Attention all Xpan scanners

AusDLK

AusDLK

Famous Photographer
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Attention all Xpan scanners:

>35mm strip film holder doesn't hold the negs flat

I have a Xpan specific film holder under development that I hope to bring to market in the new year.

I have yet to find a satisfactory scanning solution for my Xpan film so I have decided to create one.

The holder will work on Epson scanners and will be guaranteed to hold film as flat as possible (without using troublesome glass holders).

Mine will be a necessarily very low volume operation but if you are interested in my XpanScan holder, drop me an email and I'll keep you informed of my progress.

My email: ausdlk(at)gmail.com
 
The Nikon 9000 doesn't understand the bigger Xpan size very well.

I tried to make an Xpan specific film holder for it without much luck.

And the 9000 is a pretty pricey machine that could only scan three frames at once max without having to be reloaded.

I looked into writing some code for the Nikon 5000 to scan one half of a frame, advance the file the right amount to scan the second half, and then automatically stitch the frame together. This would be an ideal solution that would allow an entire roll to be scanned with no manual intervention -- but this quickly looked like a major bitch to do and I dropped the idea.
 
AusDLK said:
I looked into writing some code for the Nikon 5000 to scan one half of a frame, advance the file the right amount to scan the second half, and then automatically stitch the frame together. This would be an ideal solution that would allow an entire roll to be scanned with no manual intervention -- but this quickly looked like a major bitch to do and I dropped the idea.
Click to expand...

Dave that's a shame cos i'd pay good money to have a decent holder for the 5000 :)
right now i'm having to modify one of the F-H-3 holders - scan in two parts and stitch together....

I much prefer the Nikon over the V750 for 35mm
 
AusDLK said:
The Nikon 9000 doesn't understand the bigger Xpan size very well.

I tried to make an Xpan specific film holder for it without much luck.
Click to expand...

Doesn't this already exist? As Frank has already stated, there is an optional film holder with Xpan mask for the Nikon 8000 and 9000. Are you saying that this has not worked for you? If so why?

I am asking as I am about to purchase a 9000 so would like to hear your views.
 
I found the various film holders for the 9000 to be a royal pain the a** to use. Fortunately I bought the thing on Amazon so I was able to return it. Good riddens -- I'm sure that it makes fine scans but for ~$2000 it just wasn't worth the big bucks to me.

I now have a Nikon 5000 with the roll film attachment that I use to scan newly processed film for archiving and contact sheets; a Minolta 5400 for scans of frames that I intend to print; and an Epson 4990 (soon to be a V750) for my Xpan film.

Unfortunately I find that the OEM 35mm film holder pretty much sucks at keeping film flat...

I've been in contact several times with the guy that makes the MF Holder about making a 35mm holder that would work with Xpan film but so far he's not interested. So I am working with a local guy to make one...
 
I'd certainly be interested if this progresses into a solution for either the CAnon 9950F or the Minolta Dimage 5400!

Keep up the good work.
 
I am moving ahead. If any of you who wrote me already (or are interested) please e-mail me with the make and model flatbed scanner that you use and include the dimensions of the scan bed available for film scanning.

E-mail me at ausdlk(at)gmail.com.
 
Betterscanning

Betterscanning

How wil it be different from the beterscanning product ???

(see precedent post for web adress)
 
The betterscanning web site doesn't offer a product for 35mm width film.

I have his MF product and it is well made. And I have contacted him about making a version for 35mm film but so far he's not been receptive to the idea of this as a new product (unless there is something very new).

I want to be able to scan up to 12 Xpan frames at once with certainty that the film is held as flat as possible and that the distance between the film and scanner bed is precisely controlled.
 
As a new Xpan owner, I am considering jumping into the scanning market. I also have a Hassi 503cw and M6. In reading some info on multi-format scanners, the microtek artixscan 120tf has come up on a number of web sites. Any experience/knowledge re this particular scanner? Any opinions re this scanner vs Nikon coolscan 9000? Thanks. As a new member of RFF, I have found this to be an awesome resource. If these issues have been discussed in prior forums, please forgive my ignorance.
Steve
 
...but you can get the betterscanning MF film holder with an anti-newton ring glass insert, which would seem to hold the 35mm film strips perfectly flat. His website even says you can use for x-pan. I'm intersted in your solution but how will it be better ? thanks
 
Dave in Panorama magazine

Dave in Panorama magazine

Dave,
I got my new issue of Panorama (the IAPP magazine) in the mail today. Nice to see your article about the scan holder in it.

Steve
 
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