BetterScanning kit + ANR glass?

[thegman]

Hi all,
I have a V700, it's good, but I'm not getting results which I've seen online. I'm scanning 120 film, and I feel I'm not getting all I can out of it. Has anyone got any experience of using the betterscanning.com kit with the anti-Newton ring glass?

I think film flatness is mostly my problem, but also probably focus too.

Any examples of before/after scans would be great. I've seen outstanding results from this scanner, and want to achieve the same!

Thanks

Garry

 

[atlcruiser]

Almost all of my mamiya 7 scans on flikr are with the beter scanning products and v700. I find the holder + T bars good enough for almost all my negs. I will use the glass but I dont see much advantage unless the neg is very curled.

 

[bwcolor]

Another positive experience with holder plus glass when setup properly.

 

[AusDLK]

I don't use the glass but the holder is a fine product. I did some initial focus tests and set the height screws. These have tendency to move in time -- I basically just readjust them to what I semi-remember them to have been after the testing.

The focus tests are very time consuming so I only did it once at the beginning.

The only flaw to this product is that there is no way to permanently set the height screws so that they cannot change. Even with the semi-remembered height (re)adjustments, I still get good results. I have a V750.

 

[Zonan]

I don't use the glass but the holder is a fine product. I did some initial focus tests and set the height screws. These have tendency to move in time -- I basically just readjust them to what I semi-remember them to have been after the testing.

The focus tests are very time consuming so I only did it once at the beginning.

The only flaw to this product is that there is no way to permanently set the height screws so that they cannot change. Even with the semi-remembered height (re)adjustments, I still get good results. I have a V750.

I haven't tried it, but how about using the blue LocTite liquid to lock the screws in place once you've found the right height? Find the right height, back it off a turn, apply LocTite, retighten one turn? While the blue version is capable of being unscrewed, it probably wouldn't retain that capability with plastic parts. Or even glue...?

 

[katgut@earthlink.net]

I use a V500 with the betterscanning carrier/glass. I think there must be sample variations in the scanners; with the standard film holder my scans are perfectly sharp. The betterscanning rig may or may not improve the sharpness of your scans. The main thing I like is that you can scan more frames, cutting 120 scanning time in half. And it does keep the film flat. However, be aware of a couple of limitations:
1. digital ice is much less effective when the ANR glass is used.
2. The glass will attract dust and fingerprints.
3. It is not possible to clean your negs off while in the holder. The stock Epson holder is better in this regard--once the negs are in, you can easily blow/brush the dust off without touching the negs.

Being able to scan 6 frames at a time would be a real luxury, though...

 

[thegman]

Thanks everyone for the responses, I think I'll get myself a kit. I think if I can get the focus just a bit better, and the flatness sorted, then I'll be happy with the results.