Review of the Nikon ES-2 negative and slide scanner.

[Camera Chops]

I picked up this accessory last week. Coupled with the D850 it makes a compelling case for getting back into film.
The design and execution of the Nikon ES-2 hardware is simple and appears to be robust.
You can use this attachment handheld and point it out of a window or even in a naturally lit room. As the whole scanning structure is solid and inflexible you can hand hold at almost any speed. I was going handheld as low as 3 seconds with no problems whatsoever.
The huge advantage of the ES-2 is the speed. It took me 50 minutes this morning to take out from their sleeves 121 colour and black and white negatives, scan them and put them back.
I haven't used the Nikon Coolscans in a while, but I'll do a side by side comparison later. However, I suspect the quality of the new setup is as good if not better - certainly the dynamic range is impressive.
I have a fuller review with a few more scans at

http://www.camerachops.com/nikon-es-2-slide-negative-copier/

All in all, this is an excellent (and reasonably priced) accessory from Nikon.

 

[MaxElmar]

I'm sure there will be pushback from folks who have devoted their lives and a LOT of $ to dedicated film scanners, but I'm pretty sure this is the way forward for the vast majority of film users. Just like we used to do it in the old days - a copy stand and good macro lens. (The ES-2 standing in for the copy stand. You still need the copy stand to do prints, 4x5, 120 , etc.) I'm just really doubting that the sensor and optics in a $1000 scanner is better than a D850 + 60mm Micro Nikkor. And the time factor is huge, with each scan taking milliseconds or seconds instead of minutes. Partially offset by the time in post to invert (and color correct, if color - not trivial I know). But scanner software is generally awful and most of us are pretty quick with LightRoom...

I just think the "Scan with DSLR" is going from "last resort" to "wow, that's as good as any dedicated film scanner I could afford - and a lot faster, too."

 

[KM-25]

I'm sure there will be pushback from folks who have devoted their lives and a LOT of $ to dedicated film scanners, but I'm pretty sure this is the way forward for the vast majority of film users.

That would be an understatement, read my post on using Nikon D850 with a geared LF view camera for the ultimate scanning setup:

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2814512&postcount=309

 

[splitimageview]

Did you scan any C-41? If so, how was the negative conversion?

 

[Huss]

I just received the ES-2. What I think many people don't realize is that it is just a film holder (but a very very good one), that has no electronic connections so it can be used on any camera with the appropriate 1:1 60mm macro lens. As that is what it is designed for.

I also use the D850, and the digitizer function is absolute garbage. It produces awful colour, is 'ok' for B&W as there is no need to deal with colour balance, blows out highlights, loses detail in shadows and weirdly also loses sharpness.
I have shown this in other tests on this site.

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2783175&postcount=1

The only way to get decent results (and they can be excellent) is by 'scanning' in RAW, then converting in an editing program. Which is what I have been doing for a long time now.

 

[PKR]

That would be an understatement, read my post on using Nikon D850 with a geared LF view camera for the ultimate scanning setup:

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2814512&postcount=309

Pretty interesting KM25. Lots of Sinar parts around.

Is the film completely flat in your mount ?

 

[Camera Chops]

Hi
A few people have asked for colour C-41 scans so I'll put them up later today

I'll include some comparisons between using the inbuilt Nikon digitiser and doing the conversion yourself in light room.

The canned solution seem to produce rather funky colours and reds can get blown out quickly.