Quick and dirty film and slide scanning

[MiniMoke]

Need your insights on this:

I'm considering a quick, fast method for 'scanning' negatives and slides without using a scanner. I'm aware that quality will probably be inferior to a dedicated film scanner, but I just want it to be adequate and quick.

I saw these on the big river

Can I use them with the X-E1 and the 35mm f:1.4 or should I get the 60mm?

Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[d__b]

I think scanning with a camera and macro lens can actually get much better results than most film scanners, except drum scanners. Color negatives are a bit difficult however, because of the orange mask.
Here are some examples from Tri-X.


St. Helena Day by TheManWhoWasn'tThere, on Flickr


St. Helena Day by TheManWhoWasn'tThere, on Flickr

 

[daveleo]

I thought that those slide copiers attached directly to the camera body?

As noted - color correcting negatives? - I never got that to work (I have copied slides using a Nikkor Micro lens and a light box, and that worked out well).

 

[Grubriella]

That looks quite interesting.
Was planning on selling my Epson and just using my SLR.
What are those things called?

 

[MiniMoke]

Looking very good - what lens will I need? Macro, or does the standard 35mm lens on the X-E1 with close focus to 18cm work?

 

[MiniMoke]

Got the Polaroïd slide copier with glass macro lens today and did a very quick test on the X -E1 tonight, with the 35mm X lens.

Ok, the focal length is less than ideal for the task, but it was just a first try.

The results are VERY sobering, out of focus (I used manual focus as best as possible) and not looking good!

I don't know how you did it, d b?? Your 'scans' look gorgeous. What copier do you use?? Where do I go wrong??

Thanks for your input

 

[mdarnton]

My rig, and under the picture, a full explanation. All of the black and white on my flickr site is "scanned" with this rig. It works much better than any flatbed, and is very quick.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdarnton/7183241686/

 

[Roberto V.]

As for color correcting negatives, I would do the following: Shoot the negative with a bit of the space between frames showing and then with the levels adjustment in photoshop just sample the space between frames with the gray dropper. The mask should be removed this way. At least that's the tool I use for correcting white balance sometimes, and it works great.

 

[splitimageview]

You should be able to color correct for the mask by shooting raw. When I use Vuescan it's in raw mode, and I have a photoshop action that converts into a positive.