Scanning Film with the Cheapest Digital Camera (and a giveaway!)

[@KyleMcDougall]

**Thanks to everyone who commented! The giveaway is now closed. @martincasadoblanco7799, you've won the camera/lens/scanning setup. @nickgerasi2534, you've won the easy35. Please send me an email at [e-mail] and we can figure out all the details. Thanks!

[@jordanlin4437]

Never underestimate the power of pano stitching! I scan all of my 120 film in sections and stitch them together in Lightroom, and the resolution you get out of it is amazing :D

[@Caballeroshot]

Same! I have endless panoramas from situations I didn't have a wide enough lens so I take multiples and stitch them.

[@Julian-rc3wg]

The amount of time it takes to scan with a dedicated scanner doesn't get called out enough. Thank you for experimenting with other budget friendly scanning options and sharing it here!

[@realasianbuoy]

tbh i thought that was the most mentioned reason for camera scanning

[@Morinaka25]

That's pointed out in every video i've seen on the subject. On the flip side, the biggest downside with camera scanning i've experienced is the lack of infrared dust removal, that alone can cost you a ton of time in editing, and is actually rarely mentioned.

[@KyleMcDougall]

***Just a heads up-there’s a fake account with a similar name (modified version of mine) and same profile picture commenting and telling people that they won and to message their phone number. Don’t respond to any accounts that aren’t my exact username as stated above. I’ll be announcing the winner next Wednesday. No sooner. We’ll connect through email after that. Sorry for this. The account has been removed and reported.

[@joseespinoza2687]

The black sticky stuff on your camera should come off with Neutrogena makeup-removing wipes. Try a different brand of makeup wipe at your own risk. As far as I know, these are the safest and work pretty well. Multiple people in detailing circles have recommended the same ones. I have used them to remove the dreaded black plastic residue from multiple items. Just be careful with things that have graphics, like dials/buttons-rub those gently

[@hailstorm324]

No one on KZbin is more of a home scanning evangelist than you Kyle. Thank you for showing us that it can be done easily and now cheaply, even by beginners! Also been eyeing the Valoi Easy35 for a while now, this might be my sign to pick it up

[@tomasgehrhardt4270]

film scanning is like a rabbit hole and it can get really expensive really quick, really impressed with these results

[@jallenwieczorek]

“The differences are never as drastic as the price difference.” That comment really hit home. I keep thinking I need top of the line equipment, when the reality is these more affordable options are well suited to handle the job.

[@mathewspencer4323]

It amazes me every time how small 35mm actually is, but actually how much data / resolution you can get. There is also a different joy / excitement from getting the negatives back that digital doesn’t quite replicate.

[@gianmarcobulla223]

Those are 645

[@mathewspencer4323]

@ I shoot 35mm. When I’ve looked at my 35mm shots under a loop.

[@teresashinkansen9402]

On average pictures taken on 35mm has a MTF equivalent to about 6Mpx so not that much detail.

[@mathewspencer4323]

@ I just got one of my 35mm photos printed for a calendar I do every year. It got upscaled to a 15x12 print, which is ~10.5x its original size, and it looks great. Just the fact of knowing that something that small can get scaled up that large from a non-digital capture is just amazing

[@fukolombobby]

@@teresashinkansen9402 this is wrong its so variable based on the film developing and lens used

[@melonenstrauch1306]

Thank you for doing an actual budget setup! There are so many Camera Scanning videos that are like "it's so cheap, just use your old DSLR", but for people who never even shot digital it's a real issue.

[@grumblecat]

Really impressed to see how older cameras still perform well. The random cheap bodge I did for replacing the copy stand was using a pipe flange screwed to a board with a metal pipe threaded into it and then using a ball head with a SmallRig superclamp to hold it.

[@terrachromatic]

Did the same using manfrotto 035 super clamp and it’s rock solid. No wobble at all. For like 45€ total!

[@lucasm4rtin]

I really wanna start building my scanning set up! Thanks for showing how easy and affordable it can be!

[@rockmunkey1981]

I got an OM-2n and Nikon EM. I've been shooting colour to begin with and now black and white film. Just started developing myself and been immersed in learning how to scan my own negatives after seeing the difference people get compared to some lab scans. The feeling of going from making the photo, to develop and then scan is suck a fulfilling feeling. In today's world of instant gratification, the anticipation and not knowing is something I really appreciate. I live in a van and don't have a darkroom. So at the moment, C41 developing is a no go. I have an unused bathroom at work that I can hang negatives in to avoid trying that in a small van!

[@DixonLu]

Not sure what you mean by needing a darkroom, but a dark bag or a Lab Box lets you load & develop any film w/o one. The hardest thing for C-41 is temperature consistency. An immersion circulator (~$50) would be highly helpful.

[@rockmunkey1981]

@@DixonLu I just ment I don't have a dedicated room, Ive been loading film into my patterson tank in windowless toilets or under my duvet at night. Its the issue with temperature consistency that is my issue with C41. If I had somewhere dedicated to set things up, I would be keen on making B&W prints and a bain marie for C41. Until then, I'll leave the lab to develop my colour films.

[@jbanders]

Totally agree that megapixels are often overhyped. The magic of DSLR film scanning lies in the dynamic range and tonal quality you can achieve, not just the resolution. It’s all about how the final image feels, and this method delivers fantastic results without breaking the bank. Well done!

[@christianzapata4089]

The timing on this could not be more ideal. Time to finally give DSLR scanning a go.

[@thrashermosher419]

Your videos inspired me to start developing, scanning and printing myself a couple months ago. I love it! It feels good being in control of the entire process. Thank you for all that you do, Kyle.

[@labandedancefing]

11:07 "more expensive better equipment gonna give you better results but the difference is never as drastic as the price difference" i think a lot of people needs to hear this

[@mikitapushnou]

The results you shared are really amazing! Thank you for doing such cheap options reviews, we do need it!

[@axelling3086]

Hello Kyle, I am an artist photographer based in Hong Kong. Back in the days (few months ago before I graduated from the uni), I was using the beautiful imacon beasts from Hasselblad. I really miss using them; they were semi-drum film scanners with top-notch Rodenstock lenses. Unfortunately, they stopped making those scanners ages ago, and the ones at school are pretty worn out from years of heavy use. Now that I can't access the school facilities, I've got a stack of processed film just sitting around because I'm not happy with the lab's scanning quality. Your video has helped me to confront and understand the idea of scanning film with a digital camera more, and I appreciate that! Seriously thinking to get a kit from Valoi now

[@rikardkahn6000]

Anything that helps to make film photography more affordable and accessible is a plus - great topic to explore. Scanning really is a dark art that needs to be explored as it can really help to bring the costs down and get more people (myself included) shooting more. Great vid kyle

[@EmmaBeal-ww5rq]

Kyle, it is great to see you back on KZbin after a short break, which we all need from time to time. I have been looking at different ways to scan my film & your video was incredibly helpful & gave me many ideas for a setup. Keep taking inspirational photos.

[@Adam-yc3zu]

Having a setup like this would've definitely helped me these last six years of shooting primarily on film. Film development + scanning is a deep enough rabbit hole with a very steep starting price that makes it almost frightening to do any film photography on a more professional scale. It's refreshing to see the achievable quality you can get from these new products without breaking the bank.

[@paultobin1548]

Lovely stuff man, I really appreciate how much effort you put into finding cheaper options for people to shoot / develop / scan etc. it's becoming more and more expensive and to show an actually affordable budget setup for scanning is awesome! Keep it up!

[@ubeeh]

How are you metering the exposure for negatives? Eyeballing? Auto exposure mode?

[@aaronfeliciano555]

This is so helpful. I always love seeing budget options. Been scanning on an epson v750, and although the scans turn out well it is a painstaking process. Thanks for making the best content!

[@aaronbliss]

This seems like the best entry to at home scanning. I’m sitting on a mountain of negatives from the lab that I swear I’m gonna get around to doing something with someday, but the barrier to entry into scanning always seemed so daunting. Great video!

[@ubeeh]

For quick and easy 35mm (and smaller) scans, nothing beats my Valoi Easy 35 setup. No copy stand required, the tube just sits on my EOS 90D and the 60mm Macro. Its not perfect and I somethings struggle with having the negative holder aligned perfectly with the sensor plane. Using a copy stand is fiddly most of the time especially with the cheaper stands, and while I am getting good results with the Essential Filmholder, getting a good light source was a bit of a search. And yes, I still have a film scanner, but it is old, and some parts have gone missing and was very slow back in the day.

[@scottnelle]

Really love this video. Great results and a great reminder that modest equipment can still be very powerful.

[@brentmiller3250]

I just sent this link to a friend I ran into at an art show. We talked about scanning film, and thought this would be perfect for him. Thanks for the video! Truly appreciated.

[@zachwolfe]

WOW! Incredible results. I have been going down the camera scanning rabbit hole and this just changed everything for me. Thank you for doing this and love all your videos!

[@5567tom]

This video has come out at the perfect time for me, I have wanted to start taking more creative control in my work but don't have the financial capability to go out and buy a new digital camera or dedicated film scanner. It's really inspiring to see that you can still achieve great results without breaking the bank.

[@malcolmreynolds6833]

Its really useful to have others do the legwork for rest of us, i’ve rewatched your videos on flatbed, dedicated film scanners and amongst others this video on using a digital camera for the scanning, i’m sure i’m not the only viewer who appreciates the work put in to save the rest of us time and cash (and mistakes)- thanks again.

[@JackJack-tb5ir]

I've been scouring the internet for a reliable scanning method that won't kill me on my student's budget, so I'm always glad for videos like these!

[@martinermis9780]

Bro I love your videos, every time a new one comes out we open popcorn and coke and turn off Netflix 🎬 Thank you for your time 🤙🏼

[@filmlovephotography]

For social media this scans are more than enough. Only if you want to print you need a bit more, but doesn't need to be much more. I love to use my digital camera to scan my films, it is fast and very good 👍

[@gilesthurston]

Perfect timing, as I am starting to look into scanning options, as am keen to start developing my own film at home. Thanks, Kyle and keep up the great work.

[@BTCSNC]

This has given me the kick to stop getting lab scans and actually get a proper scanning setup sorted!

[@sebastianonicolo4208]

This channel has always been insightful but when the video is all about film it just demonstrates that intention and imagination is always first and then the tech comes at services, not the other way around like mkt want you to believe. Well done and thank you Kyle

[@GregHall66]

Thank you for another great video on digital scanning setups. I recently re-watched the one you did from a year ago because I am getting in to film photography and while I loved the Fuji setup, this setup is more in line with the money I have to spend. Awesome job!

[@spagnumoss]

I have recently acquired a Mamiya c220 due to being inspired by your KZbin videos . My next step is to learn to do my own developing. This setup seems like something I could achieve with practice. I am definitely going to give it a try. Thanks

[@marcofrancinella1171]

Wow! I didn't expect those results with such an old camera... You demonstrated that potentially any digital camera can be used (obviously the rest of the setup makes the difference).. thanks for this useful video!

[@ldoughtyy]

The Valoi setup really does seem to be the best combination of cost, user-friendliness, and outcome, for any home scanning setup. As a beginner film enthusiast, the cost racks up so quickly, something like this is music to my ears.

[@LCB7509]

I’ve been looking into scanning my own film, and your videos make me want to do it more. The quality you get even with a cheap setup is amazing.

[@Reluctantly_Adulting]

I'm just getting into 35mm photography and I'm absolutely loving it! It's almost a mindfulness practice for me in having to stop and focus on lighting and composition for each shot because you only have so many. AND you won't know how it came out until you shot the whole roll and develop the film. I haven't gone through my first full roll yet, but I only just got a vintage Pentax two weeks ago and had to find compatible lenses. I really appreciate how informative your videos are and it puts me at ease to know that there are ways to process and digitize film on a budget since there aren't many options for that where I live in northern New England.

[@kris-martyn]

Love your work Kyle! Thanks for revisiting this topic as it’s so relevant to so many of us.

[@lukasbroekhuis5921]

Affordable tools like Valoi are THE game-changers for keeping analog film alive. They make film scanning accessible to everyone, ensuring this timeless medium continues to inspire new generations. Nice video Kyle, keep supporting innovations that bridge the gap between tradition and technology!

[@vsereb]

Those are all good points: in case of 35 mm you don't really need resolution higher then 6-8 MP - even 24 MP camera upon close examination produces essentially 12 MP image. I like the presentation - clear, concise and to the point. Thanks!

[@ridebicycles9945]

I learn more with every video. Thank you! Really appreciate how well you structure the videos and communicate, on all of them. They sound unscripted and conversational, but clearly are the product of quite a bit of planning. As a teacher, I am impressed. Also just wanted to thank you for covering the USAAF murals. Both of my grandfathers were in the USAAF in WWII. It was cool to see the airbases and murals they may have seen. Cheers!

[@myforkisgreen]

I’m really excited to see this form of scanning! I have recently come back to film after switching to digital several years ago. It’s nice to see such a simple and intuitive solution to scanning negatives take hold. I had a couple different film scanners back in the day and they were never as easy as this looks. Your results look a lot better than my local lab too. Great video!

[@Jvbriggs]

Thank you for continuing to make all these videos! Amount of knowledge I’ve learned from you is incredible. I really appreciate you and your time. Have a great day.

[@eodanielsson]

I can’t even count the hours I’ve been scanning film on a dedicated scanner as the opticfilm, frame by frame, roll by roll. Really informative video 👏

[@ricardoromanach]

Those old macro lenses have proven themselves time and time again! Thank you for all the information, very understandable and useful!

[@brycehughes4586]

The best thing about this is going to be the end result - once you have your favourite shots printed and framed, I doubt ANYONE could tell how it was scanned (or what it was scanned on). The least restrictive way CAN be the best.. done is better than 'perfect'. Thanks for this!

[@admagnusson]

The scanning set up I've been eyeing for a while. This confirms it's the right choice.

[@BIbiVstf3sx]

Excellent proof that low budget can get results! I personally skipped the copy stand and build a setup with iron plumbing onto wich i was able to clamp a repurposed cheap ball tripod ballhead and cheap macro rail. The lens was to 1:1 all the time, using the rail to focus The rail was THE piece that was making the overall focus on grain giving result. Nice video, amazing results for such a cheap price, amazing

[@tyji9162]

Love that you're shining a light on budget options in what's commonly thought of as an expensive hobby!!

[@photofreak126]

I'm doing home scanning with 3d printed holders from the start, and have been very happy with it. It's great to see that you are scanning this way and get state of the art quality out of it :-)

[@jasonblack2460]

This is a such a time saver compared to the flatbed scanner and it’s so amazing to see it be cost effective as well. Great video!

[@taylrsandrs]

Kyle does it again! Flatbed scanners can be so frustrating to work with and just as expensive as some DSLR scanning setups. Thanks for always empowering this community Kyle!

[@damieninbred5586]

Always excited to find more budget-friendly scanning alternatives that still bring the goods! Awesome video, Kyle!

[@mascmedia_]

Thanks for this. It’s interesting to see how well camera scanning compares to flatbed scanning. Seems a fair bit quicker, although I’ve honestly never given it a go. Thanks for the videos you produce, Kyle!

[@schwein215]

Love to see some more budget film scanning tryouts from you. It helps me a lot to figure out my first film scanning set up with a digital camera. Especially the on a budget part helps me since I really have to get in no rabbit holes there as a student with limited budget.

[@ducklai8641]

glad to see someone putting budget film info out there, it's been a great help

[@owossoBassPlayer]

This video is probably what it takes to push me over the edge and dive into home development and scanning. It's one of those things that just seems like a gargantuan hurdle. That is, until people like you show how accessible it actually is.

[@sefakoyun]

I recently started developing my films at home. I didn’t want to invest too much in the beginning, so I put the films on my laptop screen at full brightness with a white background and took pictures with my phone. Levelling is NOT easy, but I was happy with the first results. It’s definitely not the best method, but I can recommend it to anyone who’s just starting out! I hope I can upgrade the setup in the near future.

[@nickroberts8202]

I have been wanting to get into home scanning for a while. I watched the previous video and now this one shows how well it can be done at such an affordable price for the setup!

[@Alphabetakill]

I was impressed with the results from your last video on this subject and once again you've shown what can be achieved on a budget. Keen to try this out for myself.

[@ShawnPBruce]

Oh wow, I'd love to give that easy 35 system a try! I actually built my own stand by using some galvanized piping and a stool top, all of which were purchased from Lowes for under $50. It's incredibly solid.

[@FreddySanchez-n1b]

Brilliant info! I’m about to start a project and I’ve been researching for the best way to scan at home. It’s great to see the options like this can yield such amazing results. Hopefully Christmas will arrive early this year!!

[@smirnoff3l179]

Im into Film Photography for about a year and your videos really helped me out figuring out stuff especially on developing, thank you very much

[@alextat]

Love how much info you share about home scanning and the various price and quality points of entry. Best part of home scanning is the modularity and opportunity for upgrades over time. I've been keen on using the Valoi system as I'm on the Essential Film Holder now - the 120 looks super appealing.

[@b.ar7sy]

How little difference there is other than resolution truly amazes me, especially considering that this is a 16yo camera and a small sensor. And since most people share their work via social media anyway, a setup like this shown in the video is definitely enough for most non-profesionall film photographers.

[@shanebono]

I've gotten more into film photography and have researched into different development/scanning options, so this is very helpful and inspiring to see!

[@mogamariusdan]

The results are so good, it depends on so much small factors and also the overall taste with post-conversion. Thank you for showing us the process and giving us the chance to win such a nice setup to boost our film photography projects further. 🙏📷

[@Dylanwade_]

Since we’re talking budget I’d like to share, my copy stand. I made it out of a cutting board, black nipple pipe from the hardware store, an impact super clamp, and a tripod head since I already had one. Works surprisingly well for the price.

[@tundrusphoto4312]

Thanks for this Kyle. I want to start scanning my negatives, but the cost has been prohibitive. These videos provide ideas and ways to reduce the cost and still get good results.

[@CesareDeGiglio]

Amazing, the speed of scanning with digital cameras is really a game changer.

[@IkerZamora]

Film conversion software has been a total game changer in the last few years!

[@TomBirch89]

As a live film photographer there’s nothing more daunting then leaving a gig with 4 rolls of film knowing that I am about to spend HOURS scanning in. This is a fantastic video! Thank you.

[@rogerharrison4316]

Great video Kyle. I started scanning with a digital camera recently and I was amazed at the better quality compared to my Epson 4990. In my case I used an old 35mm enlarger that someone recently gave me, dismantled part of the head and bought a Manfrotto super clamp to mount the camera. I already had a light table that I could use as a light source and a Sony A99 with Minolta 100mm macro lens. So the only bits I had to buy that I didn't already have were the super clamp and one of Andrew Clifforth's Essential film holders. I've only scanned B&W film so far, but very happy with the results.

[@Arty-et9rq]

I recently got into film photography and in the last 3 months I’ve had 42 rolls processed and scanned. It’s so expensive so I would love to win one of these set ups. It would cut my costs in half if I didn’t have to pay for scans. ❤ 🤞

[@brucecook5556]

I have been shooting, developing and printing my B&W film for the past fifty years and have been reluctant to move into the digital color world. I’ m beginning to think more about scanning color film and making prints. I have always enjoyed working with film and will continue to do so. Thanks for your inspiration and knowledge.

[@lowlightlowlife]

It’s amazing how quick and easy scanning has become. I don’t miss the days of battling with my cheap “automatic” scanner to even get it to line up with the edges of frames. I wasted days with that back in uni just to get a low res image

[@arturmajewski-g8k]

These experiments of yours made me wanna go back to film like nothing else. The frustration and cost of lab scanning process was too much and I drifted into digital. Think I'm getting back to film, at least partially. Thanks for this!

[@janisgraf3682]

Thank you so much, Kyle, for the fantastic video! It’s been a tremendous help to me. With my Rollei 35 LED, I’m planning to start a photo journal to capture street life in Zurich. I only recently began shooting with film, but your videos, especially the black-and-white film development tutorial, have been incredibly inspiring. I’ll be getting started on this project at the beginning of the new year. Cheers!

[@Tehshort]

Thank you for also going through scanning with a cheaper setup, It is very useful, and I can see myself going that way, with scanning my own films.

[@trulsdirio]

It is also always worth a look if you have a lens that will do well with extension tubes that you already use in your film setup.

[@tepidfruit]

Really awesome demonstration of low budget scanning. I've been getting into the process lately and I always appreciate your insight!

[@samjacob393]

Amazing video! Super helpful as a student who wants to get into doing their own film scanning that you can get these results from these earlier generation digital camera sensors! Appreciate it

[@thecaveofthedead]

Excellent results. And more than encouraging for those of us who have vintage macro lenses lying around.

[@bobcunningham9469]

I have years of negatives I should scan, but those I have done have been so labour intensive. This looks to be much more streamlined solution. Thanks for the info.

[@Torontoflatlander]

A great video to find as I start to dabble in the thought of expanding into film. Figure the cost prohibitive issues can be tweaked as you move along and this was a great example of that.

[@ChubbyPugYarn]

I have recently discovered film photography when I inherited my dads and my granddads old cameras, it’s really exciting to learn so many new things. This really seems like a good setup when on a budget 🤩

[@orangephotos3732]

Amazing setup! Crazy how good older digital cameras can be. Home scanning is such a great process, it really helps you further understand how to correctly expose an image.

[@julienajarry]

I love everything about this. My first real camera was a GF1 and GH1. That G1 brings me back.

[@willmccleland2383]

This is really interesting to me so much sharper then flatbed scanning and so surprising with a setup thats on the lower end of things. These results really did surprise me and it is great to know that a setup dose not have to break the bank to be good.

[@rem4188]

Always nice to see these buget friendly builds. the results were much better than i was expecting. Subbed!

[@fayed.untitled]

Thanks for this video. I loved the previous ones as well! It's interesting and great that we have cheap affordable options to scan our film negatives at home.

[@heutemalnicht]

Thanks! One tip I have for focusing: open the aperture to the max (f2.8 or more) when setting focus, then stop down to f8 when taking the picture. This gives you the most sharpness.

[@neppybynature]

Amazing how you can get really good scans at all different price points with camera scanning. Interested in trying the Valoi stuff.

[@pontushenkel3366]

I exclaimed “Whaaat!?” when you announced the giveaway. Out of all the KZbin giveaways I have ever seen - This one would be mean such a big leap for my photography journey 🔥📸