As the demand and expectations are growing, archives (and libraries) face with the issue whether they should allow researchers do their own copies or not. The paradigm gets bigger and bigger as digital cameras become a standard accessory in the average genealogist's toolset.

I think I could collect both the news bits posted here and there and my personal experience in regards this topic. All the prices below are in US Dollars converted from their Hungarian values.

Hungary's national library, the Széchényi Library allows visitors to make their copies with their own digital cameras, after buying a photo pass valid for one day. It costs something like $6. At the beginnings there were no limits set on the number of photos that could be taken, then, from late 2005 there is a limit of about 40 shots/day. One has to sign a bond that the photos would not be published.

The two branches of the Hungarian National Archives (MOL) have different policies. At the old, main building in the castle district one can buy photo passes. Prices for them: 1 day pass about $17, 5 day pass about $67, 1 month pass about $170, according to the price list (pdf file). In late 2006 the other, Óbuda branch, which holds the microfilm collection, installed a self-service Zeutschel microfilm scanner. From then family historians and other researchers can scan the reels with the found records at a price of $0.4/picture plus the nominal fee of the CD. The CD-s are burnt by entitled staff members, and they might not be available at late hours.

The Budapest City Archives introduced their new research policy on Nov 1, 2006. The regulation allows the purchase of duration-based photo passes. Prices: 1 day - $8.5, 5 day - $33, 30 days - $85, 12 months $330.

As for county archives, there is no single ruling policy. County archives are free to set their own rules.

My current visit to the Somogy County Archives was a pleasant surprise. They started the photo pass system in July 2007, so, I was able to secure the digital photos of the records I could find. Prices start at about $2.8 (1 day pass), then day have them for 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and 6 months. The 6 months pass is available for about $44.

My hometown archives, the Baranya County Archives has the policy that I believe is prevailing in county archives in Hungary. They offer various copies, both printed and digital, but all the copies are to be prepared by the archives and prices are per piece.