yanchep_mike
Always Trying
Need some advice, what and how do people scan Medium Format Film.
Any help is welcome.
Thank you
Any help is welcome.
Thank you
Scanning Medium Format
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Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
I use a Nikon LS-8000ED with glass carrier (that is sold separately, unfortunately) for all of my work in both 35mm and 120.
I like it, a lot
6x6 BW negative scanned on the 8000
A 645 transparency scanned on the 8000
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
I use an Epson V700 with the carrier they provide for 6x20 cm negative strips. I use the Epson software set to "Professional" mode. I'm sure Chris's process is better, but mine does well enough for my purposes. I pretty much only do B&W anyway. I scan for the final printer resolution and output size I want. I save the files as uncompressed TIFF format.
That seems to me to produce a slightly better result than doing any resizing and resampling in PSE. PSE will only handle 8-bit B&W files anyway. It would be nice to have the full version of Photoshop and use 24-bit scans but the files get rather large and the quality improvement isn't that noticeable to me. But I could use Silver Efex Pro if I had the three channels to work on.
After any adjustments I then print on an Epson R2880 using the Advanced Black & White menu. (I was offered an Epson 3800 with two sets of cartridges for next to nothing when my neighbour was upgrading her professional studio, but I just didn't have room to accommodate it!)
That seems to me to produce a slightly better result than doing any resizing and resampling in PSE. PSE will only handle 8-bit B&W files anyway. It would be nice to have the full version of Photoshop and use 24-bit scans but the files get rather large and the quality improvement isn't that noticeable to me. But I could use Silver Efex Pro if I had the three channels to work on.
After any adjustments I then print on an Epson R2880 using the Advanced Black & White menu. (I was offered an Epson 3800 with two sets of cartridges for next to nothing when my neighbour was upgrading her professional studio, but I just didn't have room to accommodate it!)
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Jim Simmons
Member
Scanning MF
Scanning MF
I scan 6x7 BW and colour negs on an Epson V700 with the adjustable height film holder from Doug Fisher, and always with the ANR glass to keep the film perfectly flat. I seldom print larger than 11x14, but I have made one 20x24 size print that came out quite nice. Not sharp enough to suit my tastes, but the client was very happy.
Scanning MF
I scan 6x7 BW and colour negs on an Epson V700 with the adjustable height film holder from Doug Fisher, and always with the ANR glass to keep the film perfectly flat. I seldom print larger than 11x14, but I have made one 20x24 size print that came out quite nice. Not sharp enough to suit my tastes, but the client was very happy.
ChrisN
Striving
Epson 4490, Epson software, Betterscanning film holder with ANR glass (not adjustable).
And three years of practice. 🙂
And three years of practice. 🙂
thegman
Veteran
Epson V700 with Betterscanning kit and Vuescan, very happy with it.
segedi
RFicianado
I use a Nikon 9000 with ANR glass holder but still get newton rings on some frames. Any suggestions for that?
Also, I batch scan a strip of 120 or two strips of 35mm and scan at 800 dpi/jpeg Using Nikon Scan on a Win7 64-bit setup as a proof and if I see something i like, it gets 4000 dpi/16-bit/multiple passes/NEF (Nikon RAW) treatment. I review in Adobe Bridge, tweak there if needed (curves/luminance/saturation/neutral gradient filter) and then open crop, size, sharpen in Photoshop. Dodge and burn if needed and also convert to B&W if desired. Save as PSD and then save a 240dpi version at 12x18" or whatever I am going to print at as JPG. Then upload that to Costco for printing. Prefer matte prints as they are friendlier against fingerprints and reflective glare.
Also, I batch scan a strip of 120 or two strips of 35mm and scan at 800 dpi/jpeg Using Nikon Scan on a Win7 64-bit setup as a proof and if I see something i like, it gets 4000 dpi/16-bit/multiple passes/NEF (Nikon RAW) treatment. I review in Adobe Bridge, tweak there if needed (curves/luminance/saturation/neutral gradient filter) and then open crop, size, sharpen in Photoshop. Dodge and burn if needed and also convert to B&W if desired. Save as PSD and then save a 240dpi version at 12x18" or whatever I am going to print at as JPG. Then upload that to Costco for printing. Prefer matte prints as they are friendlier against fingerprints and reflective glare.
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ReeRay
Well-known
I use a Minolta Multi Pro with scanhancer inserts. Learnt all my scanning techniques from chriscrawfordphoto as above. Take a look at his blog/site. Invaluable.
Thanks Chris
Thanks Chris
f/14
Established
Minolta Dimage Multi Pro here as well. With 6x9 glass holder to keep the negative flat. (Takes some intensive cleaning of the glasses but it is worth it.) And with Scanhancer diffuser. Scan in Silverfast "raw" mode. Scan once only pr. negative just to get the density of each pixel into a file on the hard-disk. All the rest happens in Photoshop.
craygc
Well-known
I use a Nikon 9000 as well but I use the standard holder with a single piece of AN glass (from focalpoint) placed on top. The whole thing can still be clamped down as usual (Should also mention I removed the rubber strips the film sits on and tightened down the big screw so the floated edge cant move). Two less surfaces to keep clean and no real issues with maintaining flatness.
Frank Petronio
Well-known
The Nikon 9000 is probably the best desktop solution but since they have been discontinued, good luck finding one for under $3,500 USd. I'd love to get one myself.
The Epson 700-750 flatbeds are the best in-production desktop scanners, but they really aren't in the same class as the dedicated film scanners. The nice thing is you can scan 8x10 film with them. The larger the film, the less fussy the scanner ;-)
I use the even older Epson 4990, which is similar to the 700 but perhaps a notch down the ladder in ultimate performance. Because Epson's film holders are quite lame, many people have gotten after-market holders that will hold the film flatter. You can also experiment with adjusting the height for optimal focus. If you get truly intense you can get Anti-Newton glass and experiment with wet-mounting -- Google for more info.
Frankly I don't bother, the Epson will do well enough for portfolio-sized prints and if you get something stellar, then you can always send out for a better scan from an Imacon, Creo, or drum scanner.
And rather than bothering with trying to get the film precisely flat and farting around with AN Glass, I just apply some Scotch tape on the ends of the film and pull it taunt.
As for software, the packaged Epson scanner software works fine, some people prefer Vue Scan or Silverfast. Those are excellent scanning applications for companies who write truly lousy scanning software, umm, like Nikon and Konica-Minolta (no longer in the scanning business either).
The Epson 700-750 flatbeds are the best in-production desktop scanners, but they really aren't in the same class as the dedicated film scanners. The nice thing is you can scan 8x10 film with them. The larger the film, the less fussy the scanner ;-)
I use the even older Epson 4990, which is similar to the 700 but perhaps a notch down the ladder in ultimate performance. Because Epson's film holders are quite lame, many people have gotten after-market holders that will hold the film flatter. You can also experiment with adjusting the height for optimal focus. If you get truly intense you can get Anti-Newton glass and experiment with wet-mounting -- Google for more info.
Frankly I don't bother, the Epson will do well enough for portfolio-sized prints and if you get something stellar, then you can always send out for a better scan from an Imacon, Creo, or drum scanner.
And rather than bothering with trying to get the film precisely flat and farting around with AN Glass, I just apply some Scotch tape on the ends of the film and pull it taunt.
As for software, the packaged Epson scanner software works fine, some people prefer Vue Scan or Silverfast. Those are excellent scanning applications for companies who write truly lousy scanning software, umm, like Nikon and Konica-Minolta (no longer in the scanning business either).
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Steve M.
Veteran
I used to use an ancient Epson 2450. Everything is analog now. Cheap ($40 or so), and I liked them a lot. Works for 4x5 too.
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ReeRay
Well-known
I beg to differ here, with all respect of course.
Dedicated film scanner for 35mm surely. Flatbed viz Epson V700/750 for MF but pretty useless for 35mm.
My Epson V700 with betterscan etc as above is great for MF but pathetic for 35mm in comparison with the Multi Pro.
Wahoo
Washing on Siegfried Line
I have too many scanners and I'm still useless, I shall have a good read of Chriscrawfords Technical Info.
Here's an old negative scanned on an Epson 3170 after a complete stripdown/tune-up.
Here's an old negative scanned on an Epson 3170 after a complete stripdown/tune-up.
retnull
Well-known
I scan MF on the Epson 4490 with the Betterscanning ANR holder and Epson software.
But, it's very painful. It takes soooo much time--time that I don't really have to waste. Also: I hate the feeling that my scans aren't good enough, that there's more in the negative that is lost to me. Waaah...
But, it's very painful. It takes soooo much time--time that I don't really have to waste. Also: I hate the feeling that my scans aren't good enough, that there's more in the negative that is lost to me. Waaah...
delft
Established
Quite satisfied with my epson 4990. It does 4x5 too. I use the colorperfect plug-in for colo(u)r scans, but found out it does a very nice B&W job too. For 35mm I stick with the coolscan V.
No immediate need for special filmholders for he 4990 yet. If needed, I can keep 645 slides flat by mounting them in AN slide-frames and scanning them directly on the glass.
Dirk
No immediate need for special filmholders for he 4990 yet. If needed, I can keep 645 slides flat by mounting them in AN slide-frames and scanning them directly on the glass.
Dirk
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yanchep_mike
Always Trying
Thanks a lot, this forum is the best.
Thanks a lot, this forum is the best.
Thank you all very much, Chris i have been on your website many times learning about scanning and post processing, thanks for a good tutorial. For the use of a Nikon 8000 scanner, i had a quick look on the various auction sides and starting at about $2000 and no bids and pieces or paperwork is a little steep for my pocket, i still would love one thou.
Because i have purchased a Plustek7600 for my 35mm film i would have to sell that first if i would get a Nikon. Slowly with the help of all of you here on the forum i start to like the Plustek.
Finding a Minolta multi pro seems even harder, so i think going by concensus i will go with the Epson V700 here in AU about $700 thats a better solution and i will keep the key to the frontdoor.🙂
But if anyone has a minolta for reasonable money i be more then interrested. I have read good things about the V700, has anyone heard anything about the latest Canon CS9000, a guy in my local shop seems to thing it is fairly good.
Anyway i am just an amateur and about $700 to $800 AU would be my limit.
Thanks again to all of you it is very much appreciated.
Thanks a lot, this forum is the best.
Thank you all very much, Chris i have been on your website many times learning about scanning and post processing, thanks for a good tutorial. For the use of a Nikon 8000 scanner, i had a quick look on the various auction sides and starting at about $2000 and no bids and pieces or paperwork is a little steep for my pocket, i still would love one thou.
Because i have purchased a Plustek7600 for my 35mm film i would have to sell that first if i would get a Nikon. Slowly with the help of all of you here on the forum i start to like the Plustek.
Finding a Minolta multi pro seems even harder, so i think going by concensus i will go with the Epson V700 here in AU about $700 thats a better solution and i will keep the key to the frontdoor.🙂
But if anyone has a minolta for reasonable money i be more then interrested. I have read good things about the V700, has anyone heard anything about the latest Canon CS9000, a guy in my local shop seems to thing it is fairly good.
Anyway i am just an amateur and about $700 to $800 AU would be my limit.
Thanks again to all of you it is very much appreciated.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
I don't know why (or if) Plustek isn't coming out with an MF scanner.
It's a pretty big hole to fill, and potentially lucrative also.
Just don't sell us another $2000 scanner. 🙂
It's a pretty big hole to fill, and potentially lucrative also.
Just don't sell us another $2000 scanner. 🙂
yanchep_mike
Always Trying
You right for people which don't make no money from our HOBBY an extra 2G is prohibitive, me thinks.
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