Is anyone scanning 120 strips in the new-ish Negative Supply Pro 4x5 hol...
p.1 #1Is anyone scanning 120 strips in the new-ish Negative Supply Pro 4x5 holder?
Hi folks,
I'm scanning just fine with my methods up to this point, but I wanted to improve my workflow for both 4x5 and 120 film. I don't shoot any 35mm.
The new pro 4x5 film holder is a two-glass hinged film holder and it's exactly the type of holder I'd like to get for my LF scanning. Yes, it's expensive, but I beleive the cost is justified for the build quality and (my perceived) ability for geometry calibration, etc. You can't get that quality for cheap and generally, I think this looks to be made to the same level as the old negative carriers in the Durst enlargers.
However, what I want to know is how easily can I scan an image on a strip of 120 film in the holder? I see they have cut film inserts that you can get, and this will work perfectly for single frames, but what I really want is one that I can put a strip of 120 in that has 2-3 frames or a single 6x17 frame and take a shot of just one image, or a portion of the 6x17 and then do two more and stitch in PS.
I can't tell too well from the images, but the individual frame inserts don't appear to be able to comfortably accommodate a strip of film beyond the cut frame size. If I do it in the holder without the cut film adapter, it will be similar to what I am doing right now, which is placing the film on a piece of glass and manually aligning, etc. That's in part what I am trying to avoid.
I have found another company making what looks like a good quality 4x5 holder as well, called Cutenew. You can find their website online. Not imported to the US, so i'd have to buy it overseas, but I think it appears to have a considerably better way of handling strips in the 4x5 holder and it makes me think that would be a better way to go.
I'm looking for anyone with experience with the NS pro 4x5 holder who can give me some feedback. It's obvious it will be excellent for the sheet film... just curious about my other roll film needs.
Thanks, ---Michael
Edited on Aug 16, 2026 at 01:49 PM · View previous versions
I'm scanning just fine with my methods up to this point, but I wanted to improve my workflow for both 4x5 and 120 film. I don't shoot any 35mm.
The new pro 4x5 film holder is a two-glass hinged film holder and it's exactly the type of holder I'd like to get for my LF scanning. Yes, it's expensive, but I beleive the cost is justified for the build quality and (my perceived) ability for geometry calibration, etc. You can't get that quality for cheap and generally, I think this looks to be made to the same level as the old negative carriers in the Durst enlargers.
However, what I want to know is how easily can I scan an image on a strip of 120 film in the holder? I see they have cut film inserts that you can get, and this will work perfectly for single frames, but what I really want is one that I can put a strip of 120 in that has 2-3 frames or a single 6x17 frame and take a shot of just one image, or a portion of the 6x17 and then do two more and stitch in PS.
I can't tell too well from the images, but the individual frame inserts don't appear to be able to comfortably accommodate a strip of film beyond the cut frame size. If I do it in the holder without the cut film adapter, it will be similar to what I am doing right now, which is placing the film on a piece of glass and manually aligning, etc. That's in part what I am trying to avoid.
I have found another company making what looks like a good quality 4x5 holder as well, called Cutenew. You can find their website online. Not imported to the US, so i'd have to buy it overseas, but I think it appears to have a considerably better way of handling strips in the 4x5 holder and it makes me think that would be a better way to go.
I'm looking for anyone with experience with the NS pro 4x5 holder who can give me some feedback. It's obvious it will be excellent for the sheet film... just curious about my other roll film needs.
Thanks, ---Michael
Edited on Aug 16, 2026 at 01:49 PM · View previous versions
Aug 15, 2026 at 01:10 PM
p.1 #2Is anyone scanning 120 strips in the new-ish Negative Supply Pro 4x5 holder?
I've been using Negative Supply gear since the Kickstarter days and have used most of their 135 and 120 carriers. I owned a Pro Carrier 120 MK2 and sold it because I found it fiddly and hard to load. I tried trimming the corners on the feed end of the strip but loading was a pain. I have the Basic Carrier 120 and it uses the same modules as the Pro. I have both the Standard and Full Border cassettes and it's easy to use.
Negative Supply developed the single frame holder for the 4X5 carrier to address the problems institutions were having in trying to scan cut negatives. NS states the 120 carriers can do three frame strips. In reality, only the center negative is fully supported.
If you are going to go all in on the 4X5 carrier, add a Basic Carrier 120. Hope this helps.
Negative Supply developed the single frame holder for the 4X5 carrier to address the problems institutions were having in trying to scan cut negatives. NS states the 120 carriers can do three frame strips. In reality, only the center negative is fully supported.
If you are going to go all in on the 4X5 carrier, add a Basic Carrier 120. Hope this helps.
Aug 15, 2026 at 03:18 PM
p.1 #3Is anyone scanning 120 strips in the new-ish Negative Supply Pro 4x5 holder?
Thanks for the comments. I also have been using some NS products for years, but I've never assembled a full kit in part because all of these holders (mostly) don't use glass and the film flatness is crucial for the shallow DOF that the copying process demands, so I've been using one of their pro 5x7 lights from 5 or so years ago, but I use in in conjunction with a 8020 frame that has levelling capability and on top of that, I have a glass scanner tray from my Microtek F1 scanner. I use mounting tape to secure the film to the glass and then set up the scan.
It works very well, but it is fiddly to say the least...
When you say that the 120 carriers can do three frames, does that mean they are set up so they won't damage a piece of film at the junction between the glass and the metal? I was under the impression the glass was very slightly recessed in the frame.
Just to be clear, we're talking about the ANR mask at this link?
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1928149-REG/negative_supply_8601239_6x7cm_single_frame_anr.html
I have two 120 formats that I shoot; 6x6 and 6x17. The 6x6 I should be able to do with a normal 120 holder as you mention, but the 617 requires shooting 3 shots and stitching. And in both formats, I'd really like them between glass for flatness reasons... This is why I haven't done a 120 roll adapter of some kind because I'd rather not be stopping a lens down beyond peak sharpness just to cover the corners. (I'm using industrial Schneider line scan lenses that are matched to the reproduction ratios with my GFX 100s to make the shots, so they are very well managed for focus point flatness as long as I can get the film to be correspondingly so).
This is also where the CuteNew products appear to be superior... the 4x5 holder appears to be natively able to accommodate a strip of 120 film, and the 120 film holder assembly has a glass pressure plate. Check them out at the link below. To me, they appear to be superior to the comparable NS products for this purpose, but without having both in hand, it'd be really hard to know if that is the case.
https://cutenewdesign.com/shop/
I'm not against making a purchase that I might have to just write off as a mistake, but I do feel the NS Pro 4x5 holder is potentially the inferior product for my needs, even though it is probably an excellent product overall (and it better be for the price).
One option is to get the NS product from B&H and then return it if it doesn't meet my needs. I don't like to do that if I can help it, but I have rarely ever returned anything to them so I'm sure I wouldn't get resistance if I did so. Since the 80's I think I've spent more with them than a college education, so I think I'm probably OK on that front (hahahaha, but yikes!)
It works very well, but it is fiddly to say the least...
When you say that the 120 carriers can do three frames, does that mean they are set up so they won't damage a piece of film at the junction between the glass and the metal? I was under the impression the glass was very slightly recessed in the frame.
Just to be clear, we're talking about the ANR mask at this link?
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1928149-REG/negative_supply_8601239_6x7cm_single_frame_anr.html
I have two 120 formats that I shoot; 6x6 and 6x17. The 6x6 I should be able to do with a normal 120 holder as you mention, but the 617 requires shooting 3 shots and stitching. And in both formats, I'd really like them between glass for flatness reasons... This is why I haven't done a 120 roll adapter of some kind because I'd rather not be stopping a lens down beyond peak sharpness just to cover the corners. (I'm using industrial Schneider line scan lenses that are matched to the reproduction ratios with my GFX 100s to make the shots, so they are very well managed for focus point flatness as long as I can get the film to be correspondingly so).
This is also where the CuteNew products appear to be superior... the 4x5 holder appears to be natively able to accommodate a strip of 120 film, and the 120 film holder assembly has a glass pressure plate. Check them out at the link below. To me, they appear to be superior to the comparable NS products for this purpose, but without having both in hand, it'd be really hard to know if that is the case.
https://cutenewdesign.com/shop/
I'm not against making a purchase that I might have to just write off as a mistake, but I do feel the NS Pro 4x5 holder is potentially the inferior product for my needs, even though it is probably an excellent product overall (and it better be for the price).
One option is to get the NS product from B&H and then return it if it doesn't meet my needs. I don't like to do that if I can help it, but I have rarely ever returned anything to them so I'm sure I wouldn't get resistance if I did so. Since the 80's I think I've spent more with them than a college education, so I think I'm probably OK on that front (hahahaha, but yikes!)
Aug 15, 2026 at 04:03 PM
p.1 #4Is anyone scanning 120 strips in the new-ish Negative Supply Pro 4x5 holder?
I use Cute New Design and have been impressed by the quality of their holders. I have the 120 holder in metal and the older 4x5 holder without the feed slots on the outside. I did not know they updated that holder; I think I am going to order it now 
Jess
Jess
Aug 16, 2026 at 08:59 AM
p.1 #5Is anyone scanning 120 strips in the new-ish Negative Supply Pro 4x5 holder?
That's a lot of questions and I'll do my best to answer what I can. The NS carriers are great at doing full rolls and ok at doing cut strips. The Standard 120 carrier doesn't have a supporting glass. The Full Border comes with an acrylic sheet, ANR is available as an upgrade. if you want to scan a strip of three cut 6X6 negatives, the first frame won't have the leading edge fully supported when it enters the gate. If it's pushed in far enough for the negative to be fully supported, it will be too far to the left to be in the frame. The center negative has the other two making full contact which would make it the flattest of the three. The third negative, like the first, will have an unsupported edge, not guaranteeing flatness.
I don't scan cut negatives very often but have been considering adding a Lomo DigitaLIZA or a Skier Copybox for those occasions.
I don't scan cut negatives very often but have been considering adding a Lomo DigitaLIZA or a Skier Copybox for those occasions.
Aug 16, 2026 at 10:14 AM
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p.1 #6Is anyone scanning 120 strips in the new-ish Negative Supply Pro 4x5 holder?
madNbad wrote:
That's a lot of questions and I'll do my best to answer what I can. The NS carriers are great at doing full rolls and ok at doing cut strips. The Standard 120 carrier doesn't have a supporting glass. The Full Border comes with an acrylic sheet, ANR is available as an upgrade. if you want to scan a strip of three cut 6X6 negatives, the first frame won't have the leading edge fully supported when it enters the gate. If it's pushed in far enough for the negative to be fully supported, it will be too far to the...Show more →
Thanks for the info on this... Much appreciated.
I have a scheduled call with NS tomorrow to discuss this and try to understand the details of how the inserts work, etc. I'm positive the 4x5 holder is essentially second to none for how it functions for cut sheet film and single cut film pieces, but I do have my concerns about it for 120 strips... I'll see what they have to say tomorrow.
I do have an additional thought as I was reading through the specifications... They state both pieces of glass are ANR glass
I've never seen ANR glass on both sides of a holder before and I have done tests on this in the past and I could see clear image degradation when ANR glass was in place between the film and the sensor, so I'm a bit suprised they are using ANR glass on the top side of the Pro 4x5 holder instead of a high quality AR optical glass.
Have you seen anything about this the would contradict the spec sheets that indicate it is ANR glass? I'll be asking about that tomorrow on my call to get to the bottom of that.
---Michael
That's a lot of questions and I'll do my best to answer what I can. The NS carriers are great at doing full rolls and ok at doing cut strips. The Standard 120 carrier doesn't have a supporting glass. The Full Border comes with an acrylic sheet, ANR is available as an upgrade. if you want to scan a strip of three cut 6X6 negatives, the first frame won't have the leading edge fully supported when it enters the gate. If it's pushed in far enough for the negative to be fully supported, it will be too far to the...Show more →
Thanks for the info on this... Much appreciated.
I have a scheduled call with NS tomorrow to discuss this and try to understand the details of how the inserts work, etc. I'm positive the 4x5 holder is essentially second to none for how it functions for cut sheet film and single cut film pieces, but I do have my concerns about it for 120 strips... I'll see what they have to say tomorrow.
I do have an additional thought as I was reading through the specifications... They state both pieces of glass are ANR glass
I've never seen ANR glass on both sides of a holder before and I have done tests on this in the past and I could see clear image degradation when ANR glass was in place between the film and the sensor, so I'm a bit suprised they are using ANR glass on the top side of the Pro 4x5 holder instead of a high quality AR optical glass.Have you seen anything about this the would contradict the spec sheets that indicate it is ANR glass? I'll be asking about that tomorrow on my call to get to the bottom of that.
---Michael
Aug 16, 2026 at 01:33 PM
p.1 #7Is anyone scanning 120 strips in the new-ish Negative Supply Pro 4x5 holder?
A call will answer a lot of your questions. Much of the development of new or updated products is driven by user feedback. An important part of their market is institutional archivist and their need for high quality equipment when working with rare, fragile items. The double ANR glass, the new hinge and other improvements are part of positioning now that the last of the high end bed scanners is no longer in production. Since they are always developing new products, the single negative holder may lead to a short strip holder.
Let me know if you ever need another 5X7 Lightsource Pro. I have one stashed away since switching to the 4X5.
Let me know if you ever need another 5X7 Lightsource Pro. I have one stashed away since switching to the 4X5.
Aug 16, 2026 at 03:32 PM
p.1 #8Is anyone scanning 120 strips in the new-ish Negative Supply Pro 4x5 holder?
The CuteNewDesign holder looks pretty nice - I wonder what keeps the film rigid if you run roll film through. I must be missing something though, I am using 3D Printed holders that cost like $30 or so. $300 (plus shipping, masks, etc) is pretty pricey. Is it worth it?
Aug 17, 2026 at 01:48 PM
p.1 #9Is anyone scanning 120 strips in the new-ish Negative Supply Pro 4x5 holder?
My 120 holder has ANR glass on top, and there is a glass piece on the bottom. Keeps everything perfectly flat. I have the older 4x5 holder that has glass on top and bottom. Looking at pictures of the new one, it looks like that part is the same.
Before I bought CuteNew, I was using the Lobster Holder system, and it worked just fine; I had no complaints.
Jess
Before I bought CuteNew, I was using the Lobster Holder system, and it worked just fine; I had no complaints.
Jess
Aug 17, 2026 at 06:52 PM
p.1 #10Is anyone scanning 120 strips in the new-ish Negative Supply Pro 4x5 holder?
corposant wrote:
The CuteNewDesign holder looks pretty nice - I wonder what keeps the film rigid if you run roll film through. I must be missing something though, I am using 3D Printed holders that cost like $30 or so. $300 (plus shipping, masks, etc) is pretty pricey. Is it worth it?
You can't do high speed digitizing with the holder with the top cover glass in place... because you have to lift the top plate and advance the film and then put it back in place to get the sandwich to ensure flatness. I don't know if it works well without it (like most of the other roll adapters, who focus on speed rather than film flatness). There is one company that makes a complex film holder with an automated pressure plate that is designed for high quality and high speed scanning, but I don't doubt it would be extremely good for high volume scanning of 120 film:
https://shop.filmomat.eu/products/135-autocarrier
It's about 1700 euros for the 35mm holder and 2350 euros for the 120 holder.
In my opinion, it's not worth doing if you don't do it right. That said, if you are scanning for instagram or something, a fairly low resolution scan will be perfectly fine and you can handle the film curl of a holder that isn't actually forcing the film flat. Most of the inexpensive holders fall into this category (where flat enough is presumably the approach). That's not why I'm scanning and I don't want any compromise in the scan quality if possible, but I do want something that is more consistent, repeatable, and faster than the method I've been using.
I think they CuteNew carrier holder designs look excellent for this. We'll see how it turns out.
***EDIT: No judgements here on what people do or don't do for themselves. Photography is a lot like high end audio in that there will be a wide range of acceptable performance and a lot depends on your expectations and how critical you are about things. That said, I do think it is unfortunate when people settle for a level of performance believing they are getting the best they can and it's only because of lack of information (or a lack of having seen something done even better) that holds them back from accomplishing something higher. A perfect example of this is the Epson scanners... which can do a perfectly decent job for low resolution purposes, but really are not great compared to a proper scanner like the old Nikon CoolScans or something like an Imacon, or far better, a high quality drum scan.***
I've had excellent communications with CuteNew on some questions I had. I can't say the same for NS at this point.
---Michael
The CuteNewDesign holder looks pretty nice - I wonder what keeps the film rigid if you run roll film through. I must be missing something though, I am using 3D Printed holders that cost like $30 or so. $300 (plus shipping, masks, etc) is pretty pricey. Is it worth it?
You can't do high speed digitizing with the holder with the top cover glass in place... because you have to lift the top plate and advance the film and then put it back in place to get the sandwich to ensure flatness. I don't know if it works well without it (like most of the other roll adapters, who focus on speed rather than film flatness). There is one company that makes a complex film holder with an automated pressure plate that is designed for high quality and high speed scanning, but I don't doubt it would be extremely good for high volume scanning of 120 film:
https://shop.filmomat.eu/products/135-autocarrier
It's about 1700 euros for the 35mm holder and 2350 euros for the 120 holder.
In my opinion, it's not worth doing if you don't do it right. That said, if you are scanning for instagram or something, a fairly low resolution scan will be perfectly fine and you can handle the film curl of a holder that isn't actually forcing the film flat. Most of the inexpensive holders fall into this category (where flat enough is presumably the approach). That's not why I'm scanning and I don't want any compromise in the scan quality if possible, but I do want something that is more consistent, repeatable, and faster than the method I've been using.
I think they CuteNew carrier holder designs look excellent for this. We'll see how it turns out.
***EDIT: No judgements here on what people do or don't do for themselves. Photography is a lot like high end audio in that there will be a wide range of acceptable performance and a lot depends on your expectations and how critical you are about things. That said, I do think it is unfortunate when people settle for a level of performance believing they are getting the best they can and it's only because of lack of information (or a lack of having seen something done even better) that holds them back from accomplishing something higher. A perfect example of this is the Epson scanners... which can do a perfectly decent job for low resolution purposes, but really are not great compared to a proper scanner like the old Nikon CoolScans or something like an Imacon, or far better, a high quality drum scan.***
I've had excellent communications with CuteNew on some questions I had. I can't say the same for NS at this point.
---Michael
Aug 17, 2026 at 09:38 PM