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Considering ScanCafe...
Why send your photos to a photo mill like Scancafe. To them, each of your photos is just one of millions. Despite their claims, trimming costs trumps quality in every way; from the equipment they use to where they shift their production.
Be sure to check out the Scancafe Reviews on Yelp. Keep in mind that companies are people and people aren't perfect. What's bothersome about those reviews about scancafe, however, is the number of bad reviews and the inability of ScanCafe to resolve customer problems.
Consider
DigMyPics Instead...
The DigMyPics artists and photographers provide better service, use better
equipment, scan a broader array of photo types, and can get the work done more
quickly...Right here in the USA... and in many cases, for less money.
National Geographic recommends
DigMyPics in their Field Guide to Photography book and the
Wall Street Journal chose us as their favorite Photo Scanning Service.
Read on to see why people who consider and review ScanCafe decide on DigMyPics.
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Here are just a few of
the services and benefits you’ll enjoy by choosing DigMyPics
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IMPORTANT UPDATE (MAY 2011): Scancafe has discretely switched from scanning on Nikon scanners to the
Noritsu scanners. These
are the same scanners that can be found at mass retailers like Walgreens. This
change is
significant because, while the Noritsu is a lot faster, it doesn't produce as
high a quality scan as the Nikons do. It does on-board, automated
color correction which cannot be disabled. If you're determined to use Scancafe, insist that
they use the Nikon 9000 and manual image correction for your project
as they claim to do and don't let them use the Noritsu scanners on your
photos.
Our Experience with the Noritsu Scanners: We worked with Noritsu engineers in CA and Japan
for months trying to get their machines to produce quality images that met or
exceeded the results we could get from a Nikon 5000 or 9000. In the end,
they were unable to meet our standards for slides and 35mm negatives. We
use the Noritsu for APS film cartridges because it's the only machine capable of
scanning that film type.
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Digital Apples to Apples
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Included in Base Pricing:
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DigMyPics
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ScanCafe
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Does ALL the work in the USA |
Absolutely. 100%
(Your Photos Stay in the USA and get the best Pros in the business) |
Never.
Despite their claims they will always do most or all of the work in India.
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Nikon 9000 Slide Scanning |
Yes. With Digital Ice PRO.
The Best Scanner for old slides and Kodachromes. |
No. They use the
Noritsu film scanner with auto correction.
Learn more about the 9000 difference. |
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All Work
Done By Hand |
YES
color/exposure correcting
cropping/rotating
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PROBABLY NOT
They claim to, but since they now use the Noritsu Scanner they can't be. |
A+ Rating
Better Business Bureau
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YES.
Since 2004
See our more than 600 Testimonials |
No. |
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You Get Your Photos Fast |
400 Photos 5 Days or Less
See our Fast Turn Around
Times |
400 Photos, Wait Months or Add 14 cents per photo for 8 day service--no deletes
allowed. Why bother?
We cost less, use better equipment and we're faster! |
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Accepts Less Common Photo Types Like Disc Negatives
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Yes.
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No
In fact, we get orders from people who sent their photos to ScanCafe
only to have some of it returned unscanned.
Don't waste your time!
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Scanning/Processing Format
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We always scan and edit in uncompressed TIFF
(no additional charge)
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Scan and edit in highly compressed JPEG
(add 24¢/image for TIFF)
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Real Time Scanning
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Yes
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Not Available
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Delete Unwanted Images
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Yes.
Up to 20% |
Yes
Up to 20% |
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Custom Folder Naming
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Yes, includes image file prefix relative to folder name
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Yes, does not include custom image file naming
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Transfer to Phanfare |
Yes, FREE for customers
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Not Available |
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Transfer to Picasa |
Yes, FREE for customers
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Not Available
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Services & Products:
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DigMyPics
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ScanCafe
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Bound Thumbnail Albums
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Yes, from $5
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Not Available
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Archival Storage Products
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Yes, for slides, negatives, prints as well as cotton gloves
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Not Available
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SlideShow Movie Creation
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Yes, customization available
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Not Available
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Movie Film & Tape Transfer
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Yes, 8mm movie film
and 3 types
video tape transfers. Online viewing
chapter organization. |
Only Direct to DVD transfers of video tapes. DVD can't be edited online. No online viewing. |
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Media Storage Options
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CD/DVD, SD Memory Card, External Hard Drive, Google, Phanfare,
Facebook
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CD/DVD
Hard Drive
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You won't find a better solution than DigMyPics anywhere... we guarantee it!
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Nikon 9000 Slide Scanning. DigMyPics has it. Scancafe doesn't.
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See the difference
We scanned this Kodachrome slide on both the Nikon 5000 and then
on the Nikon 9000 (used by DigMyPics).
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Results from Scanners
Used By DigMyPics
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Results from Nikon 5000
used by other services |
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We then zoomed in on the boy at 100% resolution. Notice the freaky effect
on the boy's eyes as scanned by the Nikon 5000. We call that ICEy Eye
and it's a "feature" of the Nikon 5000 scanner's version of digital ICE.
The Nikon 9000 fixes this and other problems and is one of reasons we decided on
using the Nikon 9000 scanners on all of the slides we scan.
Learn more about the Nikon 9000 advantages and Digital ICE.
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Don't Want, Don't Pay™
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Once we scan and manually color and exposure correct each of your images you'll
be able to review your newly scanned photos online with Don't
Want, Don't Pay™ and delete the ones you don't want. We'll deduct the full
scanning charge for each deleted photo for up to 20% of the photos in each type
of photo in your order.
This saves you the time and frustration of looking through all of your photos to
decide what is worth sending in to scan, just send your entire collection and delete
the ones you don't want online! See for yourself!
And...unlike Scancafe's system, our system is fast and easy to use.
Why spend more time deleting the photos you don't want than you would have spent
scanning the ones you do want?
Top
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Scan Your Entire Photo & Film Collection
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To get ScanCafe’s lowest price you can only have 35mm color
slides and negatives. Many people have
a variety of film types in their collection,
including 127, 126, 110, 35mm half frames and APS, in both color and black and white.
At DigMyPics, we scan ALL common slide formats with no hassle or compromise!
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DigMyPics Scans ALL These Slide & Negative Film Types
Most people have a variety of film types in their photo collection. We don't think you should have to pick and choose which ones are worth digitizing.
For Non-Standard Slides & Negatives
*35mm slides scanned at 7MP@2500dpi is more than enough to produce a quality 8x10 print @300dpi
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We scan and work with your photos in the TIFF format. Working in
TIFF produces a larger file, which takes longer to process, but results in a higher-quality
image. ScanCafe scans and edits in JPEG format, which is a faster process for them,
but the quality of the image will be degraded with each edit they make. We will
never charge you more to save your images in TIFF, so you can get TIFF,
JPEG, or both formats and you only pay for the extra discs that may be required.
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So why scan and work in TIFF?
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TIFF
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JPEG
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Lossless File: Editing and resaving results in no loss in quality
or degradation to the image.
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Lossy File: Every time it is edited and resaved there is a loss
in quality to the image.
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Used For:
- Editing or digitally restoring your images using photo editing software
- Archiving. Order a set of TIFF files to put in a safe deposit box or fireproof safe
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Use For:
- Viewing, emailing, creating web galleries and SlideShow Movies (low-res)
- Printing photos and photo gifts
- Burning discs to share (high-res)
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Pros:
- A TIFF file is more flexible than a JPEG because it retains all of its information
- You can create a JPEG from a TIFF file if you have the proper software
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Pros:
- JPEGs are a more common and supported by most applications
- A JPEG is about 1/4th the size of a TIFF
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Cons:
- A TIFF file is about 4x the size of a JPEG, which can make working with them slow
and cumbersome
- TIFF files are not supported by as many applications as JPEGs
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Cons:
- If you edit a JPEG, the saved file is compressed and the image is degraded
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Click here
to learn more about Resolutions and Megapixels!
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Fast Turn-Around Times
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Don't wait for your photos to go all the way around the world!
At ScanCafe, turn-around times are measured in months, not days. Their
average turn-around time ranges from 6-8 weeks for shipping overseas and processing,
then another 2 or more weeks to complete your order!
Even their price doubling express service is still in the slow lane when
compared to DigMyPics.
With our Fast Turn Around Times we usually deliver
orders of 400 photos or less in 5 business days or less. And, we average
just 10-12 business days to complete orders of less than 1000 photos.
You can even view your images online as they are being scanned with our revolutionary
Real Time Scanning Service! You can check your
order online, anytime, day or night. Not only do you know where your photos are
at any given moment, you can even track your order's progress throughout the
entire scanning and transfer process!
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Extremely Pleased
- Awesome Service - Excellent Communication
“When I came across DigMyPics on the internet, I was pleased to know such
a service existed. Over the years I have used several types of film including 110,
APS and 35mm, recently converting to digital.
I wanted a quick and inexpensive way to convert all my negatives to digital images
for my family. I sent my 110 film off to a competitor and my APS canisters to DigMyPics.
Exactly 2 weeks from the time I mailed my film, I had IN MY HANDS close to 2500
images scanned to DVD from DigMyPics. I still don't have my 250 images back from
the competitor [ScanCafe] after a month... they are somewhere in India.
And... I've printed images from my DigMyPics DVD. The quality is picture perfect!”
-Roberta
Texas, USA
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100% Satisfaction Guaranteed – Or You Don't Pay!
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Our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee ensures
that you will receive a product that is up to your standards or you don’t pay! We
think you’ll agree that going digital has never been more hassle-free!
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The Best Technicians in the Business
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DigMyPics has been digitizing photos and film for over
8 years! During that time,
we've assembled the industry's most skilled and talented group of university-educated
digitization technicians. Our staff loves photography as much as you do and we value
your photos like they were our own! We do all the work from our sole location in
Arizona, so you can feel good about supporting the American photographers and artists
that work at DigMyPics!
Our skilled photographers and artists always provide basic enhancement (color/exposure
correction, cropping and rotating to the proper orientation) on an image-by-image
basis. There is no automated image processing besides using Digital
ICE (dust, scratch and blemish removal) during the scanning of your color film.
See more samples of our work!
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Quality Customer Service
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Even if you are indifferent about the outsourcing of American jobs to India (like
ScanCafe does), you can take comfort in the fact that you can work directly with
the people at DigMyPics who are working for you.
From the moment we receive your order, to the moment it is shipped back to you,
our entire process takes place at our sole facility in Gilbert, Arizona. Because
all of our employees are under a single roof, we can offer a much more personalized
service!
Our experience is that when you have the opportunity to talk directly with the company's
employees who are working on your project you get a much more efficient and gratifying
experience and a superior final product! Want to
communicate with the technicians that are handling your order? You can at
DigMyPics! And don't be surprised if you receive a friendly call or email
from us during the process. All of our employees strive to get things done right
the first time. Sometimes that means picking up the phone or sending a quick email
if they need to clarify your preferences or have recommendations.
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Custom Named Folders & Files
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Do you envision your own library of digital images that is easy to reference for
a specific photo when you need it? A computer reads files numerically, then alphabetically.
At DigMyPics, we not only name your folders according to your instructions, we also
prefix the images with the same name for easy reference. ScanCafe
on the other hand, say they offer customized naming, but will only allow you to
customize your folders while using generic numbering for the images within those
folders.
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Unique Thumbnail Album
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Get a printed set of all your images in a unique thumbnail album
that shows you all of the images on your discs along with their file names and disc
number. Imagine your entire collection of family photos in one book! The images
are clean, crisp, smudge proof,
and much better than any ink jet print. Easy to look at, easy to share, easy to
enjoy!
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Create a Slideshow Movie
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One of our most popular services is our Slideshow Movie
service. We can create a special DVD of your images that has the look of
an actual movie and plays right in your DVD player! We also offer a la carte customizable
options, such as music and chapter titles, to make your movie as elaborate or
as simple as you want!
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Transfer Your Photos to Phanfare or Picasa Web Albums
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DigMyPics customers can now
transfer their scanned pictures
to Picasa Web Albums or
Phanfare. From there, you can enjoy all the easy-to-use features and
get the most out of your digital photos! This FREE new service
makes it a snap to share and store all those old photos.
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Archival Storage Products
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Switch out that aluminum foil box for an archival slide storage box, or purchase
archival storage to send your next batch of photos to us.
When you add any archival storage product to your order, we will neatly place your
slides, prints, and negatives in the storage for you at no additional charge!
You get your photos and film safely returned to you ready to tuck away, while you
enjoy your new digital images!
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Nationally Acclaimed...
And Locally Loved.
Picture This!
All of your photos - slides, prints, and negatives- in a
single, easy to use digital format, then printed and indexed in our
professionally bound books!
You'll also enjoy DigMyPics exclusives:
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