I am starting a new series on this blog the 5 minute review. I love to read technical reviews, but I hate to write them. I also like to read real world reviews from people that actually used the product. I find that many times this can be even more beneficial than a technical review, which is why I love the customer reviews on on the B&H site so much. The five minute review is simply this a review in pictures with me explaining the process along the way.
I heard about ScanCafe on the blog photofocus. No one can do it better or cheaper they claimed. I had recently had all of my dad’s super 8 tapes converted over to DVD so I thought this might be the perfect thing to get his 4,000 + scans converted over to digital. 4M seemed like a lot to start so I sorted through and narrowed it down to 1,200 slides of family photos.
I will say the process takes a while, the slides have to go to India to get scanned 1,200 scans took about 3 months from the time I sent the slides off to the time I got them back. Not bad considering I would have most likely never completed the process had I tried to scan them myself. The box that I got back was basically exactly what I sent to them, except packed better. I segmented the slides into categories of person or subject and the scans came back organized exactly how I had them broken down in envelopes. This is all explained on the ScanCafe website so lets get on to the pictures.
Box opened
They put extra plastic stuff on top of the slides, I am not sure why other than to keep the peanuts out.
The DVDs that I ordered were placed neatly inside
The slides came back in the original envelopes that I sent them in and packed nicely in the box.
All the envelopes were accounted for.
The slides were in the same zip lock bags that I sent them in with the same rubberbands. Each group has a tag showing that it was logged in.
Another view of the slide tag
One more view of the tag. This is important because it shows that they actually keep track of your slides throughout the process.
Here is a shot of the bag labels, this is how each folder is labeled on the DVD.
Each set of DVDs was sealed with a tag and hand signed. Shows there are real people handling your order.
Another view of the tag on the DVD.
One more view of the DVD tag.
View inside the DVD they provide a nice little instruction sheet inside each DVD which is nice if you are giving them as gifts like I am.
Another view of the DVD case.
Packaging is nice but it is the quality of the scan that matters. Here is a full resolution scan of on of the slides for you to look at.
Click the image to see the full resolution version.
From what I can tell ScanCafe is a top rate company and I would recommend them to anyone for you scanning needs.
If you would like to see more of my photographic work check out my website at www.m2photographyonline.com