DSLR scanning - need something to hold the negative?

[TheMagicFlute]

Hello,

I have embarked upon a mission to start 'scanning' my film using my Nikon D800 and macro lens. So far I have purchased an LED lightbox (artograph A920 - 6x9 inch) a kaiser rs2 copy stand, but I need to find a good negative carrier. Can anyone suggest one?

- I'll be copying 6x7 negs from my mamiya 7
- I'm looking for something that will lie flat on the lightbox
- do I need glass to hold it down really flat?

Any recommendations or help would be greatly appreciated, I am really struggling to find the right piece of kit at the moment. I have seen something called the 'digitaliza' by lomography, but this looks quite flimsy and I'm not sure it will do the job well.

Thanks!!

 

[juan]

Go to a regular glass store and get them to cut a pice of anti-glare picture frame glass. It will hold the film flat and the anti-glare feature will stop Newton's rings. I've used two sheets on my scanner for about a decade.
juan

 

[TheMagicFlute]

Thanks Juan,

Would you recommend using two pieces of glass over an old metal film carrier (glassless)? I have just been looking at things like omega 6x7 slide holders. Glass sounds like a good option, but sounds like it might not fit together easily? Or is it easy to use.

Cheers

 

[juan]

I envisioned putting the negative down on the light box, putting the glass on top, then shooting. That's pretty much what I do with my scanner. I think that a negative carrier would interfere with holding the negative flat. Give it a try. The glass costs only a couple of bucks.

 

[riots100]

I successfully use enlarger negative carriers. They worked in the darkroom, they work for DSLR scanning. I routinely scan 35mm, 6x6 and 4x5 with appropriate negative carriers.

 

[TheMagicFlute]

Thanks Juan, I might give that a go - it could be a really simple solution. Not sure how I could mask out around it, might be a bit tricky moving the lightbox around (when doing multiple stiches)

Riots100 - what neg carriers do you use? Do you lay them flat on the lightbox. Tried glass vs glassless negative carriers? Do you get much curling with the negative holder.

 

[riots100]

I use the carriers from my old Bessler 4x5 enlarger. I do not use any glass. Glass with interfere with lens sharpness. The carriers held the film flat enough for printing in an enlarger, so their good enough for scanning. Using a good light box is key. The larger the light box surface area, the less uniform the light field is. My light box is just slightly larger than 4x5, the largest negative size that I scan. I also have a rig where I don't set the carrier directly on top of the light box. It is suspended above it an inch or so. This defocuses the light surface plane and helps to further even out the light field. (because it is out of focus)