New Contax G user

[RSilva]

Hi everybody, this is my first post at the forum and I am here mainly because I discovered film again and need some advice.
I recently bought a Contax G1 body plus the 2.8/28 and the 2/45 and I am needing some help concerning scanning my Contax G1 pics.
While I get nice files of 120 film with the Epson v700, my 35mm film images just look so so. My question is, am I wasting my time scanning 35mm film with this scanner? If so, what do you use to scan 35mm film?

This may sound ridiculous to you but my Olympus Ep-1 plus panasonic 20mm f1.7 or olympus 45mm f1.8, blows away my scanned files from the Contax and I guess that should not be possible. On the other hand my 20years old 6x6 film from the Rolleiflex, scanned, just looks much, much better than anything else.

PS I didn't find any introduction thread at the forum but if it exists, I will introduce myself properly.

 

[furcafe]

Since your question has only an incidental relationship w/Zeiss Ikon Contax & Contax cameras, I think you should re-post in, or move this post to, the Scanners/ Scanner Software forum:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=148

which is a subcategory of the Image Processing: Darkroom/Lightroom/Film forum:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=61

To answer your question, to get the best scanning results from 35mm film, you will have to use (or pay someone else to use) a negative/slide scanner or a drum scanner.

Hi everybody, this is my first post at the forum and I am here mainly because I discovered film again and need some advice.
I recently bought a Contax G1 body plus the 2.8/28 and the 2/45 and I am needing some help concerning scanning my Contax G1 pics.
While I get nice files of 120 film with the Epson v700, my 35mm film images just look so so. My question is, am I wasting my time scanning 35mm film with this scanner? If so, what do you use to scan 35mm film?

This may sound ridiculous to you but my Olympus Ep-1 plus panasonic 20mm f1.7 or olympus 45mm f1.8, blows away my scanned files from the Contax and I guess that should not be possible. On the other hand my 20years old 6x6 film from the Rolleiflex, scanned, just looks much, much better than anything else.

PS I didn't find any introduction thread at the forum but if it exists, I will introduce myself properly.

 

[BobYIL]

Hi everybody, this is my first post at the forum and I am here mainly because I discovered film again and need some advice.
I recently bought a Contax G1 body plus the 2.8/28 and the 2/45 and I am needing some help concerning scanning my Contax G1 pics.
While I get nice files of 120 film with the Epson v700, my 35mm film images just look so so. My question is, am I wasting my time scanning 35mm film with this scanner? If so, what do you use to scan 35mm film?

This may sound ridiculous to you but my Olympus Ep-1 plus panasonic 20mm f1.7 or olympus 45mm f1.8, blows away my scanned files from the Contax and I guess that should not be possible. On the other hand my 20years old 6x6 film from the Rolleiflex, scanned, just looks much, much better than anything else.

PS I didn't find any introduction thread at the forum but if it exists, I will introduce myself properly.

Welcome to the forum..

Your m43 files will certainly "blow" your Contax files if you are interested in only resolution. Generally 35mm frames are equivalent of 6 to 8MP digital sensors in resolution, all other parameters of IQ aside.

To improve the output of your 35mm frames, either use dedicated 35mm scanners of over 4000dpi (real) resolution or take your film to some pro-labs for scanning (drum scanning could be very expensive.)

OTOH, due to larger area of "information" MF frames do scan on the Epson V500 to 750 series satisfactorily.

In case you are interested in buying a dedicated scanner of reasonable cost, search through the related posts of this forum.

 

[RSilva]

Thanks, I will try to get to know the forum better.
Anyway for those that use these and other 35mm cameras and the epson scanner please give me your feedback.

 

[raid]

A quick check on your Contax images can be done by taking a roll for developing and high resolution scans commercially.

 

[anthony_semone]

Do as BobYil recommends and you should enjoy the results. I have a g2 with a 45/2 and an Epson V500. I get the negatives developed by Philly Photographics in strips of six and then scan away. I'd post some pics here but it's just a pain in the ass to do it (at least compared with Fred Miranda) 😀

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

Three things:
1. digital almost invariably seems 'sharper.'
2. Your G2 may need to be calibrated. The AF can get wonky. I've owned more than a few G2s, and at least one has had to be adjusted by ToCAD.
3. A flatbed is probably not as good as a dedicated film scanner, which is not as good as a drum/Imacon scan, especially with 35mm film. Maybe, with your flatbed, there's a film flatness or AF issue?

 

[Bob Michaels]

................... My question is, am I wasting my time scanning 35mm film with this scanner? If so, what do you use to scan 35mm film? .......................

It is that situation of no chain being stronger than its weakest link. And that scanner does not do justice to 35mm negs. A true 35mm film scanner will make a lot of difference in your prints.

Never forget that 99% of the people look at a photo to see what message or emotion it conveys rather than how sharp it is. Do not be overly concerned that the other 1% is represented here.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

You are not wasting your time with film and this camera, but the V700 won't do a great job with 35mm.

Any Nikon Coolscan will "blow away" the V700.

To get a rough idea, send a roll to Precision (sponsor here) and get their Ultra Hi-Res machine scans. These are excellent; I can do a little better with my Coolscan V, but only with considerable effort.

 

[raid]

To get a rough idea, send a roll to Precision (sponsor here) and get their Ultra Hi-Res machine scans. .

I said similar above.

 

[bwcolor]

Great camera system.

I've a V-750 Pro and regularly scan 35mm.

When I want better, but slower pace I use the Nikon 9000ED, but the 35mm Nikon scanners should also do the trick.

When lots of time and yet quality scans, try the Plustek Optifilm 7600i.. I'm not sure why I also purchased it other than to help my father scan with his, but it seems to be a quality scanner at a very low price. What you lose is speed.

I use Vuescan and really like that I can use the same software with many scanners. Really nice setup.

Film is lots of fun. I would be trying the Plustek more, but my film shooting has been hampered with a heavy work schedule and my relatively new use of digital for color only. So, I'm shooting film for the B&W. It doesn't blow away, or even rival digital resolution, but I like the look. To rival digital, you need to go MF.

Welcome and have fun.

 

[RSilva]

Thank you all for the advice. I will try all those tips you gave me.

Great camera system.

I've a V-750 Pro and regularly scan 35mm.

When I want better, but slower pace I use the Nikon 9000ED, but the 35mm Nikon scanners should also do the trick.

When lots of time and yet quality scans, try the Plustek Optifilm 7600i.. I'm not sure why I also purchased it other than to help my father scan with his, but it seems to be a quality scanner at a very low price. What you lose is speed.

I use Vuescan and really like that I can use the same software with many scanners. Really nice setup.

Film is lots of fun. I would be trying the Plustek more, but my film shooting has been hampered with a heavy work schedule and my relatively new use of digital for color only. So, I'm shooting film for the B&W. It doesn't blow away, or even rival digital resolution, but I like the look. To rival digital, you need to go MF.

Welcome and have fun.

I have found a used Plustek 7200 film scanner for just 90eur, would that be a good buy?