DSLR Scanning Rig & 4x5 Holder

DraganB · May 12, 2024

Hi Friends,

I built a new DSLR scanning rig and 3D printed a 4x5 negative mount, here is the resulting scan, 3x Images stitched (Nikon D700) what do you think?

DraganB · May 12, 2024

another one

Steven Lee · May 12, 2024

Hey, if it works for you - enjoy! The web-sized samples look great to my eye.
I wonder why you need 3 shots though? The aspect ratio of a DSLR sensor allows to capture the 4x5 frame with just two.

DraganB · May 12, 2024

Steven Lee said:
Hey, if it works for you - enjoy! The web-sized samples look great to my eye.
I wonder why you need 3 shots though? The aspect ratio of a DSLR sensor allows to capture the 4x5 frame with just two.

my stitching software needs bigger overlap to work

_T_ · May 12, 2024

It looks really nice, good work. Only downside is you’re only getting something like < a 10th of the information contained in the negative. Perfect for sharing on the internet and small prints but there’s so much more potential contained in that film.

GLS · May 14, 2024

Looks to be working pretty well.

I had a similar idea for a glassless 4x5 holder for this purpose, but I made mine out of a laser-cut stainless steel frame topped with a double layer of thin magnetised rubber. This rubber sandwich can then suspend the film flat by its extreme edges. It works extremely well. With pixel shift on my A7RIV I end up with digitised 4x5 files of ~ 180 megapixels.

loccdor · May 14, 2024

Not sure if this matters, but it looks like you're putting the carrier on the edge of the light pad which has a slightly elevated surface. That could end up skewing perspective or focus slightly. Probably a much bigger problem if you were doing a smaller format though. Your stitching software may automatically adjust the perspective and DOF may be plenty on a large negative.

I would love to 3d print some carriers and masks for my CS-Lite light source but I don't have access to one. I've settled for cutting plastic with craft knives, using anti-newton-ring glass, or plastic slide mounts. This is for 35mm through 6x9.

Are you masking the light source? If not, you may end up with gradients on your images. It's a big problem for C-41 but not as bad for E-6 or B&W. I also like to put a lens hood above the negative, sized to rest on the carrier's corners.

xkaes · May 14, 2024

For anyone interested in a similar set-up with somewhat less DIY on a similar light source, a Beseler Negaflat would work fine. This 4x5 negative carrier pulls the 4x5 negative/slide tight for great flatness, and doesn't cost that much these days. PLUS, you can use it to make enlargements the old-fashioned way, as well.

GLS · May 14, 2024

xkaes said:
For anyone interested in a similar set-up with somewhat less DIY on a similar light source, a Beseler Negaflat would work fine. This 4x5 negative carrier pulls the 4x5 negative/slide tight for great flatness, and doesn't cost that much these days. PLUS, you can use it to make enlargements the old-fashioned way, as well.

I originally considered one of those as a solution, but I didn't like the idea of the grippers damaging the film edges.

xkaes · May 14, 2024

GLS said:
I originally considered one of those as a solution, but I didn't like the idea of the grippers damaging the film edges.

I've been using one for years without any damage. It grips the unexposed edges of the film (actually only the two 5" sides). They wouldn't be so popular if they screwed things up -- bad news travels fast.

DraganB · May 15, 2024

_T_ said:
It looks really nice, good work. Only downside is you’re only getting something like < a 10th of the information contained in the negative. Perfect for sharing on the internet and small prints but there’s so much more potential contained in that film.

I did a 1:1 Magnification to see how much Detail there is, here is the Result:

Cholentpot · May 15, 2024

_T_ said:
It looks really nice, good work. Only downside is you’re only getting something like < a 10th of the information contained in the negative. Perfect for sharing on the internet and small prints but there’s so much more potential contained in that film.

I've done DSLR scans of 12 shots and stitched. It works pretty well. There's a lot of info in there.

loccdor · May 15, 2024

I will digitize most medium format shots as a single image except a select few I want to get extra detail out of. It does take extra time and care to do the stitching work. Not feasible for 30-shot rolls of 220. But not so onerous for large format.

However, an old Epson flatbed at 2400dpi should get you more detail out of a 4x5 than 3 stitched D700 images. I think to compete with it in detail you'd need about 12. The DSLR will probably get you a better usable brightness range though, which could improve the look of slide film. DSLR digitization really shines on the smaller formats.

koraks · May 15, 2024

xkaes said:
I've been using one for years without any damage.

Lucky you. I had one of those. It left mars on each negative I mounted on it. It did grip the film tightly and held it nice & flat, but the damage it did to the film was a deal breaker. I ended up giving it away to a trader (I specified the problem of scratching, too).

DSLR Scanning Rig & 4x5 Holder

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