Scanning in Europe?

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Rossou

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Can you recommend any good place to send film for scanning (would be great to get 20MP files, at least above 12 MP) in Europe, and that is not too expensive? For both 35mm film and medium format?

And perhaps even post a picture?
 
http://highend-scanservice.com/

He scans with a Hasselblad X1, does an excellent job at really good prices and will be helpful with any questions you may have. I use his service since years and all I have published in the past came from his scans.
There is also a treat over at LUF with nothing but positive feedback.

Hope that helps!

PS - most my analog stuff on my website is scanned by him
 
For a limited time I offer high-end drum scanning with prices even cheaper than Hasselblad CCD-scanner services. And I'm not limited to 3200ppi for medium format and larger formats, I can scan up to 8x10" with any resolution the client prefers. The scanner I run does up to 11000ppi, but in practice 4000-5000ppi range is good enough for those very large prints.
 
Thanks for the tips so far (although I knew about Crimson; they are just way too expensive for so low quality scans). But please keep the tips coming, I am sure lots of international readers like to have options...

Another question - what do you guys think about colors and scans? I know a lot of people say use film for B&W and digital for color, but I think I prefer film for color. However, back in the day when I was shooting film, I was never happy with the labs, regardless of negative or slide film (so I mostly shot slides and viewed them on my projector). But now that we have scanners, maybe the color is better? But guess it depends on the scanner and downstream handling. How do we get the best result, i.e the least change in the pipe-line? What should I think about?
 
Rossou said:
Another question - what do you guys think about colors and scans? I know a lot of people say use film for B&W and digital for color, but I think I prefer film for color. However, back in the day when I was shooting film, I was never happy with the labs, regardless of negative or slide film (so I mostly shot slides and viewed them on my projector). But now that we have scanners, maybe the color is better? But guess it depends on the scanner and downstream handling. How do we get the best result, i.e the least change in the pipe-line? What should I think about?
Click to expand...

That's the reason I still shoot E6 myself. No digital has been able to give the the same kind of soulful analog colours, not even Foveon X3 which I really like.

But as you say, with color film scanning there are speciefic issues. Nothing beats slide projection, that's for sure. And you do get "lemons" on scanning since many scanning services don't even have calibrated workflow or run prosumer CCD-scanners that realistically doesn't even perform close to their quoted specifications, then there's the client's knowledge-factor on post processing and their workflow. But scanning results can be very good when done skillfully on both sides.

Some high-end scanning services offer color-matching and finalized adjustments for your needs, which is relatively expensive manual series of procedures but can be well worth it if you aren't keen on post-processing and skills yourself to get the best out of the results.

Margus
 
Very good advices for high quality scanning of single images. But my output is around 5 rolls/month, sometimes additional 10 rolls a week. I can't afford the drum scan price for every frame and didn't find an European scan service with reliable quality, high resolution and affordable price including development (C41) for hundreds of frames per month.
I'm sending to an US company since a few years, accepting the longer turnaround. Similar questions and answers in this thread.
 
Another option is developing films in pro lab together with the scanning.
When done at the same time the price is significantly lower then when bringing in already developed films for scanning only.
 
Rossou said:
Thanks for the tips so far (although I knew about Crimson; they are just way too expensive for so low quality scans). But please keep the tips coming, I am sure lots of international readers like to have options...

Another question - what do you guys think about colors and scans? I know a lot of people say use film for B&W and digital for color, but I think I prefer film for color. However, back in the day when I was shooting film, I was never happy with the labs, regardless of negative or slide film (so I mostly shot slides and viewed them on my projector). But now that we have scanners, maybe the color is better? But guess it depends on the scanner and downstream handling. How do we get the best result, i.e the least change in the pipe-line? What should I think about?
Click to expand...

I don't buy into the film for B&W and digital colour thing, if you prefer colour on film (like I do), then that works for you, if you prefer digital for B&W then that works for you.

There is no better/worse, just preference.

Personally I prefer film for colour, especially slide film when the colours are right. You could emulate it in digital with Lightroom etc. if you wanted to though.

If I were you, I'd send out colour film for processing and get the cheapest scan or print option they have. Use the scans/prints to pick the keepers and scan them at high resolution on your own scanner. 35mm dedicated scanners are fairly cheap these days and more than good enough for 99% of uses. Medium format can be scanned well on a cheap flatbed too.
 
thegman said:
Medium format can be scanned well on a cheap flatbed too.
Click to expand...

I'd agree except this, unless it's a €3000+ Kodak/Creo etc high-end flatbed the cheap flatbeds are the major bummers and source of dissapointments on MF film scans, let alone 35mm. Only large format can come out more-or-less allright from cheap flatbeds and even then it needs some above average skill on scanning & PP, definitely a calibrated workflow on color work since the stock color calibration settings and color casts on those cheap flatbeds with cheap optics and CCDs are just horrid times square.

If you want to do it yourself and don't want to undermine your MF work a dedicated MF film scanner is the way to go. IMHO at least.
 
tsiklonaut, I have been a fan of your works on flickr for quite some time now. The article in your blog is very eye opening as well, I know what I should expect from film, but no lab in my country can deliver those results. Bummer.
 
jwicaksana said:
tsiklonaut, I have been a fan of your works on flickr for quite some time now. The article in your blog is very eye opening as well, I know what I should expect from film, but no lab in my country can deliver those results. Bummer.
Click to expand...

I'd gess at least someone's offering a high-end scanning service in Singapore, KL or Bangkok mayhaps? I know analog culture is relatively strong in Singapore.

Or alternatively if you got time to wait you can send 'em in to me.
 
tsiklonaut said:
I'd gess at least someone's offering a high-end scanning service in Singapore, KL or Bangkok mayhaps? I know analog culture is relatively strong in Singapore.

Or alternatively if you got time to wait you can send 'em in to me.
Click to expand...
I sent an E6 to KL on April and still haven't received it hahaha.. Singapore, I think is feasible, many great labs there.
Just out of curiosity, where are you located, maybe state and zip too?
 
tsiklonaut said:
I'd agree except this, unless it's a €3000+ Kodak/Creo etc high-end flatbed the cheap flatbeds are the major bummers and source of dissapointments on MF film scans, let alone 35mm. Only large format can come out more-or-less allright from cheap flatbeds and even then it needs some above average skill on scanning & PP, definitely a calibrated workflow on color work since the stock color calibration settings and color casts on those cheap flatbeds with cheap optics and CCDs are just horrid times square.

If you want to do it yourself and don't want to undermine your MF work a dedicated MF film scanner is the way to go. IMHO at least.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, I've seen enough of your photos on here to know that your standards are very high.

Personally, I found my V700 more than good enough for me, scanning 6x6 and 6x9. It's all relative though of course.
 
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