How to convert 35mm film to digital pictures?

Question

I have some 400 35mm films which I want to digitize. What is the most economical way to get the best quality digital photos?

1. I have 400 35mm films already developed. I need to add these to digital album; hence need to digitize. Photo CD: Anybody adds to photo CD only without prints?
2. Already visited scanner option: http://shutterbug.com/features/0606scanners/
etc. Scanner cost ~$300 , for 400 photo not a value proposition.

Specifically I am looking for a service where I can send the 35mm films and they convert they to photos on CD/DVD, in bulk processing. I did search online, nothing very interesting so far...

Answer 1

Scanning is the way to go, but if you don’t want to spend the time to get a scanner or spend too much time scanning 400 35mm film. Then you ought to let someone else scan it for your. Ok, … I got it. Find an art school next to your and post a job in the career services department. Post a job saying that you will pay $100 bucks to scan 400 negatives to CD. Most art students are really tight on money and some might just have the resources and time to do this for you at school. Your next best thing is to take it to a lab and have them scan it for you, but you might just spend .75 cents per image ($300).
Or if you have a friend with an old Nikon digital camera Coolpix 990, and a negative scanner then your in luck for doing it the cheapest way. Just slide the negative in and start taking pictures of your negative. You could pop out 400 images in about an hour (minus the dust removal and color tweaking). But to get a good shot you should face the camera towards a lamp with no lamp shade or attach a sc-19 sync cord from the Coolpix camera to a SB-28 Nikon flash. Although the image will not be as sharp as a scanner, but you will be saving allot of time and money. You could also crop and zoom in o the images on your negative. Scanners are really slow at any cost. And if you get a high end scanner, you would be paying too much for a once over job, and not to forget the slowness of the scanner.

Answer 2

Convert Pictures To Digital

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How to convert 35mm film to digital pictures?
I have some 400 35mm films which I want to digitize. What is the most economical way to get the best quality digital photos?

Answer 4

You'd probably have to use a commercial scanning service, and frankly there aren't as many as there used to be. To my knowledge, none of the consumer grade negative/slide scanners ever went above 5 megapixels, and the really good, Nikon, Minolta, and Olympus consumer grade scanners just aren't made any more. And to tell the truth, quality scans were an art in and of themselves. It was hard to get a good scan. Yes, when done properly, they were fantastic, but many, MANY were not done properly. Frankly, I think you'd be better off with a modern digital camera. For about the same amount of money, you can get a very good camera that produces high quality images in the formats you want.

Answer 5

If you're not adverse to scanning the negatives yourself, you could revisit the idea with a twist. Quite a few people are scanning shoe-boxes full of negatives these days, and this has resulted in a lively market for mid-range equipment on eBay and other places. People get a good negative scanner 2nd hand, scan like crazy, and sell it again.
Total cost: the shipping.
A mid-priced scanner, like the Nikon Coolscan 5000, goes for $1000 retail (adorama.com, b&h, etc.) The Coolscan 5000 with Viewscan software should be great for you.

Answer 6

Most photo processing places offer the option to have your photos placed on a CD in digital format. Example: Walgreen's, WalMart, CVS, Albertson's, Jewel, Target... This would be the most economical way.

There are scanners available for purchase that are specifically designed to scan negatives. They give you better quality, but they are a bit pricey.

Answer 7

You might want to look up Forde Motion Picture Labs and or Alpha Cine Labs in Seattle, Wa. They might help you there or... Try and find a Cine Lab in Hollywood. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

There are a number of cheap flat bed scanners that convert both photo and negative straight into your PC its really easy as well

Answer 9

Hi, I recommand you to try google picasa.

picasa is a Google's photo software. It's what should've come with your camera.

It can Edit , organise and Share you picture and small video flips.

It's very easy to use and is free, just like Google

Download it free in here:

http://www.bernanke.cn/google-picasa/

Good Luck!

Answer 10

If you have a macro lens and a DSLR, there are inexpensive mounts that let you photograph slides and negatives. With the right photoshop filter, you can complete the conversion.