BEOON with Leica M9 or Nikon Z7 for 6x17- differences?

[drec]

Hi all,

My two mirrorless cameras are Leica M9 and Nikon Z7. I recently got a Fuji GX617 and, after doing a lot of research on various scanning methods for 6x17 chromes and b&w negs, decided to go with DSLR stitched scanning of the film as opposed to an old scanner like a Creo or an Imacon.

I’m thinking of getting a Leica BEOON copy stand because I could reliably and quickly take 6x9 or 6x6 segments of the big neg and stitch them together in PS.

What can I realistically expect in terms of differences of prints, say 4’ to 6’ in width, from the 45.7mp Z7 to the 18mp M9? Am thinking of basically stitching 3 or 4 6x6 shots together.

Thanks

 

[Godfrey]

Hi all,

My two mirrorless cameras are Leica M9 and Nikon Z7. I recently got a Fuji GX617 and, after doing a lot of research on various scanning methods for 6x17 chromes and b&w negs, decided to go with DSLR stitched scanning of the film as opposed to an old scanner like a Creo or an Imacon.

I’m thinking of getting a Leica BEOON copy stand because I could reliably and quickly take 6x9 or 6x6 segments of the big neg and stitch them together in PS.

What can I realistically expect in terms of differences of prints, say 4’ to 6’ in width, from the 45.7mp Z7 to the 18mp M9? Am thinking of basically stitching 3 or 4 6x6 shots together.

At the current pricing for a BEOON, I'd buy the basic Novoflex Magic Stand copystand instead. The BEOON is quite limited in its versatility ... It was designed for use with a 50mm lens and can't really handle too much shorter than 45mm or longer than 60mm. The range of magnifications you can reach is pretty restrictive as well. The Novoflex Magic Stand is quick to setup, very flexible in use, and can basically handle nearly anything you throw at it, within reason. It is also pretty compact and easy to store.

Yes, I have both.

Between the two cameras you mention, I wouldn't even consider the M9. Without TTL viewing and focusing, a Leica M9 is really just unsuited for the precision focusing and framing required for capturing film images, never mind its lack of TTL metering for this purpose. The BEOON makes it possible with its focusing magnifier, etc, but there are simply far better suited cameras for this kind of work than an RF Leica body. Later digital Ms with Live View capability are more suitable, if you want to stick with the BEOON and a Leica.

In my experience, with an 18-24 Mpixel Leica sensor and nearly any film other than something like Technical Pan ... and an appropriately good lens focused critically, I can see all the film grain and emulsion defects resolved clearly in my negative scans. Doubling the pixels doesn't really lend much improvement.

BUT, if you're capturing relatively large medium format negatives, AND want to print to extraordinary sizes like that, well, mo' is betta' as they say. I'll be experimenting with 50 Mpixel negative captures when my Hasselblad 907x gets here... I don't expect much in way of revelatory sharpness improvements, but maybe there'll be a gain in tonal capture.

G

 

[drec]

Thanks for the input! The guys on the GX617 FB page swear by the humble old Epson V600 to make 4’ prints; I think I’d be ok with the M9, which my heart goes by— though the brain obviously goes with the Z7 for this app

 

[Emile de Leon]

You need a flippy screen for this kind of work ..
And an enlarging lens..w/copy stand..
I use a Valoy-2 for bigger negs..

You can use the BEOON too..
But I think it would be a pita...
But if you like the extra work..
Why not..

 

[Archlich]

Thanks for the input! The guys on the GX617 FB page swear by the humble old Epson V600 to make 4’ prints; I think I’d be ok with the M9, which my heart goes by— though the brain obviously goes with the Z7 for this app

Since you already have both cameras, just follow your heart and try it once with the M9.

Then go with what your brain says!

 

[drec]

M does stand for masochist...