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.

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....

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...9000f&_sacat=0

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...ds=canon+9000f