p.1 #1 · Is 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 any 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.
p.1 #2 · Is 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.
p.1 #3 · Is 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?
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.
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!)
p.1 #4 · Is 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
p.1 #5 · Is 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.
