Xpan holders for Nikon 9000

[ksah]

I'm trying to determine what the best holder is for scanning Xpan shots on a Nikon 9000. The holders that I'm aware of are:

-Nikon FH-869GR (rotating glass holder)

-Cachet Image Mechanics Fluid Mount Tray (can be used with Kami or Scanscience fluid)

-FilmscanUSA.com's panoramic adapter (seems to be a modified Nikon 120 holder)


If you have experience with any one of these holders, would you please chime in? I'm tempted to go for the Nikon rotating glass holder, but from what I understand, you can only scan one image at a time. Do the other holders allow for several scans in batch mode? What about film flatness; what's best?

Thanks alot

 

[kiteboy]

Hi

I use a Nikon Coolscan 8000. Assuming that the film holders are the same for the 9000, which I believe they are - then here is a suggestion.

Get a Nikon FH-869S - 120/220 Strip Film Holder. This is a glassless carrier. Buy glass from Focal point Glass

http://www.fpointinc.com/glass.htm

They sell anti-Newton and optical glass sets to fit the FH-896S. Work out how to fit the glass in the carrier (remove negative holder bars and use electrical tape to form a hinge for the top piecee of glass).

This creates a negative carrier fro XPan negs that will take 4 frames at a time. The only downside is that I have not found any software that allows automated batch scanning.

Good luck

Andrew

 

[ksah]

Work out how to fit the glass in the carrier (remove negative holder bars and use electrical tape to form a hinge for the top piecee of glass). This creates a negative carrier fro XPan negs that will take 4 frames at a time.

Thanks a lot for the suggestion Andrew. Let me see if I got that right:

-does your suggestion use two layers of ANR glass?

-are you suggesting to lay the xpan frames side by side (like sardines) in the holder? I ask because, the FH-869S' length is only 3 xpan frames, if they are uncut from the roll.

Would you be able to post images of your holder?

Big thank you!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Thanks a lot for the suggestion Andrew. Let me see if I got that right:

-does your suggestion use two layers of ANR glass?

-are you suggesting to lay the xpan frames side by side (like sardines) in the holder? I ask because, the FH-869S' length is only 3 xpan frames, if they are uncut from the roll.

Would you be able to post images of your holder?

Big thank you!

What he suggested won't work. You MUST have the plastic mask to cover the edges of the film of you WILL get horrid flare that will ruin the scans. The 869-GR is very easy to use for what you want and comes with a set of masks for different film sizes, including Xpan. Also, keep in mind that the glass must be SPOTLESS and keeping glass held by a piece of tape clean is not easy

 

[ksah]

The 869-GR is very easy to use for what you want and comes with a set of masks for different film sizes, including Xpan. Also, keep in mind that the glass must be SPOTLESS and keeping glass held by a piece of tape clean is not easy

Thanks for chiming in Chris. In all frankness I'm leaning towards the 869-GR. However, since it only lets you scan one image at a time, I thought there might be more productive alternatives out there for xpan shooters.

I've read the 869-GR doesn't actually keep the film very flat. Is that true? If so, how do people deal with this?

 

[kiteboy]

Thanks a lot for the suggestion Andrew. Let me see if I got that right:

-does your suggestion use two layers of ANR glass?

-are you suggesting to lay the xpan frames side by side (like sardines) in the holder? I ask because, the FH-869S' length is only 3 xpan frames, if they are uncut from the roll.

Would you be able to post images of your holder?

Big thank you!

Here are a couple of images of the holder. (sorry about the quality). You only need one sheet of ANR.

The negs go side by side - like sardines. Flare is no a problem. If you are concerned, however, you can always make a mask from exposed 120 film, processed and cut to size. The glass ensures that the negs are absolutely flat.

I can see some attraction in the 869 GR. However my 8000 came with the FH 869S and the glass from Focal Point was the lowest cost option.

Hope this helps

Andrew

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Thanks for chiming in Chris. In all frankness I'm leaning towards the 869-GR. However, since it only lets you scan one image at a time, I thought there might be more productive alternatives out there for xpan shooters.

I've read the 869-GR doesn't actually keep the film very flat. Is that true? If so, how do people deal with this?

I've never seen the nikon glass holder not keep film flat.