A Question for Negative Collectors

[Jobu]

No, I don't have a question for collectors who are always grumpy and bashing people - I have a question about actual negatives. :D

I have a few old nitrate negatives (pre 1907) that I want to get scanned (and maybe cleaned if they need it). I contacted a local place and they wanted $700 for the scans (and more for the cleaning).

These are my first negatives, but this seems like a crazy amount of money for something that should only take about 10 minutes (even if the machine is expensive).

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

Thanks in advance.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I'm not negative, I'm just from Jersey...

[Fred]

Scott, that makes you immediately suspect.... :p

Try the following for your negatives:

Doug Munson, Director
Chicago Albumen Works

P. O. Box 805 (USPS)
174 Front Street (FedEx, UPS)
Housatonic, MA 01236

413.274.6901 (office)
413.230.6696 (cell)
413.274.6934 (fax)
dmunson@albumenworks.com
www.albumenworks.com

[drcy]

To make digital photos, you can try scanning them with a normal scanner and see how that works. That's how professional photographers and the Library of Congress do it-- I just don't know if their scanners are of much higher quality/power. I don't know, but I if you are wanting to make 8x10 digital photos or digitalize them for online, my guess is a normal scanner would do a good job.

[D. Bergin]

You can pick up an Epson Perfection V700 Flatbed Scanner or similar model for around $300-$400.

It's what I use for negatives and it can scan a plate or film up to 8x10 inches in size.

It uses a light source from the top of the scanner bed to develop the negatives and they come out nearly perfect.

You can use any photoshop style program to clean up the image if need be.

I use Paint.net which is an open source program and can be had for free from the publishers.

Cleaning the actual negative, I'm not sure about that.

[irishdenny]

Hey There Bryan,

Well I've been Very Impressed wit my Canon 9000F
Fir the Exact Purpose THaT You are Inquiring About!
Of course, I've been Using it for Various Negatives
From the 60's to the Present Day 35mm Negs...

However, it does come wit a resizable rack
THaT Allows fir the Negative to be Held fir a Grand Digital Scan!

It Also Comes wit the CC Ability
iN Order to Scan Slabbed Cards to a Perfection!

Its Very Affordable, imho...

As Fir the CleaniN...
I'm Fairly Brave!
However, I've been DoiN Photography since the Early 80's!
I would be Very Gentle wit No Chemicals to Start,
Maybe Try Using a Horse Hair Brush ta get ya Start'd !?!?

Here's a few Links to Get Ya GoiN!!!

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC0.A0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=canon+9000f&_sacat=0

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/167-2803737-7914805?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=canon+9000f

[Jobu]

Thank for the advice everyone.

I called Chicago Albumen Works and they have a minimum order of $165 so perhaps just buying a new scanner and giving it a go here first is my best bet.

Each negative is about 2" x 3" CORRECTION 3.25" x 4 3/8" and I worry they won't fit in the racks that these scanners come with. Does anyone know offhand of one that would accommodate negatives of this size? Can I scan the negatives right on the glass without a holder?

[D. Bergin]

Thank for the advice everyone.

I called Chicago Albumen Works and they have a minimum order of $165 so perhaps just buying a new scanner and giving it a go here first is my best bet.

Each negative is about 2" x 3" and I worry they won't fit in the racks that these scanners come with. Does anyone know offhand of one that would accommodate negatives of this size? Can I scan the negatives right on the glass without a holder?


The one I mentioned scans up to an 8x10 negative. It does not have racks. It comes with place holders to scan right on the glass, or you can crop yourself with a preview scan to gain more control over the process.

[steve B]

I've scanned negatives both larger and smaller than the usual 35mm that my scanner has a light for (Which never worked! ) By placing a lightbox on top of them and scanning. The light box is a simple thing used in sewing and art to help trace patterns. Not all that expensive either.

This one is like what my wife has.

http://www.joann.com/light-tracer-light-box-10inx12in/4128500.html

This one is small and inexpensive, but they say "bulb" for the light which makes me think it may be a regular one. That might generate too much heat for nitrate.

http://www.google.com/shopping/product/9164633413715569085?lsf=seller:3122104,store:63527 52457043469600&prds=oid:9646253276522903541&q=sewing+lightbox&hl=en&ei=f0TDWIWdB5mjjwSjrZyAAQ&lsft=gclid:Cj0KEQiAuonGBRCaotXoycysvIMBEiQAcxV0nDh MsgQvOSxjjUTdhbmpNldGWyr-X-K3qho_NXH3FngaAr7I8P8HAQ


Steve B

[drcy]

I was imagining 35mm film. 2x3 inches is pretty big and I'd imagine you'd have success going the scanning route.

[Jobu]

Thank you all. I will buy a new scanner and give it a go. I have Paint.net so I can edit the images once I have scanned them.

[thecatspajamas]

Epson has 3 scanner models that will do negatives larger than 35mm: Epson Perfection 4990, V700 and V800 (in order from oldest to newest models). I'm not aware of any other affordable models that will do scans of the full scanner bed, but there might be others that would do the size you need. It's been a while since I've looked into it since I am very satisfied with my V700.

If you go with another model though, just be sure to verify the maximum size film it will scan. There are many that will do 35mm, but not so many that will do larger.

Before getting one of those, I also tried the lightbox on top method, but always had issues with either getting the light levels right, or the fluorescent bulb it used causing interference that created noise or slight distortion in the high-res scans. It did a passable job for lower resolution scans such as for web display though. I could see going that route if you just had a handful of negatives to scan, but it would be cumbersome to have to do a large number that way.