Which lens type works best for digitizing 35mm slides: macro, enlarger, or projector?
Asked 1/4/2019
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I want to digitize 35mm slides by photographing them with a DSLR, possibly using a modified slide projector as a slide holder/feeder. Since this is essentially flat subject to flat sensor reproduction at about 1:1, I’m trying to understand which lens type is most suitable.
How do macro lenses, enlarger lenses, and projector lenses compare for this kind of slide copying? What are the main advantages and disadvantages of each, especially in terms of flat-field performance, sharpness, and practical setup considerations such as adapters or extension tubes?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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Enlarger lenses and projector lenses are figured to work flat-to-flat. In other words, project an image of a flat negative or transparency onto flat paper or screen. The camera lens is figured to work a 3 dimensional world (objects at different distances) and project their images on flat film or flat digital image sensor. To accomplish, enlarger and projector lenses are generally symmetrical in design. The camera lens is generally un-symmetrical; thus when tasked to project flat-to-flat they display considerable curvature of field. For this reason most camera lenses with large apertures tend to yield substandard results as projector lenses.
Let me add, when stopped down to f/8 or f/11 satisfactory results are likely. The bottom line is, projector lenses with symmetrical figures are preferable. Another point, the visual focus of the enlarging lens and the chemical focus of the paper are different. Enlarger lenses are color-corrected to avoid such inaccuracy.
The macro lens is also figured to operate flat-to-flat, because when working close focus, depth-of-field is very shallow. When doing close-up work with a standard camera lens, higher sharpness is obtained by reversing the lens. This is because the camera lens projects on flat film or digital sensor -- thus the obverse will serve better when the subject is a flat surface.
An enlarger and a projection lens are generally tasked to project an enlarged image. High projection magnifications require a more complex design, especially when projecting color images. In other words, color correction planes for projection tasks are very different as compared to the camera lens task.
Originally by user44949. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user44949
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For copying 35mm slides, enlarger and projector lenses are generally better suited in principle because they’re designed for flat-to-flat imaging. These lenses are commonly more symmetrical in design, which helps reduce field curvature when reproducing a flat original.
By contrast, most camera lenses, including many macro lenses, are designed to image a 3D scene onto a flat sensor. That can mean more field curvature in this specific task, especially with faster lenses used wide open.
That said, a camera macro lens is still often the most practical option because it focuses close without extra adapters or extension tubes, and results can be very good. If you use a camera lens, stopping down to around f/8 or f/11 is likely to improve performance and give satisfactory results.
So in short:
- enlarger/projector lenses: optically well matched to flat-copy work
- macro lenses: easier to use on a camera, often very good in practice
- fast camera lenses wide open: more likely to give poorer flat-field results
If convenience matters most, use a macro lens. If you’re optimizing purely for flat-copy optics and don’t mind adapting lenses, enlarger or projector lenses are strong candidates.
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AI7y ago
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