p.1 #1 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
I'm about to assemble a work station (copy stand, lightbox, etc) to digitize 35mm film negatives. I'll be using a Nikon D610 to capture the images. Which lens would you recommend for doing this work? I have zero experience with copy work, so I'm hoping some of you guys with years of experience can chime in.
I was looking for the exact lens (brand and model) best suited to the task. I have a Nikkor 105 f/2.5 AIS that I could slap some extension tubes on. Just don't know if it's worth an extra $300 to buy a dedicated macro lens over a set of extension tubes.
p.1 #4 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
There's a much easier way if all you are going to "scan" is 35mm slides/negatives.
Just use a slide duplicator. You can find them on Amazon for $40 or less all the time.
The duplicator is nothing more than an extension tube that attaches to the front of a lens ... for 35mm/full frame, you would ideally want to use a 50mm lens in order to record the full image of 35mm slides/negatives.
I still use the slide duplicator I purchased over 30 years ago. It works great.
I set up a flash with an off-camera TTL cord to backlight the duplicator ... shoot in tethered mode to either Aperture of Lightroom and have 24MP RAW copies of whatever is in the holder .... no light table, no perspective correction, no hassle ...
p.1 #5 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
Here's another method used by Swedish photog Sina Farhat. He uses a somewhat minimalist setup that gets excellent results. The first link is Sina's website, with a link at the top where he shows a basic overview of his method. The second link is to Chris Marquardt's podcast interview with Sina, where he goes a bit more in depth:
p.1 #7 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
BayernFan wrote:
butchM, the slide duplicators i'm seeing at that price don't have a bellow system. i need to be able to adjust the lens to negative distance.
I don't think that is the case for some of them ... when attached to the filter threads of a 50mm lens, the duplicator tube is set for a 1:1 view of the slide/negative.
Even if you go the route of the bellows and the other style duplicator, it is still relatively less expensive and certainly less troublesome than utilizing a lightbox setup.
p.1 #8 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
i see. i just don't like being forced to use one focal length and a set distance to do the job. I might look into a bellows / rear flash setup if it's dramatically less expensive than the copy stand / lightbox setup.
my current estimate on copy stand/lightbox setup price is about $200. i will of course need extension tubes or a macro lens as well.
p.1 #9 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
BayernFan wrote:
i see. i just don't like being forced to use one focal length and a set distance to do the job.
If ... you are only copying a single format of slides/negs, you would be better off only using one focal length and a set distance. Actually, for the same size media to are copying, and using the same size sensor to record the media ... you ideally would never want to make such changes.
If you desire to crop or adjust perspective, you would be far better off to do so in post processing ... not during capture.
I've been copying slides/negs for decades ... my setup has NEVER changed in regard to focal length and distance.
p.1 #10 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
BayernFan wrote:
my current estimate on copy stand/lightbox setup price is about $200. i will of course need extension tubes or a macro lens as well.
On your budget ... you can get a decent Nikon F mount bellows for $25-$50 ... a slide duplicator for $35 ... a used 50mm lens (even AIS MF will do) for $50.
Put it together ... leave it together and use it when you need it ... you need never adjust it after setting it up and locking it in.
p.1 #11 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
I have used a Canon 5D3 with 180L Macro Lens, with very good results. I made a little cardboard jig and taped it onto window glass. Then set the camera on tripod and adjusted the distance to nearly fill the viewfinder in the camera with the slide. I had to put a white material outside the window, to give diffuse light, otherwise the branches of the tree outside would show up too.
p.1 #12 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
All else being close, tho not equal..., get the Macro lens. It is designed for close work and will generally give better results for what you want to do.
Add in that it will give you one more tool to use in the field and you might find a 105 Micro Nikkor more useful than you think now.
p.1 #13 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
butchM wrote:
On your budget ... you can get a decent Nikon F mount bellows for $25-$50 ... a slide duplicator for $35 ... a used 50mm lens (even AIS MF will do) for $50.
Put it together ... leave it together and use it when you need it ... you need never adjust it after setting it up and locking it in.
This is obviously overpriced, but are you referring to a setup like this?
Yes ... My setup is very similar only much less expensive third party brands I bought in the last millennium
The reason the package you linked is so expensive it is is vintage Nikon F material that still retains a following that is willing to support that price point.
For standard slide/negative copying, you really don't require something that involved or expensive.
p.1 #15 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
I like the idea of a setup like this a lot because with that Slide Copy Adapter (PS-4) I can run a roll of uncut film through with no need to readjust, refocus, or worry about keeping the film flat.
p.1 #17 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
rw11 wrote:
which side of a slide do you have facing the lens?
Almost always, you would want the emulsion side of the film facing away from the camera. That way you have the proper perspective from the start. Sometimes, to avoid repairing surface scratches in the film itself, you can minimize these defects by flipping the film around ... then do a "Flip Horizontal" once imported.
p.1 #18 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
I would really, really recommend a macro lens. The worst choice would be a zoom lens, but even ‘normal’ fixed focal length lenses suffer from characteristics that aren’t good for copy work.
Macro lenses have flatter fields, very limited vignetting, edge-to-edge sharpness, and very low geometric distortion. Even less expensive macro lenses will generally be far superior to any other lens selection.
p.1 #19 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
The setup I currently have in mind is a PB-5 Bellows Unit (not as sought after as the PB-4), PS-4 Slide Copy Adapter (allows uncut rolls to be pushed through), PK-13 Extension Tube (to give the digital body clearance), and a Micro 55mm f/2.8 AIS. Now it's just a matter of finding it all on the cheap.
p.1 #20 · Copying 35mm Negatives with a DSLR (Lens question)
a good source for used items such as these is KEH camera brokers ... teir prices are a bit more than a private sale or an ebay bargain ... but ... you can rely on their rating system and they have great customer service.
