VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

mcm · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:10 am Post subject: OT: organizing photos

Just wondering how the better organized amongst us are dealing with digital photo files, as well as old print photos. I know you can use iPhoto to get digital photos printed in a book, but I'm not sure I want another object floating around. Might feel differently when I'm old and losing my ability to cope with technology, but for now, I'm pretty anti-clutter.

So I'm looking at ways to organize digital files, and the possibility of scanning all the photos I can't seem to make myself organize in analog fashion. And while we're at it, what about negatives from the analog age? And slides? Has anybody bought a scanner for these? Are there good ones that don't cost a mint? Has anybody hired it done?

Bruce · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 3:59 pm Post subject:

HP makes fancy scanners that can run several slides or several negatives at a time and "suck them up" (tech term) into your computer. They also have a multiple print photo scanner which will take several at a time. We've got older versions of both that we inherited from a friend and hope to try them soon.

Try Google. There are several less expensive devices out there now.

B
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Moe Egan · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 4:55 am Post subject:

Thanks for the question Mary. I've been fighting the same demon.
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mcm · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 5:51 am Post subject:

The local photo store charges $56 for the first 80 and 70 cents per slide after that. I think I might have 1500 slides, so that would make it worth while to get a pretty decent scanner. Wanna split the cost Moe? Then you can store it in YOUR basement when we're done Gasp

I'm going to be researching it.

Moe Egan · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 5:56 am Post subject:

Not a bad idea Mary- a community scanner- I like the idea. It's like being part of a lazy man's commune, or something. Wink

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Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
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Bruce · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:17 am Post subject:

We're starting to digitize by throwing out the not-so-good and irrelevant slides first....must have tossed 80% of them in the first round. If you don't have one, a slide sorter light box is a good way to speed through them first, and they're cheap. On EBay you'll find a bunch under "Logan illuminated slide sorter".

I mean how many pictures of Grandpa proudly holding a cabbage he grew do you need?

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

mcm · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:29 am Post subject:

LOL, Bruce!

I have already done the sort & toss, and the ~1500 are what's left Frown

You know, I took a much higher percentage of really good pictures with my analog SLR than I do now. Film cost money!

TC · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:44 am Post subject:

I did some research on this topic about three years ago, for the same reasons. For what it's worth, back then, Consumer Reports was recommending these two models:

Canon CanoScan 8800F
Epson Perfection V500

They were both in the $200-$250 range.

I never did follow through, though, so I didn't buy either one. And I still have hundreds of slides I want to scan.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:59 am Post subject:

I have a fairly low-end HP 3570c scanner. It does a pretty decent job scanning pictures and printed pages, but the built-in slide/negative attachment sucks. You're probably better off avoiding the bottom price tier.
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