Digitize Slides

[Rob666]

Good morning,

While at RIAT, got into a number of conversations about old spotting trips and having thousands of slides to scan. Seems more people using their DLSR rather than a dedicated slide scanner. I have a Nikon D700, anyone else able to share the macro lens they use and tube setup etc. I need to get my slides scanned and also like to share on here.

Regards
Rob

[Knife 04]

Hope holiday is good mate. Some tips here

https://www.4aviation.nl/reports/articl ... ng-slides/

[daggerfan]

I have copied a lot of my slides using an A4 hobby lightbox (£20 from Amazon), Nikon D7000 DX body with a Nikon AF-D 105mm f2.8 macro lens, and Velbon Sherpa tripod. The whole shooting match rests on an old shelf rescued from kitchen units to ensure a stable base. The camera and lens are attached to a ball head on the tripod, facing downwards, and the tripod legs are set at a mid angle to get the camera fairly low but still have room to allow slides to be easily changed on the lightbox. After that it was simply a case of putting something under the lightbox to adjust the height off the shelf base until the slide pretty much filled the frame in the camera. Focusing (manually in my case) was done using the rear screen on the camera, and the camera, in mirror-up mode to ensure there were no vibrations, was fired using a remote release. I found this set-up a damn sight easier than using a dedicated scanner, and could easily digitise 50 slides in around 15-20 minutes. The time-consuming bit is then processing the digital files in Photoshop Elements. The finished results might not be quite in the same class as using a dedicated scanner, but my view is life's too short to go chasing perfection. Hope this helps.

[ridgmeister]

I've been using my Nikon full frame body with a 60mm macro lens and the Nikon ES-2 slide copier. I also have a Viltrox LED panel on a 2nd tripod and then use a similar process to daggerfan. Again, fairly swift copying but time consuming processinmg the digital image.
Results are obviously dependent on the cleanliness and quality of the original slide.
Regards,
Paul

[Rob666]

Thanks guys that is really helpful, just need to get the house stuff done before spending the winter doing this.

Rob
P.S Hi Knife04 may have me mixed up with another Rob, can confirm happy enjoying working. I will say hello at the next FAS meeting.

[Knife 04]

Yes - I did mix you up with another Rob! Apologies!

Please do sometime although I wont be at the next one due being away!

best

Darren

[Rob666]

Yes - I did mix you up with another Rob! Apologies!

Please do sometime although I wont be at the next one due being away!

best

Darren

Neither me, but yes catch up at the next one.