What camera and macro setup works well for digitizing film negatives with better sharpness than a flatbed scanner?
Asked 8/11/2016
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2 answers
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I shoot mainly 6x6 medium format and some 35mm film, and I’m not satisfied with the sharpness and tonal range I’m getting from an Epson V550 flatbed. Higher DPI settings don’t seem to help much, scanning directly on the glass causes softness and Newton rings, and ANR glass has introduced artifacts for me.
I’m considering a DSLR or other camera with a macro setup purely for digitizing negatives and slides, including color negative, slide film, and occasional black-and-white. I would likely photograph a frame in multiple sections and stitch them on a computer.
What should I look for in a camera + macro lens setup for this use? My rough preferences are RAW capture, at least around 10 MP, manual-focus macro capability near 1:1, and a modest used-market budget. Are there any optical issues or specialized duplicating/copying setups I should consider when photographing flat film?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
3
One thing to watch out for - most lenses use a curved area of focus rather a planar one. For example, if you have your focus set at 1m, everything in 1m radius should be in focus, which is a curved shape. Since you're shooting a flat object, a negative, it's worth noting.
There are exceptions, notably the Zeiss Planar lens.
There are slide duplicators like this. One would hope their optics would account for the planar issue.
One thing I'd suggest is to get a professional scan done on at least one image to create a baseline for what you want from a good scan.
Originally by user63485. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user63485
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For copying film, the key requirement is not just “a macro lens,” but a setup that keeps a flat negative sharply in focus across the whole frame. Many lenses have field curvature, so a flat subject can look soft at the edges even when the center is sharp. A macro or duplicating optic designed for flat-field reproduction is preferable.
A good approach is to prioritize:
- RAW capture
- a true macro/duplicating lens or other flat-field optic
- a rigid copy setup with precise alignment
- even illumination
Specialized slide-copying gear may be worth considering. Community suggestions included slide duplicators and used Bowens Illumitran units, which were purpose-built for slide copying and combine illumination with a bellows/copying setup.
Before buying, it’s smart to get one frame professionally scanned so you have a realistic quality benchmark. That helps you judge whether a camera-copy setup is actually improving on your flatbed for sharpness and tonal range.
So, rather than chasing a specific DSLR body first, focus on a flat-field lens/copying system and careful alignment; the camera body matters less as long as it can shoot RAW at reasonable resolution.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago
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