Preserve your memories for future generations: Digitize them!

Most of us have the same dilemma: Grandpa, or Mom, has passed on, and left us with a dusty pile of irreplaceable photos. There aren’t enough copies for each of the siblings, it’s too hard to drag out the shoebox and sort through and find that one picture, you’ve got carousels of slides and no projector, Aunt Sally got the only copy of Grandma’s wedding photo, the one where Gram looks just like your second daughter. Converting these images to digital format solves so many problems at once—you can easily share them, duplicate them, or even just look at them, regardless of how far your family has scattered. These photographs are more than just family history, they are a precious source of identity, and give your descendants a priceless sense of connection to their ancestors.
Most of us have a shelf of old albums, or a shoebox (or more) of old prints, precious memories capturing dust and slowly fading away. They take up a ton of room, are a nightmare to keep organized, and are at terrible risk of being accidentally destroyed by moisture, mold, fire, or just being misplaced.

Do you have prints, slides, 8mm movies, or VHS tapes? We can handle them all! Keep on reading.

PRINT TRANSFER SERVICE: Prints are scanned on a high-speed scanner at 300 DPI (suitable for printing up to 8x10), saved as .jpg files (universal, can be read by all computers), and are burned onto a CD or DVD. Photos must be between 2x3 and 8x10, loose, and relatively undamaged. Photos will be grouped according to size, and will be scanned in no particular order. If you want your prints scanned and returned in a particular order, they must be individually numbered and will be subject to a processing fee, outlined below.

If your photos:

• Are larger than 8x10 or smaller than 2x3
• Are mounted on board, or contained in albums
• Have significant surface damage

Then we can accommodate you, but there will be additional fees; we’ll work them out on a custom basis depending on your order.

Print Scanning Price Sheet:
Print scanning up to 100	$29.99 (If kept in order, add $20)
Print scanning up to 500	$59.99 (If kept in order, add $50)
Print scanning up to 1200	$119.99 (If kept in order, add $100)
Print scanning à la carte	$1.99 (per print)
Print scanning larger than 8x10	$9.99 (per print)

SLIDES
For decades, slides were the medium of choice for serious photographers, amateurs and pros alike. Many of us have wonderful memories of sitting in the darkened family room, with the projector humming and clicking and whirring, showing vacation photos in a glorious blaze of translucent color on the wall. Kodachrome was so ubiquitous it even stars in a Paul Simon song; to this day, Kodachrome slides retain color as fresh as the day they were shot, preserving faithfully the vibrant hues of your uncle’s pastel baby blue tuxedo, your mother’s bright red lipstick below her cat’s eye glasses, the incredible blue sky of your family vacation to Niagara Falls. But you can’t really sit and look at a slide in your hand, and you can’t get bulbs for those old projectors, and you’re not even sure what’s in those old carousels, but you know your uncle was an avid photographer, he had that really nice camera and was always snapping away…
Bring them in. We’ll make them accessible again.
SLIDE TRANSFER SERVICE: Your slides are digitally photographed at a high resolution, approximately 4000x3000 pixels, suitable for printing up to 11x14, and are saved as .jpg files (readable by all computers), and stored on a data CD or DVD. We adjust for exposure as much as possible at the time of digitizing, but very dark, very light, or very faded slides may not transfer well. All slides must be 35mm film in a regular 2x2 cardboard or plastic mount; metal or glass-mounted slides must be done individually by hand, and cannot be included in the bulk service. 110, 120, 126, or 2x2 super slides will be subject to additional fees. Slides must be loose in their storage container. If you want us to remove them from and replace them into a carousel or other holder, if you want them scanned in order, if you want them checked, rotated, or enhanced, then there will be an additional fee. To have them scanned in order they must be individually numbered.

Slide Scanning Price Sheet:
Slide scan up to 50	$34.99 (If kept in order, add $30)
Slide scan up to 100	$49.99 (If kept in order, add $40)
Slide scan up to 500	$149.99 (If kept in order, add $100)
Slide scan à la carte (normal 35mm/ standard mount)	$0.99 (per slide)
Check and Rotate	$29.99 (per portion of up to 500 slides)
Digital automatic enhancement	$29.99 (per order of up to 500)
Individual enhance and clean by skilled technician	$0.25 (per slide)
Remove and return to slide tray	$0.15 (per slide)
Odd or square format (still 2x2 mount)	$0.10 (per slide>
Oversize or á la carte scanning	$4.99 (per slide)

8MM or Super 8MM Movie Transfer
Your home movies will be transferred to DVD in the best quality possible, given the condition of the original film. Please keep in mind that old film dries out and becomes very brittle. We take every precaution to handle your film safely, but we cannot be liable for any damage to the original film.
   Movies will be transferred in no particular order and without musical accompaniment. Single DVDs can hold up to 2 hours of video, or 1700 feet of film, depending on the original rate of frames per second. A 3 inch reel holds about 50 feet of film, 4.5 inch reels hold about 200 feet, and 7 inch reels hold about 400 feet. Please estimate the length of your film to the best of your ability (we can help you with this if you bring it in). The lab will let us know the exact length and the cost may need adjustment.
  All original films are returned after transferring.

Film Transfer Price Sheet
Film transfer (any length, required)	0.10 (per foot)
DVD storage (required)	$19.99 for each two hours of footage
Extra DVD copy	$9.99
Transfer in order (reels must be clearly numbered)	$29.99
Add background music	$19.99

*Music will be a general easy listening instrumental selection. Customers may not choose their own music.
Video Tape Transfer
   Your cassette tapes will be transferred to a DVD in a format playable on modern DVD players. Please be aware that tapes deteriorate over time, and the damage is not always evident before the transfer begins. We will take every precaution to handle your video tapes safely, but we cannot be liable for any damage to the original films, including deterioration of the image.
nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Each tape will be transferred to its own DVD in its entirety. No editing or partial copies can be performed. Each tape will be packaged with the DVD copy.

Video Transfer Price Sheet
Tape to DVD Transfer	$19.99
Extra copy of DVD:	$9.99

General DVD Duplication:
Your DVDs will be copied onto another DVD. Please note that we cannot duplicate any copyrighted material.

DVD Duplication Price Sheet
1-5 Copies	$9.99 (per copy)
5-20 Copies	$5.99 (per copy)
20+ Copies	$3.99 (per copy)

Please call or stop in with any questions! 
Delaware Ave 877-3317, Transit Rd 631-5600.

Night Field Trip

Photos by DCV Instructor David Putman

When the sun goes down, you don’t have to put your camera away, or turn on the flash and resign yourself to artless snapshots. There are a few simple techniques, and some more advanced ones, that can give you great results using what little available light there is. Want to know more? Conveniently, Delaware Camera is going to offer a class—not just a class, but a hands-on field trip, dealing with this very subject. Here’s the text of the flier:

Explore the exciting frontier of nighttime and low-light photography, led by two of Delaware Camera’s uniquely knowledgeable instructors! Join us for a photography field trip to the beautiful Albright-Knox, to experiment with night shooting and painting with light. Along with the expert instruction on this trip, your admission price will include a low-light photography book, “Night and Low Light Photography” by David Taylor, a 4GB memory card (CF or SD, depending on your camera), and a remote shutter release. We’ll also have tripods available for use during the trip.

This field trip has a limit of 15 participants, so hurry and make your reservations with Delaware Camera today—call 631-5600 (Transit Rd) or 877-3317 (Delaware Ave).

Cost: $75 (pre-pay to guarantee space)

Location: Albright-Knox Art Gallery

Time: Saturday, October 20^th, 2012 7-9pm

Rain Date: Saturday, October 27^th, 2012 7-9pm

New Classes!

Our Intro to Basic Digital classes were so popular over this past year that we've expanded our class offerings. Now we are offering a three-part Basic Photography series that goes more into depth on six aspects of the Fundamentals of Photography. You don't have to take the classes in order, nor do you have to take all of them-- they can stand on their own-- but we are offering a 10% discount on the whole lot if you buy them all.
They're $25 per session, and we're offering each session twice a week to accommodate your schedule: Mondays 6:00-8:00pm and Saturdays 1:00-3:00pm at 7474 Transit Rd in Williamsville, and Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm and Saturdays 1:00-3:00 pm at 2635 Delaware Ave in Buffalo.

Class 1: The Basics
Understanding the interrelationship of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, and some of the most fundamental camera settings.
Class 2: Composition
Capturing decisive moments, the basics of composition and importance of details.
Class 3: Lighting and Exposure
Fundamentals of exposure, the foundation of all photography: how to read your camera's meter and use the different settings. How to appreciate and use different qualities and colors of light, how to use an electronic flash.

Sign-ups are limited so that class sizes are small, allowing individual attention. Call or visit either store to reserve your space (preference is given to prepaid registrations, so prepay if you want to guarantee a spot-- we can take a credit card over the phone). Delaware Ave is 877-3317, Transit Rd is 631-5600.

New DSLR from Nikon announced

Nikon has just sent us the information packet containing the official announcement of the newest addition to their DSLR lineup, the D5100. It confirms a lot of rumors and speculation that have been going around online. The general consensus around the store is that this is going to be the go-to camera for the serious amateur videographer-- more full-featured (including a microphone jack!) than the D3100, lighter weight and more affordable than the D7000.

It has inherited an improved version of the D5000's vari-angled LCD screen, a feature that at the 5000's release seemed gimmicky, but now that it's gone, is much missed. (I must admit it's phenomenally convenient for what I call Lummox Mode: primarily useful when lummoxes decide that since you attended this event with a fancy camera, you must be here to film the backs of their heads. With a fixed LCD screen it's a little dicey trying to jump up and take pictures, but the vari-angled one lets you shoot easily over the top of obstinate people who insist on standing in front of you.)

It seems to be continuing a few of the themes Nikon has begun lately with their point-and-shoots, namely the scene recognition system and the 16 scene modes. This is pretty obviously targeted at the DSLR's consistently fastest-growing market: people trading up from point-and-shoots. These folks aren't going to shoot in full manual, and will be less familiar with the idea of the shutter and aperture priority modes than more experienced SLR users. They want the camera to do the metering for them, and benefit enormously from these scene modes, which allow them to give the camera more information with which to make the technical choices for them. It's the no-fuss school of photography: these are also the people interested in a lighter-weight camera body. Some get great results with these program modes, and some grow into the manual modes as they gain familiarity with their SLR.

Of course we haven't seen the D5100 yet-- it was just announced, not shipped-- but we hope to get our hands on it soon and see how it really stacks up. We'll keep you posted on what we think!

spring update

Two quick things. We got an update from Nikon, that most of their facilities are expected to resume production this week. (They sent out a press release, which you can find here.) Unfortunately they did experience a few personal tragedies, and our heart goes out to the families of the lost.

They went on to say,

Even after operation resumes, we have a concern that the situation may happen where our production cannot fully satisfy our customers’ requirement due to inability of full swing production caused by problems such as the planned blackouts of electricity and procurement of components from our business partners. While we will do our utmost effort to overcome such expected difficulties, we will be most grateful if our customers could understand such circumstances.

It's safe to say that the world of camera manufacturing may look a little different for a while, and we hope shortages don't have an adverse affect. Most of all, however, we send our continued sympathies to the people of Japan affected by the tragedy.

But, life continues apace, and the best thing we can do is keep living it. So for a little more cheerful note to end this, we're continuing our film developing and print scanning specials.

Life is too fleeting not to preserve your memories, your personal history, your family's moments. Turn those mystery negatives into pictures; turn those pictures into digital files you can share with the extended family.

So, until March 31st, a reminder:

Up to 1200 prints in a shoebox, scanned to CD for $99.

$1 to develop, $3 develop and CD, $5 develop and prints for color film, minimum of 3 rolls

Bring 'em in. The time is now. And enjoy spring. It's been a long, gloomy winter, and we're ready to celebrate life and sunshine and healing.

Crossing Our Fingers For Our Friends

As anyone involved in the imaging industry knows, the biggest powerhouse in the photographic market is Japan. Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Fuji, Tamron, Sigma: all, despite their global presence, are at their hearts Japanese companies. The earthquake and tsunami of March 11th, and its terrible aftermath, have left us holding our breath, waiting to hear from our manufacturers, suppliers, and friends.

Tamron e-mailed us to let us know that they sustained some damage to their manufacturing facilities but have so far had no reported injuries to their employees. They are shutting down for several days to deal with the rolling blackouts and assess their damage, but expect that they will be able to resume operations in the near future. A bulletin from their CEO and president, Morio Ono, concludes:

We would very much appreciate your understanding of the situation we are up against, and will definitely keep you abreast regarding the operations for rest of the week.

Last but not least, we sincerely appreciate your kind support and encouragement received right after the news hit the world. We will overcome this difficult time working together.

Sigma also contacted us, saying that while their Aizu manufacturing facility was damaged, it will be repairable; they likewise have not suffered any loss or injury of personnel. They expect to resume operations shortly but are not sure of the long-term implications of the disaster. (More here, if you can read Japanese or rely on Google Translate.)

Nikon has had an office in Tokyo since 1917. Delaware Camera has been a Nikon dealer since 1951. Nikon, known for their cameras but also involved in other precision optical applications, has manufacturing facilities in several countries, but in Japan they have five plants in four prefectures, and over 26,000 employees. There's a bulletin posted on their website explaining that there is damage to numerous of their facilities, and reports of injury to personnel, but the full impact is not yet known. Operations are suspended at their manufacturing plants and at their corporate office until the damage can be assessed. They have also posted a bulletin that they are making a cash donation of 100,000 yen to the Japanese Red Cross Society to provide immediate relief to those in the affected areas.

We heard from our NikonUSA representative, who is concerned but still waiting for more information. Undoubtedly there will be interruptions in business, but for how long, and to what extent, we just don't know yet.

This is a natural disaster of unprecedented scope, and the full impact is not yet known. All we can do is extend our sincerest condolences and sympathy, and hope for a good outcome.

Nikon D3100 Seminar!

Nikon is sending a representative to host a seminar on digital photography, featuring their new D3100 SLR camera, exclusively for Delaware Camera! This class, taught by a professional photographer from Nikon's stable of skilled and talented representatives, will cover many topics of digital photography, and will focus especially on the D3100. We're always excited when Nikon comes to visit; their pros are uniquely equipped to offer insights like no other into the workings of their cameras, along with being phenomenal and experienced photographers themselves.
This class will be different than the ones we teach in our stores, but we're offering it for the same low price of $25.

Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Place: Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Rd Amherst NY
How to reserve your space: Call either of Delaware Camera's locations, either Delaware Ave. at 716-877-3317, or Transit Rd. at 716-631-5600.

Space is limited, so sign up now!