Anyone can recommend a reasonably priced slide scanner and the retail shop? I was recommended a Canoscan 9000F Mk II, costing RM1140. Prefer one below RM500. Want to convert my old collection of colour slides to digital format to keep.

This post has been edited by Tookia: Aug 12 2013, 11:56 AM

IF you have a dslr and macro lens or any 50 or 105 mm full manual lens to go with it, best you rig up a copy unit with suitable adapters and duct tape.. since it is for one off use.. after that you can recycle the adapters for macro photography. If you are super critical in getting a perfect flat focusing plane so as not to introduce additional distortion, then a good macro lens like Macro Nikkor 50 is a suitable choice for a fair price.

I will be doing a similar project soon with my Sony NEX5N. RM500 can go a long way with lots to spare if you already have a suitable lens... even an old enlarger lens will do the job. Else try and borrow one.

As for suitable light source, can use your notebook, tablet, or even old mobile phone!

yeah... can also try search "diy film scanner" on google. i build one using unused milk box.

the trick to getting a shorter lens to object (, or greater magnification) with your existing camera lens is to move the lens further from the focal plane if your camera do not have macro (close up or close to 1:1 magnification) capability. Extension tubes (cheap and effective) will do the trick.. but you will loose auto focus and aperture control.. That is why a manual lens is best.

Alternatively, you can use plastic pipe (PVC ) to do the job. Bit more work needed.

The basic trick behind it all is,

Normally a 50 or 100 mm lens is optimum..

The biggest advantage making your own over commercial units is you are in control over the image quality. You decide on the lens and know the lens attributes. Cheap commercial units use crappy plastic lens and you can suffer from lack of overall flatness center to edge. So you end up introducing a lot of distortion into the reproduction.

Macro Nikkor 50mm (manual) was reputed to be among the first choice lens used by professionals in flat image reproduction and copying in the old days. Lucky for me, I have one in my box, but the bokeh is not too great for normal photo taking.