Anybody who’s had to scan a big fat pile of old photos into their computer knows that it suh-huuucks. So along comes the ingeniously named “Photograph to Digital Picture Converter” from Hammacher Schlemmer for $150.
It’s got a 5MP CMOS sensor with an 1,800 dpi resolution that basically takes a digital photo of whatever regular photo you slide down into the tray. The device plugs into your computer’s USB port (Windows only, sorry), allowing you to manipulate your now-digital photos any way you see fit.
Sure, a scanner might accomplish the same task but this doodad looks nice for whizzing through a bunch of photos in rapid succession. If Hammacher Schlemmer comes out with a 250-photo add-on tray for automating the entire process, I’m sold.
Product Page [Hammacher Schlemmer]
i bet you could use apple’s own ‘image capture’ quite nicely with that…
I just bought this thing and have tried to install it with 2 people on 3 computers to no avail. So tomorrow : BACK IT GOES!
Easy to install software. Easy to edit photos. It was up and running in 5 minutes out of the box. I have 3 other scanners but this is the most simple. The only thing they don’t tell you is how to get the photo out if it drops from the tray.
I turned it over and over looking for screws to remove. I do have photographs trapped in the bottom.
Now if photos don’t fit just right, I roll a piece of tape and put on the corners of the pictures. Putting one in the center back of the picture doesn’t work!
What are we going to do when the bulb burns out?
I got one. Installation was easy. However, the color rendition leaves something to be desired. “Scanned” pictures tend toward the bluish or brownish. High lights are washed out. There is no obvious way of color correction or dark/light adjustment before saving the digitized picture. It is fast. I digitized some 200 photogrpahs in no time, but I’m somewhat ambivalent about it.
Does anyone know if there are there other brands cheaper than Hammacher?
Today Frontgate has it for $49.95.
Mark,
Checkout ‘woot.com’ they’re selling this same one today ONLY for $59.99.
Jerry
Does anyone know if this works with Windows Vista??
Frieda
I just read the overall description and it said that it will work with Windows XP SP2 or Vista.
Jerry
Yes, it does.
Install was not as easy as some say. Product does not work with Mac, need to spend another $50 to get that driver. Sending it back!
Does anyone know the technical support telephone for the Hammacher Schlemmer Digital Photo Converter?
Renee, call 1-800-227-3528 and ask for Kim at extension 2438. She was recommended by another tech support member who couldn’t help me. I’ve been told she can talk me through the process of linking the software to the hardware, which I spent quite some time yesterday trying to do with no avail.
I purchased your digital photo converter when it first became available last April. I managed to install and was successful for a couple of pictures.
Several months back it went Kaput and won’t do a thing. (No converting, Nada, Nothing). I have worked with ArcSoft to no avail. While trying everything I still get the same messge..”CORRUPT” I have been advised that it is not the mechanical device but in the driver software. Please send me a replacement software disc. If there is a charge I will gladly buy one as I like the device and it is fun to work with. The disc is for SKU No.: 74597. Thank you for your time in this matter, Reg Doty
Hey, this thing is $49.95 today 3-6-09 at Frontgate. Worth trying out for that price.
Despite the fact that these photo gadgets don’t look too high tech, I’ve had pretty good luck with mine.