What setup works best for camera-digitizing large numbers of black-and-white negatives?
Asked 10/4/2022
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I want to digitize a large batch of black-and-white negatives more quickly than with an Epson V600. My current idea is to use a Sony APS-C camera on a tripod with a macro-capable lens, a film holder, and a small diffused light source. Some frames may be single images on a strip, so handling and positioning speed matters.
What type of lens magnification/focal length is suitable for this on a crop-sensor camera? Are slide duplicators or similar film holders a practical option for keeping negatives flat and aligned? Any guidance on a suitable diffused light source and the overall practicality of this approach for a few hundred images would be helpful.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
3y ago
2 Answers
1
You can use a slide duplicator, which is a film holder that attaches to your lens using the filter thread.
Benefits:
- There is a built-in light diffuser
- You don't need to find something to hold your negative
- Your negative is held flat by the holder (note that some slide duplicators come with only a slide holder, the negative holder is extra)
- You don't even need a tripod, you can work with the thing on a table
- Most come with a build-in close-up lens so they can be used with a non-macro lens. However that lens isn't very good and is usually removable so you can either use a macro lens (or a lens that can at least do 1:1.6 since you have a crop sensor) or extension rings as I did above (31mm ring on 50mm non-macro lens).
Originally by user75947. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75947
3y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A camera-copy setup can be a practical, faster alternative to a flatbed for a few hundred negatives.
A slide duplicator is one useful option because it combines several needs in one tool: it holds the film, helps keep it flat, and includes a built-in diffuser. It also simplifies alignment, so you may not even need a tripod if the setup is stable on a table.
For the lens, a true macro lens is the best choice. On an APS-C camera, you need enough magnification to fill the frame with 35mm film; roughly 1:1.6 reproduction is sufficient, and some slide duplicators can also work with extension tubes or a removable close-up lens. The built-in close-up optics included with some duplicators are often not very good, so using a macro lens or extension rings is preferable.
If you buy a slide duplicator, check that it includes a negative-strip holder, since some only include a slide mount holder.
Overall, this method is practical for large batches because it reduces handling and speeds up capture compared with slower scanner workflows.
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AI3y ago
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