on site (home or school wherever you're planning on keeping them) and if possible one off-site so you're safe if there's a fire/flood that destroys the entire building

[Messie]

Good point about copies Wolfie/ Byron - will do. I know they're no safer than the originals but they'll be easier to view, and I can make copies for all the family. I think my BT contract allows for major backup type thing. I'll investigate that further

Viney - yes they're the 35mm ones in little card frames

Many scanners come with an adapter to put slides in. I've got one somewhere, been meaning to do Dad's slides for a while but not quite ready to open the box....

Come to think of it, I'm sure I saw something that did this in Aldi or Lidl once so they must be about and not too expensive. Get what you pay for etc etc obviously.

[Messie]

[QUOTE=arenalife;2322795]Many scanners come with an adapter to put slides in. I've got one somewhere, been meaning to do Dad's slides for a while but not quite ready to open the box....

QUOTE]

I know exactly what you mean. My Dad died in 2001 and only now feel like I want to do it. But now it feels like a good and positive thing to do, so it's OK!!