Noll
Well-known
Hi all
I've had my eye on this camera for some time now. As a botanist who photographs tiny plant parts, wants keep bulk & weight to a minimum, and shoot & scan film, this appeared to be one camera that could "do it all" for me. A couple weeks ago I finally broke down and bought one.
Previously I used a Panasonic G3 to scan film. This worked well, but the color never thrilled me, nor did the noisy sensor. I could stitch 4-6 photos on a 35 mm frame, but keeping everything level was a headache. My practical limit was 2-3 shots at about 1:2.5 reproduction. This was plenty to work with in theory but, again, the colors & noisy output. Once I broke the LCD, it was time for an upgrade.
Up first is a 35mm Velvia 50 slide. Shot with an OM-4 and 24 mm f/2.8 OM Zuiko.
Full frame shot, imaged with an EM-5 Mk II and 35mm f/3.5 Zuiko (4/3 system). NR turned "off" (or as low as it lets you go)
16 mp jpeg crop, uprezzed to 40 mp equivalent:
40 mp jpeg crop:
Clean output, hi res, and color that comes fairly close to the slide...for the first time since I started, scanning is exciting again! Because, finally, I am getting results that begin to equal the quality of the image on the film. 7100 pixels on the long end roughly equals 200 pixels per mm, or 5000 pixels per inch when imaging a full 35mm frame. No Epson comes close, a Coolscan 5000 can't match this, nor can a 16 mp equivalent digital.
It's not all perfect. I am still struggling to keep shadows and highlights balanced. I suppose bracketing with some kind of post-processing HDR technique would remedy this. But considering that I mostly shoot jpeg, I am not inclined to lots of post-processing. Any suggestions or links to tutorials on how to do this would be appreciated. Also, I suspect my refrigerator produces enough floor vibration when running to cause slight artifacts to show during a 40mp exposure! Let me know if I've cranked the saturation too high, my monitor has very muted colors.
But so far, I'm very happy with the results....more to come
I've had my eye on this camera for some time now. As a botanist who photographs tiny plant parts, wants keep bulk & weight to a minimum, and shoot & scan film, this appeared to be one camera that could "do it all" for me. A couple weeks ago I finally broke down and bought one.
Previously I used a Panasonic G3 to scan film. This worked well, but the color never thrilled me, nor did the noisy sensor. I could stitch 4-6 photos on a 35 mm frame, but keeping everything level was a headache. My practical limit was 2-3 shots at about 1:2.5 reproduction. This was plenty to work with in theory but, again, the colors & noisy output. Once I broke the LCD, it was time for an upgrade.
Up first is a 35mm Velvia 50 slide. Shot with an OM-4 and 24 mm f/2.8 OM Zuiko.
Full frame shot, imaged with an EM-5 Mk II and 35mm f/3.5 Zuiko (4/3 system). NR turned "off" (or as low as it lets you go)
16 mp jpeg crop, uprezzed to 40 mp equivalent:
40 mp jpeg crop:
Clean output, hi res, and color that comes fairly close to the slide...for the first time since I started, scanning is exciting again! Because, finally, I am getting results that begin to equal the quality of the image on the film. 7100 pixels on the long end roughly equals 200 pixels per mm, or 5000 pixels per inch when imaging a full 35mm frame. No Epson comes close, a Coolscan 5000 can't match this, nor can a 16 mp equivalent digital.
It's not all perfect. I am still struggling to keep shadows and highlights balanced. I suppose bracketing with some kind of post-processing HDR technique would remedy this. But considering that I mostly shoot jpeg, I am not inclined to lots of post-processing. Any suggestions or links to tutorials on how to do this would be appreciated. Also, I suspect my refrigerator produces enough floor vibration when running to cause slight artifacts to show during a 40mp exposure! Let me know if I've cranked the saturation too high, my monitor has very muted colors.
But so far, I'm very happy with the results....more to come
robert blu
quiet photographer
Interesting...wait to see more...thanks
robert
PS: how do you keep the slide in the correct position?
robert
PS: how do you keep the slide in the correct position?
Noll
Well-known
A flat mirror laid on the light box, crosshairs overlay on the lcd, and live view are enough to align the the film and sensor parallel. Just get the lens in the middle. Fellow RFF'er mdarnton gave me that idea in the thread linked above. Will try B&W and C-41 soon. Can't wait to see what comes out of Tmax 100 and Foma 100.
stompyq
Well-known
what do you mean flat mirror laid on the light box?
Noll
Well-known
I mean a small, perfectly flat mirror (most are!). Lay it on the light box, in front of the camera's lens. Focus on your camera's reflection. When the film & sensor are parallel, the center of the aperture hole will show up on the LCD screen centered in the crosshairs. Then you can re-focus on the film. I'll post a photo when I scan a few more.
paulfish4570
Veteran
nifty cool. much appreciate this thread. i am the owner of a brand new om-d em-5, and am interesting from a negative standpoint ...
CK Dexter Haven
Well-known
Can you show us a picture of this setup?
robert blu
quiet photographer
Thanks for all these informations
robert
robert
wkkato
wkkato
Re: Imaging film with an EM-5 Mk ii
Hi Noll,
That's a great scan. I just picked up a Mk II and have the old 4/3 35mm macro and will have to try it out. SLR Gear and other tests show that the sharpest aperture is f4 or f5.6. What aperture did you use for your "scanning"?
Hi Noll,
That's a great scan. I just picked up a Mk II and have the old 4/3 35mm macro and will have to try it out. SLR Gear and other tests show that the sharpest aperture is f4 or f5.6. What aperture did you use for your "scanning"?
Noll
Well-known
Have been traveling for work so no pics of the set-up yet. But here is one more from the first batch. I shot most of these at f5.6. I wouldn't shoot any wider than this, as most slides are not mounted perfectly flat. Any extra dof to compensate for this Is more advantageous than a smidge more sharpness. I may actually shoot the next bach at f8.
Here is a scan of a 35mm Velvia 100f slide. I am stunned by the lack of grain! I may need more magnification to hit the limit of detail.
And a crop from the lower right
Here is a scan of a 35mm Velvia 100f slide. I am stunned by the lack of grain! I may need more magnification to hit the limit of detail.
And a crop from the lower right
Spanik
Well-known
Velvia is great stuff, I use it all the time.
Noll
Well-known
One more from the same set. Sorry - haven't had a chance to scan any more since my OP. Will be on the road till the weekend.
Showing Elitechrome 100 here
Shot this with the OM Zuiko 50mm f/3.5 macro.
100% crop:
Again, probably with the OM Zuiko 50/3.5 macro
100% crop
The Elitechrome is noticeably grainier than the Veliva 100f, and seems tad grainier than the Velvia 50.... but when exposed in good light it's not as noticeable. Heck, if I ever print this big I doubit I'll even notice which is which based on grain.
Showing Elitechrome 100 here
Shot this with the OM Zuiko 50mm f/3.5 macro.
100% crop:
Again, probably with the OM Zuiko 50/3.5 macro
100% crop
The Elitechrome is noticeably grainier than the Veliva 100f, and seems tad grainier than the Velvia 50.... but when exposed in good light it's not as noticeable. Heck, if I ever print this big I doubit I'll even notice which is which based on grain.