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I wish to digitize a great number of B&W negatives. I have an older scanner (Epson V600) that works well with VueScan software and has film strip holders but is quite slow.

Additionally, many of the images I want may be the only one on a film strip so I am forced do a lot of extra effort to sort out what I want.

My current plan is to use a macro lens, a crop-frame camera (Sony) on good tripod, a film strip holder and a good small light source (w diffusion).

Suggestions on lens focal length, adequate film holder and light source would be welcome and any comments about the practicality of scanning 300-500 images this way. (I’ve tried scanning houses and the economically feasible solutions had mediocre results.

Any comments about appropriate f stop to combat residual curvature in the film would also be welcome.

FreeMan
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The _traveler
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1 Answers1

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You can use a slide duplicator, which is a film holder that attaches to your lens using the filter thread.

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Benefits:

  • There is a built-in light diffuser
  • You don't need to find something to hold your negative
  • Your negative is held flat by the holder (note that some slide duplicators come with only a slide holder, the negative holder is extra)
  • You don't even need a tripod, you can work with the thing on a table
  • Most come with a build-in close-up lens so they can be used with a non-macro lens. However that lens isn't very good and is usually removable so you can either use a macro lens (or a lens that can at least do 1:1.6 since you have a crop sensor) or extension rings as I did above (31mm ring on 50mm non-macro lens).
xenoid
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  • Yes, these slide duplicators are well known but I was hoping for some comments that were specific to brand and lens from someone who has had success. – The _traveler Oct 11 '22 at 22:34