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Best Slide Scanner

Digital equipment has become so much a part of the world of photography that some individuals may wonder was there really a time when it was not. That along with the treasures of film-era slides and negatives that exist make digital slide scanners a practical investment for a number of professional photographers and avid novices. There are some key aspects to choosing the best slide scanner for you though. The result is selecting a balance between these key elements.

Distinction

The first step is to realize that there is a distinction of quality among slide scanners. There are a number of slide scanners that are considered entry level by many. These scanners are designed to provide a low-quality scanner at a very low price. In most cases the avid novice will prefer not to use these scanners. Those that perform professional quality photography work should know that these are not the best slide scanner for them.

A basic rule is not to consider any scanner that supplies less than a 2700 DPI image. This is a general minimum. There may be some instances when you can work with less. The case of web thumbnails is an example, but likely your source image for those thumbnails will be around 2700 DPI for a professional image.

Quality

This brings us to quality. That minimum rule of 2700 DPI is a good start to a measure of quality. Another factor when considering the best slide scanner is to consider the way that it works. A number of flatbed scanners may claim that they can scan slides. You may be able to capture an image that is suitable for a web thumbnail using this method, but there is far more available.

Quality slide scanners allow for individual focusing. These capabilities allow you to create images that appear as you intend them to, and are generally only available on dedicated slide scanners. Some of the fine-tuning can be done using software now. Some programs allow for phenomenal adjustment that may be able to compensate for your scanners lack of ability.

Speed

This is a consideration when choosing the best slide scanner for you. When achieving the higher DPI resolutions some machines may scan considerably slower. It is important to be aware of the amount of slow-down that you may experience when you capture images at higher DPI's. Directly related, you should estimate how many slides you plan to scan. This will be helpful in determining how fast the scanner needs to scan for you to complete your tasks in a suitable time-frame.

Accessories and Preferences

Ultimately, the above will direct you to which class of slide scanner you need. Deciding which particular scanner is the best slide scanner for you may fall squarely on the details of accessories and preferences. You can find specialized features in some slide scanners like scanning directly to a memory card, or other output formats. In addition, the software that you receive will vary from scanner to scanner. Lastly, many of the top names in electronics and photography produce slide scanners. If you prefer a particular brand you may want to find out what they offer before making your choice.

35mm Slide Projector

Slide projectors are the opto-mechanical device that is used to project photos as a slide show. Carousel slide projector is the most common of them. These were used in the 1950s and 1960s as a source of entertainment for the family. They were used to project slides on to the wall or a screen so that a slide show can be viewed. Louis Misuraca was the inventor of this device. This was sold to Eastman Kodak Company and Louis did not get his royalties.

The physical form is circular. This projector has a separate tray holder that has to hold several photo slides (35 mm slides). The numbering is usually from 20, 36, to 140. The slides are placed upside down and backwards for the image to appear straight on the screen. The body contains a rotatory motor that is used to rotate the tray. There is a built in mechanism to drop the slide once it is projected and to load another slide.

The most famous of the 35mm projectors are the Kodak and Etktagraphic projectors. They were introduced way back in the year 1962. Less known brands include sawyer, view master, etc. these had a carousel in a Ferris wheel like position. Some projectors are just like boxes without the carousel form but they run on the same mechanism. These projectors had lot of advantages over the ones available in the market at that point of time. They are discussed below.

The first advantage is that the carousel tray was the best one to project and transfer the slides. This had a locking mechanism and this prevented the slides from slipping and falling. This system was largely appreciated. Then there was the use of gravitational force to lower the slides. They were lowered on to the projector lamp and this was a good idea. This is because use of gravity reduces the chance of jamming by leaps and bounds. The use of a circular tray also was a path breaking feature that enabled automatic shows without the need to reset the tray when the show needs to be repeated. These advantages made Kodak the market leader in the selling of these projectors.

But since the late 90s these projectors lost popularity with the advent of digital systems and more sophisticated lamp projectors. Just as conventional cameras are being out-dated, these projectors are also no more in use now. There are a few models available for sale. These models are all second hand ones. Only a few people still use them. This is due to the upgradings of the technology. No one needs a projector now to view slide shows. Everything has become computerized.

Kodak discontinued the production in 2004. Since then these models are available as vintage pieces. Still the aura and the special features of these projectors don’t lose their speciality. That is the reason Digital Scanners are being brought to scan the slides and convert them to digital format. There is a chance for you to own these slide projectors. There are for sale in most of the online marts.