How to get prints from 1980s photos/ negatives

[Logo]

Recently I came across old photographs and their negatives - which were taken using an average camera during the 1980s (although possibly a pentax as the photographs look ok). I assume that the original negative is the best source to recreate the photographs in print, canvas /electronic form. I've seen gadgets in Lidl/Aldi occasionally that claim to do the job... I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience of doing so or if it's best left to a professional.
Thanks in advance.
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[Eithneangela]

Recently I came across old photographs and their negatives - which were taken using an average camera during the 1980s (although possibly a pentax as the photographs look ok). I assume that the original negative is the best source to recreate the photographs in print, canvas /electronic form. I've seen gadgets in Lidl/Aldi occasionally that claim to do the job... I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience of doing so or if it's best left to a professional.
Thanks in advance.
Logo

In my experience, unless one is an expert home pic producer, I'd bring it to a pro shop.

 

[JohnJay]

you can buy a negative scanner for your PC that will convert your images to jpg's that you can view/email/order prints

 

[mathepac]

If you already have an A4 scanner / AIO printer, see if you can source a negative / slide scanner for it. Assuming this is the best optical quality you can get (affordably), the rest depends on your software. Might I suggest

VueScan from https://www.hamrick.com never install scanner "drivers" again. I've been using it for 20 years (pro) version

GraphicConverter from http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/graphicconverter/

If you want big prints at good quality, stay away from jpeg and use tiff / psd formats or other lossless formats.

Useful Comparison table (scroll right, it's a big table):- http://socialcompare.com/en/comparison/image-file-formats

HTH