CONTRIBUTE!
Executive summary: I am spoiled on 6 megapixel (3072x2048 pixel) master scans. I am not particularly concerned whether the original image is a 35mm slide or negative, a digital camera file, or something else. As long as the file is at least 3000x2000 pixels, preferably TIFF format, I will be happy. 35mm slides and negatives: For many years, Kodak Photo CD service was a practical way to get this and I have a big collection of Photo CD master discs. Kodak Photo CD service set a high standard for quality of digital images. Nearly all images posted up to 2001 are of Kodak Photo CD origin. Photo CD service is still around but not common due to competing technologies such as film scanners and digital cameras. I would still be very happy to accept Kodak Photo CD (.PCD) files if you have some. I still recommend the service if you have between 36 and 300 35mm slides or negatives to scan, but are not comfortable sending film originals. 35mm film scanners capable of 2000dpi and a CD burner can be found for well under $1000, so if you have a large collection of slides and the time to scan them, scanning your files and saving them to CD may be most practical, and I believe this is currently the most popular solution for anyone with a large collection of film originals. If your photos are exceptionally sharp, scans over 2000dpi are certainly possible and perhaps worthwhile. For most of my photos taken at 1/250 without a tripod, 2000 dpi is adequate. If you have your own film scanner and a CD burner, I will gladly accept scans saved to CD of the following format: 3072x2048 2000DPI RGB Color TIFF image format. Each file will be about 18 MB, so e-mailing them will not be practical. I use a Mac, but have no problem reading IS09660 format CD's with 8.3 filenames. If you are comfortable sending 35mm slides, I now have a Kodak RFS film scanner and can scan the slides myself. I prefer to work in increments of 36. E-mail me if you have some slides or negatives you may be willing to send. Of course nothing would make my day more than finding a gift of 35mm slides in the mailbox that I do not have to return. Digital Cameras: As for digital cameras, 6 megapixel digital SLR cameras have been around for almost 10 years now, but a complete digital SLR is still well over $1000. If you happen to have a 6 megapixel camera such as the Kodak DCS 460, 560, 660 or 760, the Canon D60, the Nikon D100, or the Fuji S2, I would be very interested in raw photos from these cameras. Digital cameras are the future, so I am also interested in samples from other cameras. Even if they are not six megapixel, particlarly sharp images from a 3 to 5 megapixel camera may cause me to reconsider my insistence for 6 megapixel masters. One thing I have not accepted yet but would consider accepting is 6 megapixel images in maximum quality JPEG image format. Such files would be about 2 MB, and could be sent one at a time by e-mail. Something else: If your photo does not fall in the above two categories, you most likely have prints. Quality will most likely suffer if you scan a copy rather than the film original, but if the copy is the best source available, maybe a flatbed scan that equals the above 6 megapixel images would be acceptable. If you have medium format or other high quality originals, you probably have grander plans for them than use on my website but I welcome the idea of using such high quality images. I can only imagine being spoiled on something consistently better than 6 megapixel digital images. Questions? Have something to contribute? E-mail me at cbiel@sbcglobal.net Thanks!

CONTRIBUTE!

Executive summary:

I am spoiled on 6 megapixel (3072x2048 pixel) master scans. I am not particularly concerned whether the original image is a 35mm slide or negative, a digital camera file, or something else. As long as the file is at least 3000x2000 pixels, preferably TIFF format, I will be happy.

35mm slides and negatives:

For many years, Kodak Photo CD service was a practical way to get this and I have a big collection of Photo CD master discs. Kodak Photo CD service set a high standard for quality of digital images. Nearly all images posted up to 2001 are of Kodak Photo CD origin. Photo CD service is still around but not common due to competing technologies such as film scanners and digital cameras.

I would still be very happy to accept Kodak Photo CD (.PCD) files if you have some. I still recommend the service if you have between 36 and 300 35mm slides or negatives to scan, but are not comfortable sending film originals.

35mm film scanners capable of 2000dpi and a CD burner can be found for well under $1000, so if you have a large collection of slides and the time to scan them, scanning your files and saving them to CD may be most practical, and I believe this is currently the most popular solution for anyone with a large collection of film originals. If your photos are exceptionally sharp, scans over 2000dpi are certainly possible and perhaps worthwhile. For most of my photos taken at 1/250 without a tripod, 2000 dpi is adequate. If you have your own film scanner and a CD burner, I will gladly accept scans saved to CD of the following format: 3072x2048 2000DPI RGB Color TIFF image format. Each file will be about 18 MB, so e-mailing them will not be practical. I use a Mac, but have no problem reading IS09660 format CD's with 8.3 filenames.

If you are comfortable sending 35mm slides, I now have a Kodak RFS film scanner and can scan the slides myself. I prefer to work in increments of 36. E-mail me if you have some slides or negatives you may be willing to send.

Of course nothing would make my day more than finding a gift of 35mm slides in the mailbox that I do not have to return.

Digital Cameras:

As for digital cameras, 6 megapixel digital SLR cameras have been around for almost 10 years now, but a complete digital SLR is still well over $1000. If you happen to have a 6 megapixel camera such as the Kodak DCS 460, 560, 660 or 760, the Canon D60, the Nikon D100, or the Fuji S2, I would be very interested in raw photos from these cameras. Digital cameras are the future, so I am also interested in samples from other cameras. Even if they are not six megapixel, particlarly sharp images from a 3 to 5 megapixel camera may cause me to reconsider my insistence for 6 megapixel masters.

One thing I have not accepted yet but would consider accepting is 6 megapixel images in maximum quality JPEG image format. Such files would be about 2 MB, and could be sent one at a time by e-mail.

Something else:

If your photo does not fall in the above two categories, you most likely have prints. Quality will most likely suffer if you scan a copy rather than the film original, but if the copy is the best source available, maybe a flatbed scan that equals the above 6 megapixel images would be acceptable.

If you have medium format or other high quality originals, you probably have grander plans for them than use on my website but I welcome the idea of using such high quality images. I can only imagine being spoiled on something consistently better than 6 megapixel digital images.

Questions? Have something to contribute? E-mail me at cbiel@sbcglobal.net

Thanks!