Digital Camera as Scanner

[nik]

I've been testing with using my nikon D700 as a "scanner" for 35mm and larger film sizes and before I spend any amount of time and money on it I wanted to know if anyone here has tried it and developed a successful method which gives great results. It offers great potential in terms of speed and color accuracy. E6 should not be a problem but negs may be.

Any solutions out there?

Regards

Nik.

[Thomas Krüger]

For the negatives you can use the software Vuescan:
http://www.hamrick.com/userczec.html

To make classical reproductions the good old Bowens Illumitran from the last millenium is a fine choice:
http://www2.bitstream.net/~tlmartin/copiers.html

[tom b]

I've been testing with using my nikon D700 as a "scanner" for 35mm and larger film sizes and before I spend any amount of time and money on it I wanted to know if anyone here has tried it and developed a successful method which gives great results. It offers great potential in terms of speed and color accuracy. E6 should not be a problem but negs may be.

Any solutions out there?

Regards

Nik.

There is the traditional slide copier attachment for a camera. This one looks interesting though I haven't tried it (see link below).

http://specialtyphotographic.stores.yahoo....dislconid2.html

Cheers,

[situgrrl]

http://thedambook.com/smf/index.php

Go down the "scans and camera scans" where this seems a popular method.  I think they are using repro stands and macro lenses rather than copier attachments.  I would be interested to hear how you get on.

[nik]

Thanks everyone, great leads. I'll report back once I try some of these methods.

-N

http://thedambook.com/smf/index.php

Go down the "scans and camera scans" where this seems a popular method.  I think they are using repro stands and macro lenses rather than copier attachments.  I would be interested to hear how you get on.

[Pete Ferling]

I already do this for 35mm.  I mount the negatives into a holder from my Epson scanner.  Place them onto a light table backlit with 5000k floros.  I then mount a 40d with a 100mm f/2.8 macro onto a vertical copy stand.  In addition I do this in the semi-dark (my garage the 'darkroom'), and use a short piece of 3" cardboard tube (salvaged from a used roll of seamless), and painted flat black inside to knock off glare and remove color cast.  This I slip over the end of the macro lens to shield outside light.  I then shoot tethered to lightroom, and run a custom preset upon import that has the curves reversed for positive and fire away.  I can run through a roll in a minute.

Is it archiac and tedius?  Yes, for initial setup.  Is it tack sharp from edge to edge?  You bet.  Can I make 11x17 prints with the captures?  Sure thing.  The real question is what do I with the $2000 I saved not having to purchase a dedicated 4000K scanner?

[nik]

The hard part is shooting c41 negs and getting it to look 'right' as a positive image. I'm interested to see what results you get. PM / email me a sample if you don't mind. I've been shooting various c41 emulsions all day and trying various software apps (just tried silverfast DC pro and it's NegaFix utility - it's no silver bullet) but have no solution yet. What film type are you using?

Regards

Nik

I already do this for 35mm.  I mount the negatives into a holder from my Epson scanner.  Place them onto a light table backlit with 5000k floros.  I then mount a 40d with a 100mm f/2.8 macro onto a vertical copy stand.  In addition I do this in the semi-dark (my garage the 'darkroom'), and use a short piece of 3" cardboard tube (salvaged from a used roll of seamless), and painted flat black inside to knock off glare and remove color cast.  This I slip over the end of the macro lens to shield outside light.  I then shoot tethered to lightroom, and run a custom preset upon import that has the curves reversed for positive and fire away.  I can run through a roll in a minute.

Is it archiac and tedius?  Yes, for initial setup.  Is it tack sharp from edge to edge?  You bet.  Can I make 11x17 prints with the captures?  Sure thing.  The real question is what do I with the $2000 I saved not having to purchase a dedicated 4000K scanner?

[Pete Ferling]

The hard part is shooting c41 negs and getting it to look 'right' as a positive image. I'm interested to see what results you get. PM / email me a sample if you don't mind. I've been shooting various c41 emulsions all day and trying various software apps (just tried silverfast DC pro and it's NegaFix utility - it's no silver bullet) but have no solution yet. What film type are you using?

Regards

Nik

Sure Nik, I'll dig one up and send you the dng.  There is an issue, and I'll post here for everyone else.  The caveat is that you'll be working with a reversed image curve, and so native adjustments will be uhm, backwards -it takes some getting used to (and makes presets so important).  Obviously using scanning software to do the reversal makes sense, but for me, I can deal with it.  I do use Vuescan on EPSON XL for my medium format negs.  I've also experimented with using my setup to zoom in and capture multiple sections of the 35mm and stitch as a pana in PS.  Fun stuff.  So why do it?  I don't know, bored I guess....

The sample is from a Canon t70, with an FD35-105mm f/3.5, on fuji reala 100 on a fall scene.  Lots of color.  I'll include a jpeg here:
[attachment=15962:ferling004763.jpg]