How To Scan Film Without A Macro Lens

[@Eli666Ms]

thank you, I thought I was the only one going crazy over the powder and trying new methods all the time, after watching your video I think I will make my peace

[@AnalogueDiaries]

Thanks for watching! Glad it was helpful 🙏🏻

[@tedphillips2951]

I have been using the Essential Film Holder system for several years with a Raleno 192 video light & find it works quite well. For 4x5 I also use a 4x5 film carrier for an enlarger.

[@AnalogueDiaries]

Nice 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@MakersTeleMark]

Your honesty is appreciated.

[@AnalogueDiaries]

Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@OliShaw]

Super helpful and informative 😊

[@AnalogueDiaries]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gavinjenkins899]

I have a cheaper kit than $75! You can get little plastic 35mm clamshell film holders (no light) for about $20, and you can get a cheap light tablet for tracing for about $25. Simply lift the film holder about 1-2 inches above the light table so the light is OUT OF FOCUS by a huge amount, and any imperfections just blur out. For 4x5, I think the best method is to take one of your normal film holders you use for shooting, and just cut a hole out of the septum and one of the film slides. Glass sheets are fine too, very easy to keep clean just using eyeglasses spray and microfiber. Acrylic no--it will scratch instantly.

[@AnalogueDiaries]

That’s a great option. Funny enough I totally have scratched one of those acrylic sheets. Have no idea how as I’m pretty tidy and baby all of my gear. I assume the glass could be easier to clean and it might be less static, so it won’t attract as much dust. But paying extra $140 for it is questionable 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@gavinjenkins899]

@@AnalogueDiaries Acrylic is basically just clear butter, in terms of toughness. I dunno about the newton's ring thing, I've used plain old glass a lot in the past and didn't notice much issue. I do prefer open air suspension if possible though.

[@gerardbellouard9696]

good review i also dont want to invest in a macro lens and i recently discovered that you can use cheaper enlarger lens why do you need also the bellow system and not directly mount it on the camera ? is it for 2:1 and more ? thanks

[@AnalogueDiaries]

Thanks! Good question. With enlarger lens the bellows are must, that is how you’re able to focus. The enlarger lens doesn’t have the focusing ring, only the aperture.

[@gerardbellouard9696]

@@AnalogueDiaries from what i understand, an helicoil is good enough for 1:1, and belows if you need more ?

[@AnalogueDiaries]

@@gerardbellouard9696 enlarger also has bellows to focus, so I have no idea how to do the focusing without one 🤷‍♀

[@nothankyou90]

Hello. I'm looking to get a similar setup as this. I was wondering how the focusing/magnification works with a bellows and enlarger lens. How do you make sure the negative fills the frame at 1:1 magnification and is in focus at the same time? It seems to me you would need to adjust the bellows in and out and the whole thing closer or further from the negative at the same time. Any help would be appreciated! thank you!

[@AnalogueDiaries]

You are correct you adjust the crop and focus with bellows and copystand. There is focus peaking on sony cameras that allow to focus on the grain. Once I found focus and distance for specific format I mark on the bellows and copystand for further use, so I don’t need to repeat the whole focusing process all over again next time I scan.

[@nothankyou90]

@@AnalogueDiaries Thank you! How do you decide how far to extend the bellows? It seems like you could either have them extended further and then have to move the copy stand up, or extend the bellows shorter and move the copy stand lower? And once you decide how far out the bellows should be to fill the frame, won't moving the copy stand then change the framing of the negative? I feel like I'm missing something lol Does moving the copy stand up and down not change the framing?

[@AnalogueDiaries]

@@nothankyou90 there will be always a mid spot how long the bellows stretched and how low or high copystand is, you decide yourself. I just try to fill out the frame with a negative. Check 5:05 you can see marks on the copystand (there are too many of them but you get the idea) and I put same marks on the bellow rail (they're not visible on the video, but they are there). I move this copy stand all the time and use it for darkroom printing and no it doesn't affect my further scanning. Those marks are starting points for different formats and I adjust focus every time I scan, it doesn't take much time really.

[@nothankyou90]

@@AnalogueDiaries Thank you! I appreciate your thorough answers. Have a nice day.

[@preethamr7275]

Which mm macro lens would be better 35mm or 105mm

[@AnalogueDiaries]

I have neither as I scan with enlarger lens.

[@migranthawker2952]

The longer focal length gives a longer working distance, but either will do the job as long as they got to 1:1