Film scanning question

voyager13 · 11-18-2012, 12:54 AM

Hi Guys

I am thinking of taking up making photos with film cameras, mainly due to how cheap they have become (the cameras, not film) and also I know there exists scanners specially designed to scan negative film and digitise it.
My question: When I finish my 24 frames of film, can I take out the roll and scan it straightaway OR will I have to take it to a camera shop where they will process the roll and give me negatives in return so that I can than scan those negatives and digitise my shots?

My thought process was directed towards not being able to have a digital FF camera from Pentax, so using a film camera can help me make use of my manual wide-angled lenses to get the extra width that APSC takes away. I know I can walk backwards with an APSC, but I am lazy

i83N · 11-18-2012, 01:20 AM

No, film must first be developed.

**arnold** · 11-18-2012, 01:27 AM

The most efficient way is to get the film developed and scanned onto a CD by the shop. Later you can make any prints you want. From the CD you can load into the computer.

K-Arnav · 11-18-2012, 02:19 AM

You need to get the film developed first . In case you are using B&W film .. you can develop the same conveniently at home only . You can then scan the same on a flat bed film scanner . Good to see that many ppl want to take up film again !!!

Jonathan Mac · 11-18-2012, 02:36 AM

If you have somewhere that will develop it and scan it to a high-resolution TIFF file for a reasonable price, then you might want to use that service. I bought a scanner (Epson V500) because nowhere in my city will provide anything other than a mediocre jpeg at a reasonable price. Scanning film is a pain and takes some getting used to, but having a TIFF file you can edit later is great.

voyager13 · 11-18-2012, 03:28 AM

Thanks guys. That is meaning that besides buying the film roll I will have to spend on developing costs after every 24 /32 shots. Expensive!!

**ismaelg** · 11-18-2012, 03:52 AM

I take my film to my local Walgreens / Costco / CVS etc. but I request Negative only without cutting. If they look at me as if I'm from outer space my getaway phrase is "It's for a photography course"

Never fails.
The film gets developed but no prints, no CD and they DON'T cut the negatives. That's about $4 per roll.
Then I take it home and carefully cut, scan, archive and process.

Thanks,

voyager13 · 11-18-2012, 03:56 AM

Originally posted by ismaelg

"It's for a photography course"

Good idea

photolady95 · 11-18-2012, 06:40 AM

Just an aside. I too have just the film developed. And do the same as ismaelg, though in my area it only cost me less than $3 to get this done. I don't believe the price was any different from size of the roll. I have an Epson flat bed film scanner, also.

**JimJohnson** · 11-18-2012, 07:23 AM

Since this is a beginner's section ... DON'T think you can get away cheap and make good digital copies with most of those less than US$100 film/slide scanners that flood the shelves this time of year. They may be fine for sending your sight impaired grandmother a copy of a blurry point & shoot snapshot of the kids playing in the backyard, but that's about it. Typically the lighting is uneven, and the exposure somewhat inconsistent. Most also only create mediocre resolution jpeg images.

I know. My well-meaning spouse bought me one as a gift. To make her happy I installed the software and did ONE slide copy rather than return it. Now it is 'used' and not returnable. It has sat on my shelf since. I'll take the first $20 offer to get rid of it - (it was the 'better' unit and cost my wife about a $100).

**patrick9** · 11-18-2012, 08:03 AM

Jim
What would you recommend as far as scanners go. I am thinking of getting one ,as I hate the low scans I get from Walgreens (they are better than I got from Sams). Price is an object at this time

**boriscleto** · 11-18-2012, 08:59 AM

Originally posted by patrick9

Jim
What would you recommend as far as scanners go. I am thinking of getting one ,as I hate the low scans I get from Walgreens (they are better than I got from Sams). Price is an object at this time

Digital Scanner Reviews

The discontinued models are still supported by VueScan. You can get a Minolta DiMAGE Scan Dual for less than $200 on evilBay.

On the other hand you can get a decent flatbed for around $150.

**patrick9** · 11-18-2012, 09:41 AM

Thanks.. I have been looking at flatbed scanners

**boriscleto** · 11-18-2012, 09:47 AM

Originally posted by patrick9

Thanks.. I have been looking at flatbed scanners

I have an old CanoScan 8400F. I have always considered the scans it produces adequate for prints up to 8x10. The newer scanners are better.

**JimJohnson** · 11-18-2012, 01:51 PM

A good place to take this discussion would be the sub-forum "Film Processing, Scanning, and Darkroom".

While I eventually invested in an Epson V500 Photo scanner, I would still like to perfect slide duplication via my K-r with a bellows & slide copier unit ... at least for my best work. That way I get RAW images.

11-18-2012, 12:54 AM	#1
voyager13 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sweden Posts: 211	Film scanning question Hi Guys I am thinking of taking up making photos with film cameras, mainly due to how cheap they have become (the cameras, not film) and also I know there exists scanners specially designed to scan negative film and digitise it. My question: When I finish my 24 frames of film, can I take out the roll and scan it straightaway OR will I have to take it to a camera shop where they will process the roll and give me negatives in return so that I can than scan those negatives and digitise my shots? My thought process was directed towards not being able to have a digital FF camera from Pentax, so using a film camera can help me make use of my manual wide-angled lenses to get the extra width that APSC takes away. I know I can walk backwards with an APSC, but I am lazy

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11-18-2012, 01:20 AM	#2
i83N Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lithuania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,203	No, film must first be developed.

11-18-2012, 01:27 AM	#3
arnold Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,294	The most efficient way is to get the film developed and scanned onto a CD by the shop. Later you can make any prints you want. From the CD you can load into the computer.

11-18-2012, 02:19 AM	#4
K-Arnav Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Faridabad Photos: Gallery Posts: 38	You need to get the film developed first . In case you are using B&W film .. you can develop the same conveniently at home only . You can then scan the same on a flat bed film scanner . Good to see that many ppl want to take up film again !!!

11-18-2012, 02:36 AM	#5
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,897	If you have somewhere that will develop it and scan it to a high-resolution TIFF file for a reasonable price, then you might want to use that service. I bought a scanner (Epson V500) because nowhere in my city will provide anything other than a mediocre jpeg at a reasonable price. Scanning film is a pain and takes some getting used to, but having a TIFF file you can edit later is great.

11-18-2012, 03:28 AM	#6
voyager13 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sweden Posts: 211 Original Poster	Thanks guys. That is meaning that besides buying the film roll I will have to spend on developing costs after every 24 /32 shots. Expensive!!

11-18-2012, 03:52 AM	#7
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,681	I take my film to my local Walgreens / Costco / CVS etc. but I request Negative only without cutting. If they look at me as if I'm from outer space my getaway phrase is "It's for a photography course" Never fails. The film gets developed but no prints, no CD and they DON'T cut the negatives. That's about $4 per roll. Then I take it home and carefully cut, scan, archive and process. Thanks,

11-18-2012, 03:56 AM	#8
voyager13 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sweden Posts: 211 Original Poster	Originally posted by ismaelg "It's for a photography course" Good idea

11-18-2012, 06:40 AM	#9
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Just an aside. I too have just the film developed. And do the same as ismaelg, though in my area it only cost me less than $3 to get this done. I don't believe the price was any different from size of the roll. I have an Epson flat bed film scanner, also.

11-18-2012, 07:23 AM	#10
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,772	Since this is a beginner's section ... DON'T think you can get away cheap and make good digital copies with most of those less than US$100 film/slide scanners that flood the shelves this time of year. They may be fine for sending your sight impaired grandmother a copy of a blurry point & shoot snapshot of the kids playing in the backyard, but that's about it. Typically the lighting is uneven, and the exposure somewhat inconsistent. Most also only create mediocre resolution jpeg images. I know. My well-meaning spouse bought me one as a gift. To make her happy I installed the software and did ONE slide copy rather than return it. Now it is 'used' and not returnable. It has sat on my shelf since. I'll take the first $20 offer to get rid of it - (it was the 'better' unit and cost my wife about a $100).

11-18-2012, 08:03 AM	#11
patrick9 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,458	Jim What would you recommend as far as scanners go. I am thinking of getting one ,as I hate the low scans I get from Walgreens (they are better than I got from Sams). Price is an object at this time

11-18-2012, 08:59 AM	#12
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by patrick9 Jim What would you recommend as far as scanners go. I am thinking of getting one ,as I hate the low scans I get from Walgreens (they are better than I got from Sams). Price is an object at this time Digital Scanner Reviews The discontinued models are still supported by VueScan. You can get a Minolta DiMAGE Scan Dual for less than $200 on evilBay. On the other hand you can get a decent flatbed for around $150.

11-18-2012, 09:41 AM	#13
patrick9 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,458	Thanks.. I have been looking at flatbed scanners

11-18-2012, 09:47 AM	#14
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by patrick9 Thanks.. I have been looking at flatbed scanners I have an old CanoScan 8400F. I have always considered the scans it produces adequate for prints up to 8x10. The newer scanners are better.

11-18-2012, 01:51 PM	#15
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,772	A good place to take this discussion would be the sub-forum "Film Processing, Scanning, and Darkroom". While I eventually invested in an Epson V500 Photo scanner, I would still like to perfect slide duplication via my K-r with a bellows & slide copier unit ... at least for my best work. That way I get RAW images.