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Author Topic: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL  (Read 3807 times)

EinstStein

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Looking for copy/macro lens to copy films to digital.
Since my camera is Leica M, any SLR brand can be adapted, and it will be used with a vintage (ZEISS) copy stand, so I am looking for the one with the minimum distortion and as small as possible. 
The copy stand is about 7 inches tall, something in the range of 50mm is preferred (will have to add macro extension), but if the best choice is something else I will see if it fits.
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degrub

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2020, 01:27:02 pm »

Some good commentary and links here -
https://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=128442.msg1090874#msg1090874


you don't have to shout. We can hear you.
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Rob C

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2020, 01:33:24 pm »

Unless you are happy starting on the back foot, I'd consider the lens before the copy stand; let's face it: you can buy an old Durst enlarger for pennies, and as long as it's not damaged and the planes are truly parallel, go for a longer lens such as the Nikkor Micro 2.8/105mm which gives you more working space between subject and lens. Actually, parallel considerations are not absolutely critical on the enlarger, because you can compose on your camera to ensure everything is squared up.

I have one of those excellent old lenses, it has a focus lock on it, doesn't slip pointing downwards, and once you are set up you are ready to go. A wonderful lens I'm happy to have bought.

Fitting your camera to what used to be a negative carrier is not rocket engineering. All you need additionally is a little light-box of some kind, which I'd assume as a film shooter, you probably already own.

Rob
« Last Edit: January 18, 2020, 01:38:45 pm by Rob C »
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Doug Peterson

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2020, 09:03:34 pm »

This is something we have quite a lot of experience with.
https://dtculturalheritage.com/product/digitization-workflows-transmissive-pdf-download/
https://dtculturalheritage.com/film-scanning-kit/

We've worked with Disney, Library of Congress, Getty, and dozens of other institutions, along with a handful of individual photographers, on the digitization of tens of millions of pieces of film using our technology.

If you're looking for excellent results and have any meaningful quantity of work to do I'd discourage "piecing things together".

That said, if you're looking for darn-decent results (e.g. better than 20-year-old flatbed scanner technology would give) and have a low quantity of film to scan (e.g. hundreds of pieces of film, but not tens of thousands)  then you'll likely be quite satisfied with a cobbled together setup.

luxborealis

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2020, 09:32:57 pm »

Also the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 AI-S manual focus. Superb.
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Peter McLennan

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2020, 10:29:44 pm »

Also the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 AI-S manual focus. Superb.

Agreed. I love mine so much, I bought another one as a spare.  Sharpest lens I've ever used.
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ErikKaffehr

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2020, 01:53:09 am »

Looking for copy/macro lens to copy films to digital.
Since my camera is Leica M, any SLR brand can be adapted, and it will be used with a vintage (ZEISS) copy stand, so I am looking for the one with the minimum distortion and as small as possible. 
The copy stand is about 7 inches tall, something in the range of 50mm is preferred (will have to add macro extension), but if the best choice is something else I will see if it fits.

Hi,

A good macro lens is all what is needed. Normal lenses are not designed for close up work. So, it is much better to have a macro lens than using a normal lens with extension.

Technically, most normal lenses are derivatives of the Planar design. The Planar is a very simple design yielding good results, but it needs to be optimized for a given focus distance. So, a Planar optimized for infinity would not work well for close up work. Older macro lenses used to be Planar designs optimized for close up distances.

Modern macro lenses are often more complex designs.

The major problem duping slides may be to keep the slide flat. Stopping down the lens increases depth of field, at the cost of diffraction. Adding extension increases the 'real aperture number' and also increases diffraction.

Best regards
Erik
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Jonathan Cross

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2020, 06:26:21 pm »

I digitise my slides with a Canon 105 f2.8 macro I have had for a long time, and use my tripod with a manfrotto junior geared head and a hot shoe level.  To complete the kit I have a Kaiser slimlite plano light box.  I'm happy with the results.

Best wishes,

Jonathan
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EricWHiss

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2020, 08:20:49 pm »

Rodenstock APO rodagon 80mm and 90mm are what I used for scanning.
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Rob C

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2020, 10:12:51 am »

I digitise my slides with a Canon 105 f2.8 macro I have had for a long time, and use my tripod with a manfrotto junior geared head and a hot shoe level.  To complete the kit I have a Kaiser slimlite plano light box.  I'm happy with the results.

Best wishes,

Jonathan

The perfect focal length.

A shorter lens compromises your abilty to work; you end up in your own way.

When using my lightbox for this operation, it was helpful for both the lens and myself to create a large black card mask that covered the box with the exception of the area that carried the transparency.

Rob
« Last Edit: January 23, 2020, 10:17:30 am by Rob C »
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Jim Kasson

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #10 on: January 23, 2020, 11:09:14 am »

Looking for copy/macro lens to copy films to digital.
Since my camera is Leica M, any SLR brand can be adapted, and it will be used with a vintage (ZEISS) copy stand, so I am looking for the one with the minimum distortion and as small as possible. 

A useful resource for people operating near 1:1:

http://www.coinimaging.com/index.php

Jim

BobDavid

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2020, 01:04:59 pm »

Voigtlander Macro APO lenses: 65mm and 110mm. Sony FE mount.
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Jim Kasson

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #12 on: January 29, 2020, 01:22:57 pm »

Voigtlander Macro APO lenses: 65mm and 110mm. Sony FE mount.

CV 65/2 only goes to 1:2.

BobDavid

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2020, 10:16:39 am »

CV 65/2 only goes to 1:2.

The 65mm with an extension tube does a great job for 1:1 35mm negatives/slides. It's a perfect lens for copying medium format. The 110mm will focus 1:1 on a 35mm slide.

FM review, 110mm f/2.5: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1574251

These lenses function beautifully as all-purpose primes; they are manual focus.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2020, 10:24:14 am by BobDavid »
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EinstStein

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #14 on: January 31, 2020, 05:52:41 pm »

While a lot of macro lenses are good for the purpose, I am looking for the suggestions of the best.
For me it does not make sense to shoot with, Say Zeiss or Leica glass then copy the slide or negative with a lens that is inferior.

I am convinced that the enlarger lens should be the ones. I have some Schneider and Rodagon enlarger lenses in the range of 50, 75, and 100mm, not the latest or the best version, I will see if it makes more sense to get the best versions.
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Jim Kasson

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #15 on: January 31, 2020, 07:30:25 pm »

While a lot of macro lenses are good for the purpose, I am looking for the suggestions of the best.
For me it does not make sense to shoot with, Say Zeiss or Leica glass then copy the slide or negative with a lens that is inferior.

I am convinced that the enlarger lens should be the ones. I have some Schneider and Rodagon enlarger lenses in the range of 50, 75, and 100mm, not the latest or the best version, I will see if it makes more sense to get the best versions.

The very best macro lenses are probably process lenses optimized for specific reproduction ratios.

EinstStein

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #16 on: February 01, 2020, 11:57:25 am »

The very best macro lenses are probably process lenses optimized for specific reproduction ratios.

Well, of course, if it is reasonably accessible.
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Jim Kasson

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #17 on: February 01, 2020, 01:32:27 pm »

Well, of course, if it is reasonably accessible.

And you can afford them. Here's a useful look at the Zeiss Luminars if you want to go that route.

http://www.savazzi.net/photography/luminarversions.htm

There are also the printing Nikkors.

Jim

faberryman

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #18 on: February 01, 2020, 02:55:49 pm »

For me it does not make sense to shoot with, Say Zeiss or Leica glass then copy the slide or negative with a lens that is inferior.
Right, it makes much more sense to shoot just digital from the git-go. I shoot film when I am going for an analog end product and digital when I am going for a digital end product.
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EinstStein

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Re: LOOKING FOR THE BEST SLR COPY OR MACRO LENS FOR COPYING FILM TO DIGITAL
« Reply #19 on: February 01, 2020, 11:46:09 pm »

Right, it makes much more sense to shoot just digital from the git-go. I shoot film when I am going for an analog end product and digital when I am going for a digital end product.

I wish the world can be divided in your simple way.
The hybrid has its own beauty.
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