DSLR-based 35mm film capture

Nathan FilmNx · Apr 20, 2019

Hi, I thought I'd share my latest addition to my goal of automating my personal film development and digitization.

I've used a lot of scanners and been quite disappointed with the colors and amount of effort & time required. I've grown quite fond of capturing my film/slides using a dSLR with a macro lens configuration and a color-temp adjustable light panel.

I had some downtime this week and roughed out this prototype (not a linear process - several iterations!). Video below.

Current Implemented Features;

Bluetooth connectivity (iOS app for selecting color profiles, exposure count, and dSLR/Smartphone device selection)
Stepper-based film advance & accurate frame positioning
Controllable color temperature backlight
Loader and Outfeed provisions for full rolls and film strips
Manual control for lining up the first frame or dealing with unusual frame sizes.

This is part of my broader effort to create an open source workflow library in support of 35mm photography, film development, and digitization (previous two projects below).

As always, any feedback or requests are appreciated!

Thanks!

-Nathan

gorbas · Apr 20, 2019

Great! Looking for update!

jtk · Apr 22, 2019

Use of "NX" tells the world you have Samsung in mind. Seems like a bad idea, give Samsungs abandonment of cameras.

Nathan FilmNx · Apr 22, 2019

jtk said:
Use of "NX" tells the world you have Samsung in mind. Seems like a bad idea, give Samsungs abandonment of cameras.

Actually, NX is just the name I liked at the time when I was modeling this and needed to name it (Film NX/Next).

This device *should* be fairly universal, I've been using it with my Nikon - though I mounted the IR LED centrally so it should activate the shutter on any IR-able camera with an appropriate lens that takes 52mm thread (or an adapter).

Thanks!

-Nathan

mshchem · Apr 22, 2019

Nathan FilmNx said:
Hi, I thought I'd share my latest addition to my goal of automating my personal film development and digitization.

I've used a lot of scanners and been quite disappointed with the colors and amount of effort & time required. I've grown quite fond of capturing my film/slides using a dSLR with a macro lens configuration and a color-temp adjustable light panel.

I had some downtime this week and roughed out this prototype (not a linear process - several iterations!). Video below.

Current Implemented Features;

Bluetooth connectivity (iOS app for selecting color profiles, exposure count, and dSLR/Smartphone device selection)

Stepper-based film advance & accurate frame positioning

Controllable color temperature backlight

Loader and Outfeed provisions for full rolls and film strips

Manual control for lining up the first frame or dealing with unusual frame sizes.

This is part of my broader effort to create an open source workflow library in support of 35mm photography, film development, and digitization (previous two projects below).

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...fp-yet-another-desktop-film-processor.164871/

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/modular-daylight-developer-system-35mm.165828/#post-2159004

As always, any feedback or requests are appreciated!

Thanks!

-Nathan

That's a great tool. Not sure about all the details but it looks neat.

PhilBurton · Apr 22, 2019

Nathan FilmNx said:
Actually, NX is just the name I liked at the time when I was modeling this and needed to name it (Film NX/Next).

This device *should* be fairly universal, I've been using it with my Nikon - though I mounted the IR LED centrally so it should activate the shutter on any IR-able camera with an appropriate lens that takes 52mm thread (or an adapter).

Thanks!

-Nathan

Nathan,

I'm not clear on what this hardware actually is. And is this just a prototype, or is it already in (low) volume manufacturing and therefore is available for purchase.

Finally, is there a plan for a 2 1/4" format slide/negative.

Phil Burton

jim10219 · Apr 22, 2019

That's pretty clever! Is this going to be adjustable to use with different focal length macro lenses? Also, I'd probably make it at least 58mm to work with a wider range of lenses, using stepup filters. Or maybe a Cokin style connector, since they're easy to find an adapter for most any sized filter thread.

dabsond · Apr 23, 2019

I want one!

Nathan FilmNx · Apr 23, 2019

PhilBurton said:
Nathan,

I'm not clear on what this hardware actually is. And is this just a prototype, or is it already in (low) volume manufacturing and therefore is available for purchase.

Finally, is there a plan for a 2 1/4" format slide/negative.

Phil Burton

Hi Phil, It is just a prototype, in much the same spirit of the automatic daylight loading module I open sourced recently > https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3579645. Something that I could potentially offer for purchase if there is enough interest and the economies of low-volume production make sense (possibly in kit form or as a finished good).

I made a 6cm/2 1/4" medium format version though it isn't setup for slides (just film). This could be a different build of the device or more effort could be expended to adapt the device to allow multiple formats.

-Nathan

Nathan FilmNx · Apr 23, 2019

jim10219 said:
That's pretty clever! Is this going to be adjustable to use with different focal length macro lenses? Also, I'd probably make it at least 58mm to work with a wider range of lenses, using stepup filters. Or maybe a Cokin style connector, since they're easy to find an adapter for most any sized filter thread.

Thanks! It is adjustable my moving the telescoping barrel in/out, though it might need more travel, I haven't well defined the target variation there yet.

I like the Cokin-style connector idea. Currently I have the native threads at 52mm which matches my 50mm lens (full frame) and my 35mm lens (crop) and figured (though haven't tried) that step-up adapters could get one from 52mm to most common sizes.

-Nathan

Nathan FilmNx · Apr 23, 2019

dabsond said:
I want one!

Awesome! Anything you'd change or highlight as a "must keep" feature?

-Nathan

flatulent1 · Apr 23, 2019

I like it, though I would be MUCH more interested in a simplified version, one without motorized advance and automatic image capture. Less expensive and fewer things that can go wrong.

dabsond · Apr 24, 2019

I second the more simple approach. Instead of motorized operation, maybe improved mounting options. A central rail that would facilitate fine focusing. What are you using for a light source for rear illumination?

Chan Tran · Apr 24, 2019

For slides copying a fixed color temperature of the light like 5000K is good. There is no need to adjust the color temp for slides. For color negatives however I would prefer to adjust the color of the light with RGB rather than just color temp. I don't think motorized advance is important because it can't advance the film exactly due to the fact that the spacing of the frame isn't consistent. Besides, unless you do it for your new images most of my negatives are cut in strips of 5 frames so motorized advance doesn't help much. I think something like the Beseler negatran negative carrier is better.

Nathan FilmNx · Apr 24, 2019

flatulent1 said:
I like it, though I would be MUCH more interested in a simplified version...

dabsond said:
I second the more simple approach

These is useful feedback, thanks! I'll take a look at this and advise. I'm likely to leave at least the provisions for motorized advance since it fits my needs (this is still primarily a selfish project for my needs), though I think the main benefit I've found over something like the Nikon film/slide duplicator is that I'm able to hold the film with tighter tolerances so that I don't have to worry about level/lining up while I'm advancing.

That said, I my Nikon and Leica camera have consistent (enough) spacing, so I've been really happy with not having to manually advance through all my 36 exposure rolls... a better answer is probably for me to improve my photography skills so I'm not taking so many pictures in the first place!

-Nathan

Nathan FilmNx · Apr 24, 2019

dabsond said:
What are you using for a light source for rear illumination?

Chan Tran said:
For slides copying a fixed color temperature of the light like 5000K is good. There is no need to adjust the color temp for slides. For color negatives however I would prefer to adjust the color of the light with RGB rather than just color temp.

I'm using an acrylic diffuser and an embedded color-temp adjustable LED. The acrylic is lined with foil to provide good diffusion and get a bit more light where we need it. Could handle both, though I'm leaning towards moving to a fixed color temp as I've found I only use 5k as well. I used to tweak this more before I automated it, kind of like a "analog-ish" Adobe Lightroom!

-Nathan

flatulent1 · Apr 25, 2019

I find when I'm scanning film with my DSLR that, for an assortment of reasons (cough!) I don't need nor want to scan every frame, or even every other frame.

Speaking of throwaway frames, does anybody find it advantageous to bracket exposures when scanning with a camera? I've only just begun the process with my D810, and am still undecided on the whole process. I've been using the -1/0/+1 sequence, but my post processing skills aren't yet at a point where I actually know what I'm doing.

PhilBurton · Apr 25, 2019

flatulent1 said:
I find when I'm scanning film with my DSLR that, for an assortment of reasons (cough!) I don't need nor want to scan every frame, or even every other frame.

Speaking of throwaway frames, does anybody find it advantageous to bracket exposures when scanning with a camera? I've only just begun the process with my D810, and am still undecided on the whole process. I've been using the -1/0/+1 sequence, but my post processing skills aren't yet at a point where I actually know what I'm doing.

Fred,
If you do a -1/0/+1 sequence, are you merging the results with an HDR application to get a final image?

Phil Burton

Chan Tran · Apr 25, 2019

flatulent1 said:
I find when I'm scanning film with my DSLR that, for an assortment of reasons (cough!) I don't need nor want to scan every frame, or even every other frame.

Speaking of throwaway frames, does anybody find it advantageous to bracket exposures when scanning with a camera? I've only just begun the process with my D810, and am still undecided on the whole process. I've been using the -1/0/+1 sequence, but my post processing skills aren't yet at a point where I actually know what I'm doing.

I don't. I use one exposure setting for slides and another for all negatives. I determine exposure without the film.

flatulent1 · Apr 25, 2019

PhilBurton said:
Fred,
If you do a -1/0/+1 sequence, are you merging the results with an HDR application to get a final image?

Phil Burton

No, I'm a post processing noob. Several years ago I tried doing this with some old slides I wanted to preserve, and they came out dark and contrasty. Hence my attempt at a different approach.

jtk · Apr 26, 2019

flatulent1 said:
I find when I'm scanning film with my DSLR that, for an assortment of reasons (cough!) I don't need nor want to scan every frame, or even every other frame.

Speaking of throwaway frames, does anybody find it advantageous to bracket exposures when scanning with a camera? I've only just begun the process with my D810, and am still undecided on the whole process. I've been using the -1/0/+1 sequence, but my post processing skills aren't yet at a point where I actually know what I'm doing.

Fwiw...and you know this...you're not "scanning" with that DSLR...you're copying.

mshchem · Apr 27, 2019

I want one of these. I'm an idiot so it's got to be easy 250 bucks US. Nikon

mshchem · Apr 27, 2019

mshchem said:
I want one of these. I'm an idiot so it's got to be easy 250 bucks US. Nikon

I'm not sure what I would use it for but it's cool! There's someone in the US that adapts old Carousel projectors with LED light with a DSLR pointing into the projector to scan slides. That would be fun too.

jtk · Apr 28, 2019

Nathan FilmNx said:
These is useful feedback, thanks! I'll take a look at this and advise. I'm likely to leave at least the provisions for motorized advance since it fits my needs (this is still primarily a selfish project for my needs), though I think the main benefit I've found over something like the Nikon film/slide duplicator is that I'm able to hold the film with tighter tolerances so that I don't have to worry about level/lining up while I'm advancing.

That said, I my Nikon and Leica camera have consistent (enough) spacing, so I've been really happy with not having to manually advance through all my 36 exposure rolls... a better answer is probably for me to improve my photography skills so I'm not taking so many pictures in the first place!

-Nathan

Have you actually, personally, used Nikon scanners? Nikon's slide duplicator is inherently inferior to their scanner due to lack of Digital Ice (ignore the misinformation about that) and the duplicator's introduction of yet another lens into the process (same reason an optical print cannot be as detailed as an inkjet print from a Nikon scan).

Chan Tran · Apr 28, 2019

mshchem said:
I'm not sure what I would use it for but it's cool! There's someone in the US that adapts old Carousel projectors with LED light with a DSLR pointing into the projector to scan slides. That would be fun too.

The use of the slide projector works only for slides and not negative film strip. It does have the advantage of quick advancing the slides and you can load up to 140 slides at a time. I do have some concern though because I believe the slides would not be in the same position all the time.

DSLR-based 35mm film capture

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency