Medium format film digitizing set-up
This is a home-made film copying rig that I used to digitize about 1,500 medium format negatives and chromes. A number of images I've posted on Flickr have been copies made using this outfit. The setup works well for copying anything from 8mm movie film up to 4"x 5" film. I've also used it to copy 3.25" x 4" glass lantern slides. The system produces files are as good as what I get from my old Epson 2450 scanner, but in a fraction of the time.
Here info on all the bits and pieces in the image:
A... This is a 12 inch square aluminum plate, 3/16" thick, clamped to a work bench in my basement.
B... Bogen 3025 tripod head mounted to the plate, fastened with a large countersunk flat-head screw. This provides solid immovable support for the camera. Being an extra tripod head, it never leaves the plate.
C... Nikon D3500 camera... anything having 16 mp or more works great.
D... My old 55mm f/3.5 Micro Nikkor. For copying 35mm it gets fitted with a Nikon 4T achromatic close-up lens, which has a Sigma 1.6x achromatic close-up lens stacked on the front.
E... "Mystery" focusing rail, pedigree unknown, but looks like part of an enlarger. This is clamped to the flat platform of the Bogen head. It has a camera mounting platform with lateral, rotational and elevation adjustments, plus can travel the length of the rail for precise framing and focus. The camera store guy couldn't tell me what it was, but had it priced at $25.00. I asked him how he came up with that price... and how many folks had looked at it since it was placed on the shelf. I countered his confused, rambling "non-answer" with an offer of $10 and took it home.
F... Jumbo sized craft store clothespin used to support a film holder. It provides enough force to prevent the film from shifting position.
G... Beseler 6x7cm negative carrier. I have a very large inventory of Beseler negative carriers, all identical in form, running from regular 8mm movie film up to 4x5 inches.
H... Another jumbo clothespin holding a 5 x7 inch piece of white glass from a small light box. This provides the same diffused, featureless light you get when using a conventional 35mm slide copy attachment.
I... A small Smith-Victor clamp light fitted with barn-door shades. This directs almost all light to the white glass making using this rig easier, much less like looking into the "in your face" interrogation light seen in crime flicks. I use a 5500k LED bulb as a light source.
J... Small table-top light stand made from two bent pieces of flat aluminum, fastened together with a bolt that's also used to mount a small ball head for supporting the light. The ball head makes aiming the light easy.
Settings used for medium format copying were ISO 100, 1/2 second exposure at f/11, self timer set at 2 seconds. The histogram was viewed and minor adjustments in shutter speed (not aperture), were made when necessary. Once a shot is taken, it's a simple matter to swap out film pieces and keep shooting. The clothespin supporting the film holder is run up against two wooden shims placed against the plate. Because the area of precise focus has been set up in advance by quick testing, focusing doesn't need any further adjustment... just slide the clothespin / carrier left or right to precisely frame the image.
IMG-0248
Medium format film digitizing set-up
This is a home-made film copying rig that I used to digitize about 1,500 medium format negatives and chromes. A number of images I've posted on Flickr have been copies made using this outfit. The setup works well for copying anything from 8mm movie film up to 4"x 5" film. I've also used it to copy 3.25" x 4" glass lantern slides. The system produces files are as good as what I get from my old Epson 2450 scanner, but in a fraction of the time.
Here info on all the bits and pieces in the image:
A... This is a 12 inch square aluminum plate, 3/16" thick, clamped to a work bench in my basement.
B... Bogen 3025 tripod head mounted to the plate, fastened with a large countersunk flat-head screw. This provides solid immovable support for the camera. Being an extra tripod head, it never leaves the plate.
C... Nikon D3500 camera... anything having 16 mp or more works great.
D... My old 55mm f/3.5 Micro Nikkor. For copying 35mm it gets fitted with a Nikon 4T achromatic close-up lens, which has a Sigma 1.6x achromatic close-up lens stacked on the front.
E... "Mystery" focusing rail, pedigree unknown, but looks like part of an enlarger. This is clamped to the flat platform of the Bogen head. It has a camera mounting platform with lateral, rotational and elevation adjustments, plus can travel the length of the rail for precise framing and focus. The camera store guy couldn't tell me what it was, but had it priced at $25.00. I asked him how he came up with that price... and how many folks had looked at it since it was placed on the shelf. I countered his confused, rambling "non-answer" with an offer of $10 and took it home.
F... Jumbo sized craft store clothespin used to support a film holder. It provides enough force to prevent the film from shifting position.
G... Beseler 6x7cm negative carrier. I have a very large inventory of Beseler negative carriers, all identical in form, running from regular 8mm movie film up to 4x5 inches.
H... Another jumbo clothespin holding a 5 x7 inch piece of white glass from a small light box. This provides the same diffused, featureless light you get when using a conventional 35mm slide copy attachment.
I... A small Smith-Victor clamp light fitted with barn-door shades. This directs almost all light to the white glass making using this rig easier, much less like looking into the "in your face" interrogation light seen in crime flicks. I use a 5500k LED bulb as a light source.
J... Small table-top light stand made from two bent pieces of flat aluminum, fastened together with a bolt that's also used to mount a small ball head for supporting the light. The ball head makes aiming the light easy.
Settings used for medium format copying were ISO 100, 1/2 second exposure at f/11, self timer set at 2 seconds. The histogram was viewed and minor adjustments in shutter speed (not aperture), were made when necessary. Once a shot is taken, it's a simple matter to swap out film pieces and keep shooting. The clothespin supporting the film holder is run up against two wooden shims placed against the plate. Because the area of precise focus has been set up in advance by quick testing, focusing doesn't need any further adjustment... just slide the clothespin / carrier left or right to precisely frame the image.
IMG-0248