How do you scan your 35mm B&W film?

[G Dogg]

Plustek Optic 120.

 

[Noll]

I am really looking forward to using the EM5 mkII's 40 mp mode to scan my film. I'm still saving up for it, but the thought of using that body, 1:2 reproduction, and a 2 or 3 shot stitch is so tantalizing....

If someone here beats me to using this setup, I hope they post the results!

 

[Fadedsun]

I've been thinking of investing in a scanner to scan my negatives. In the future, I would like to develop the film myself, but my current living situation doesn't allow for it. In the long run, would owning a scanner save me a lot of money? Right now I spend about $30 to get two rolls of film developed, then emailed to me as low-res scans just so I can see the results.

What would be a good scanner to invest in? There seem to be a lot of choices, but I'd like one that performs well, but is still relatively affordable.

 

[DNG]

I've been thinking of investing in a scanner to scan my negatives. In the future, I would like to develop the film myself, but my current living situation doesn't allow for it. In the long run, would owning a scanner save me a lot of money? Right now I spend about $30 to get two rolls of film developed, then emailed to me as low-res scans just so I can see the results.

What would be a good scanner to invest in? There seem to be a lot of choices, but I'd like one that performs well, but is still relatively affordable.

Depends what you want...

• High Res Scans that equal or better today's 16mp+ cameras? (that is around a 3600dpi scan for a 45mp Tiff)
• Low Res just to view before printing

If, low res is all you need, no need to buy a $400+ scanner
Plustek Scanners (8x00 series I think is current) are around $250 with 2 tier SilverFast 8x PLUS software.
Then $250 scanner/ $30 Lab = 9 rolls that you pay $30. to send out. After 9 rolls, it has paid for itself in savings from a Lab


There are other options... if you want Batch Scanning, a V500/600 for less of an investment over a V700/750 or V800/850.
But you most use the supplied Epson Scan Software WITH the supplied Epson Film Holders. 12/35mm slides, 24/35mm negatives.

 

[jkjod]

For 35mm I have a Plustek 7600 that I bought used for a very good deal, I scan my 120 stuff with a A7 and 2.8/55 Micro Nikkor. I would love a Plustek 120, but I don't see how purchasing a scanner that costs more than any glass/camera I own makes sense. Hopefully soon they will start to come down in price and used versions will be out in the "wild"

 

[Out to Lunch]

As many other photographers, my love of photography has never translated into a love for mixing chemicals and spending hours in a dark room and so I embraced digital. Then I found a lab owned by an analogue photo aficionado. He develops film, scans and prints and delivers top quality work at a very reasonable price. Works for me.

 

[:: Mark]

I switched from a Plustek 7600i to an Epson v800. Although the Plustek gives slightly better 35mm scans than the flat-bed, it is painfully slow to use for anything more than a few frames.

I am quite pleased with the Epson, other than it seems to capture vastly more dust than the Plustek (as others have pointed out, having perspex backed film holders makes static a real pain).

 

[Monochrom]

None of the alternatives

None of the alternatives

Although i have an epson v500 whch i use often, when i want to get me the best scan i use a beoon adapter and my M9.

It shines.

Of course when it comes to colour i use the epson since i havent´tamed the beoon for colour.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

I use three methods:

Home - my v750 Epson (good enough for what I need as an amateur)
Commercial 1 - send for processing and scanning to UK Film Lab (superb results for when I want to produce a nice print for a friend or for our home)
Commercial 2 - process and scan at local lab (good enough to see how the photos came out quickly and even for low res posts)

 

[giganova]

My takeaway message from this thread is:

If I'm in the market for a new (with warranty) 35mm B&W scanner, my options are:

1. Flatbed scanner (e.g., Epson V500, 600, 800 series). Plus: scans multiple formats; Minus: lower DPI scans
2. Film Scanner (e.g., Plustek 8000 series). Plus: high DPI scans. Minus: only scans 35mm negatives/slides
3. DSLR with macro-lens: Plus: ease of use; Minus: need expensive DSLR and lens, unless you have that already. Quality of the scans will be somewhere between flatbed and film scanner
4. Drum scanner … pro quality scans, but expensive!
5. Professional Lab Scans: pro quality but also the most expensive option of you are Sir Scanalot

I guess based on the above, I'll order a Plustek 8100 unless someone has good arguments to convince me otherwise

 

[Dayrell bishop]

Avote for the Epson v700

Avote for the Epson v700

Recently I have decided to use my 35mm gear again , I also bought some Fomapan 100 this film seems to scan better than other films I have tried . I have been very surprised at the quality , so I will be doing thisa lot more , not as I posted before using a macro lense +dslr.

 

[rfaspen]

Can I use a flatbed ([Epson?] whichever model) to scan a "proof sheet"? I would dearly love to make a proof sheet of my negatives, then select the few that warrant high-res scanning (always seems to be just a few ), then scan those with the time/effort intensive dedicated film scanner (right now for me, that's a Minolta DiImage IV).

Also, I hear about people using a DSLR and good macro lens so often, but I really need to see an example of the film handling part of this. I wonder how people set up the film holder (and what kind of film holder), light source, stand/holder/whatever that keeps the camera/lens at an exact distance from the film. I'm sure there's a lot of variants of this setup, but I need to see one that's well implemented. I'm also curious if film curvature is dealt with by such a setup.

... but first I want a proof sheet. One thing at a time.....

 

[Filzkoeter]

I guess based on the above, I'll order a Plustek 8100 unless someone has good arguments to convince me otherwise

Do it, it's a great scanner. Also 3600dpi scans are enough with the 8100 (+and really fast in B&W mode); scanning at 7200dpi gives you massive scanning times, massive file sizes and nearly no gain in quality over 3600dpi, use it only if you need the size.
Forget Silverfast, use either Vuescan or build a workflow around the no-thrills built-in "Quickscan" program (it can put out 'more or less linear' 16-bit tif files with the right settings! No need for fumbling around with scanning programs or previews can make the scanning of whole rolls with the Plustek quite fast).

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Also, I hear about people using a DSLR and good macro lens so often, but I really need to see an example of the film handling part of this. I wonder how people set up the film holder (and what kind of film holder), light source, stand/holder/whatever that keeps the camera/lens at an exact distance from the film. I'm sure there's a lot of variants of this setup, but I need to see one that's well implemented. I'm also curious if film curvature is dealt with by such a setup.

... but first I want a proof sheet. One thing at a time.....

I'm using a Fuji X-T1 with adapted 50/4 Pentax M42 macro and some extension tubes. It's mounted on a copy stand and the film is in an enlarger carrier sitting on a light box type thing. This keeps the film pretty flat! I can't hotlink to an instagram post, but here's a picture of the setup:

https://instagram.com/p/3SD7rkvEdw/

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Actually, you can find the image address if you view the source code!

 

[Filzkoeter]

Can I use a flatbed ([Epson?] whichever model) to scan a "proof sheet"? I would dearly love to make a proof sheet of my negatives, then select the few that warrant high-res scanning (always seems to be just a few )

Yes, I still use my V500 for digital proof sheets sometimes. I scan directly from the glass (a piece of ANR glass on top of the negatives), two strips of negatives at a time, straight without any auto-adjustments at 800dpi.
Puzzle the strips together in photoshop, flatten the image, adjust the levels & contrast and you have a nice digital proof sheet

 

[gbealnz]

I guess based on the above, I'll order a Plustek 8100 unless someone has good arguments to convince me otherwise

Good summation.
I have had an on/off relationship with scanning, never really tried a flatbed, but had at least one Plustech, and might get another.

My last foray into a Plustech was a disaster, my own making really.

I run a Mac, and the Plustech I bought (used, locally) was not compatible with the Mac, and/or OS I had on it.

Check the computer you intend to use, and the OS, and the scanner will all play together nicely. I can't recall the exact OS/Software non-compatibility, but it was enough to drive me into trying the DSLR method.

Gary

 

[rfaspen]

Thanks for example setup mabelsound. I actually thought of an enlarger negative carrier, but I keep hearing about slide copiers and other stuff. I'm going to try the digital camera idea here soon. I have a copy stand, and of course a negative carrier (who doesn't?) along with the digital body and macro lens.

A thanks to to Filzkoeter as well. I was sure hoping I could manage a proof sheet with an Epson 500 or 550. It would of course be nicest if I could get it all at once, but 2-strip scans is a big time saver over what I'm doing now. I occasionally see v500 and v550 scanners for good prices.

A possible plus with the flatbeds is the potential for large format scans. I have 4x5 negs that I have yet to scan and appreciate digitally because I haven't had a way to get them scanned. I'm not impressed by the scan specifications of my local photo specialist. He does well with printing from digital files, but scans tend to be a bit disappointing. Besides, I prefer to do it myself.

I do have a 4x5 negative carrier for my enlarger... Wonder if that setup we saw from mabelsound could manage that. Hmmm.

 

[gbealnz]

If you already have the copy stand, you are part way there. And also the neg carrier (of the respective size(s) you need.
Lens? I use an enlarging lens, works a treat, and from your posting it would seem you have one or more of these too. Try one of them.
My issue at this stage for my "copying" is the lightbox. I need to buy a small (perhaps 5x7" or so) light box. Years ago I made a box for viewing trannies when I was doing them, but the illumination is not at all even, and I want to start again.
Pointers for such a small light box?
I'll dig my "copy unit" out and post a pic, in the coming days.
Gary

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

II need to buy a small (perhaps 5x7" or so) light box. Years ago I made a box for viewing trannies when I was doing them, but the illumination is not at all even, and I want to start again.
Pointers for such a small light box?

I'm using this guy, and it's working fine.