There is a special joy in flipping through old photo albums or slides, reliving weddings, birthdays, and vacations from long ago. And watching family movies on tape lets us see loved ones laugh and dance once again. But while these physical photos and tapes hold our most precious memories, they are also prone to damage and decay. That’s where digitizing comes in — it’s a way to preserve these moments for future generations.
Digitizing your old photos and videos is like giving them a new lease on life. It not only safeguards them from physical damage, but it also makes sharing and organizing them a breeze. Imagine being able to send a digital album to your grandkids, creating a slideshow for a family reunion, or sharing your home videos on social media. There are a number of great products and services that can help you digitize those cherished memories.
Epson FastFoto FF-680W – $510
The easiest way to preserve your old print photos is with a high-resolution scanner. While you can do this with a traditional flatbed scanner, the process is likely to be long and tedious. This is where the Epson FastFoto FF-680W comes in. This top-notch photo scanner allows you to scan and save a photo in just one second. It even comes with intuitive software to help you restore faded photos, bringing back those vibrant colors and details you remember.
Kodak Scanza – $150
For old slides and film negatives that can’t be scanned on a traditional scanner, the Kodak Scanza is the way to go. This versatile and user-friendly film scanner has a convenient display screen that allows you to view and edit images directly on the screen before saving them digitally. It’s the perfect way to tackle those boxes of slides from family vacations and holiday gatherings.
ClearClick VHS to Digital Converter 2.0 – $140
If you have a stack of VHS tapes collecting dust, the ClearClick VHS to Digital Converter is your solution. It’s simple to use, connecting through your VCR to record videos digitally as they play, then converting your tapes directly to a USB drive or SD card without needing a computer. Now you can relive those home movies on your TV or computer and save them for generations to come.
iMemories and Legacybox
For people who want to outsource the work of digitizing their old photos and videos, there are two main services: iMemories and Legacybox. At a basic level, these two companies have the same process: you package and send them your physical photos and videos, and they save them in a digital format and ship the originals back to you. It is a straightforward and secure process, and both companies ensure your memories are well taken care of.
This process can be a little expensive. Legacybox pricing ranges from about $60 to digitize two items to $1,100 to digitize up to 40 items. iMemories uses an à la carte pricing structure, charging about $1 per photograph and $30 for video tapes or projector reels.
The real difference between the companies is in what you get back. Legacybox saves your media to a USB drive or DVD, while iMemories saves them to a cloud space which you can view and download through their subscription-based app service.
A rewarding experience
Digitizing your old photos and videos can be a rewarding project, bringing joy and nostalgia as you stroll down memory lane. Whether you opt for a professional service or a DIY gadget, the most important thing is to start preserving those memories today. After all, the stories and smiles captured in those images are priceless, and they deserve to be cherished for generations.
By Vanessa Hutchison
P.S. Check out these other tech tools here.
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