First roll from Nikon FG!

cepwin · Jun 14, 2012

I got the negatives back from the first roll of film I shot with the FG....I did a mixed workflow...getting it developed and scanning them into my computer and finishing with lightroom. The one thing I noticed is there
is a noticeable difference between film and digital results. It also looks like there was a bit of a blue cast...I need to check the white balance. My next rolls will be B+W and after I get my package from B+H I should have all
I need to process the next roll.

F/1.4 · Jun 15, 2012

These are awful scans.

darkosaric · Jun 15, 2012

Look, I had nikon FG, problem is in your scanner. Any lens with any film will provide way better results.
I think this shot is made with FG (not sure any more, it was long time ago):

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edit: these shots are with FG + 50mm E series:

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regards

amsp · Jun 15, 2012

These are probably the worst scans I've ever seen, not even the cheapest consumer film scanner on the market would give you this kind of quality. I'm curious, how did you manage to get results like this?

cepwin · Jun 15, 2012

I'm not sure if it's the scanner (which is a consumer model) as here's another pix I scanned in with it

I'm thinking it could be that something went wrong with the film or I did something wrong (actually, I thought it was a roll of 36 and kept shooting over the last pix.)

And I should add this pix is from probably more than 10 years ago with a cheap camera. The original pix look like something I've seen when people have developed way-old film

darkosaric · Jun 15, 2012

Cepwin - which lens is on your FG?

tomalophicon · Jun 15, 2012

They all look out of focus too.

amsp · Jun 15, 2012

Tell us what scanner you are using, software and workflow. What film did you use? Was it expired? Was the place you developed it at a proper lab? The more info you can give us the easier it is to see where the problem is. Just looking at the scans I would almost guess you're using some cheapo document scanner that is not made for film scanning and just laying the negs directly on the glass.

cepwin · Jun 15, 2012

I'm using a 50mm 1.8 lens...I might have missed the focus as it is manual focus but also I have a tendency to shoot wide open so the DOF could be too small. The scanner is an image lab scanner that is a film scanner..definitely as consumer model. I think the rub is the film...it was kodak 400 ISO that I bought from the 1hr foto type store but I don't have the canister or box to check the date. Like I said, it looks like pix I've seen of expired film.

Chris Nielsen · Jun 15, 2012

Yes those scans are awful, i would almost bet my left testicle the problem is not the film or processing but the scans, maybe they punched in the wrong film type? Some weird color issues there

Chris Nielsen · Jun 15, 2012

Actually I know where I have seen thus effect before, from a camera that wouldn't stop down at all, threw the scanner for a total loop

Chris Nielsen · Jun 15, 2012

Oops this not thus, although us kiwis pronounce them the same anyway...

wblynch · Jun 15, 2012

Try another roll and get the scan CD from the lab. It will give you a better idea if the camera is working properly.

I wonder if the film was under exposed. Are the negatives too clear, or too dark, when you look through them?

darkosaric · Jun 15, 2012

What you can do also is if you have digital camera: make a photo of negative against some diffuse light, and edit it in photoshop / gimp and then you can see if it is a scanner problem. See on youtube how to scan negative with digital camera.

cepwin · Jun 15, 2012

The scan from an older negative that I posted earlier in the thread was scanned in with exactly the same scanner. I also remembered that it took several days for the film to be processed as they told me when I brought it in that their processor was down for repairs. I have a roll of bw in there now but I'm going to send my next color roll out.It also reminds me of xprocessing filters in lightroom

amsp · Jun 15, 2012

cepwin said:
The scan from an older negative that I posted earlier in the thread was scanned in with exactly the same scanner. I also remembered that it took several days for the film to be processed as they told me when I brought it in that their processor was down for repairs. I have a roll of bw in there now but I'm going to send my next color roll out.It also reminds me of xprocessing filters in lightroom

If you're talking about the cat picture it looks equally bad. I would buy some proper pro film like portra or ektar and make sure it's not expired, then give/send the roll to a lab with a good reputation for dev and scans. That way you know where the error lies and what kind of quality you should expect.

BobD · Jun 15, 2012

cepwin said:
I'm using a 50mm 1.8 lens...I might have missed the focus as it is manual focus but also I have a tendency to shoot wide open so the DOF could be too small. The scanner is an image lab scanner that is a film scanner..definitely as consumer model. I think the rub is the film...it was kodak 400 ISO that I bought from the 1hr foto type store but I don't have the canister or box to check the date. Like I said, it looks like pix I've seen of expired film.

You're shooting a 1.8 lens wide open with ISO 400 film in daylight with an FG?

For starters, when shooting outdoor daylight, I suggest stopping the lens down to about f/8 or more and working on your focus and hand-holding -- use a tripod if necessary.

And, use another lab too.

Are you sure your camera is working properly?

cepwin · Jun 15, 2012

Thanks for the suggestions!...yeah I have to learn the settings on this one. I've been using the little indicator in the viewfinder to adjust my shutter speed and have been adjusting aperture based on what I was taking. Yes, that is my plan...get some good color film (I have good b/w) and send it to a good lab..suggestions in the US? I'm certainly not going to trust the place I went with my film again...I believe they are the most likely suspect. I've seen Blue Moon and The Dark Room on the analog sites.

I'm not 100% sure how the camera is operating since I just got it. However, I have no reason to believe there's anything wrong with it. The scanner is not an expensive one so this is probably a matter of I get what I paid for.

wblynch · Jun 15, 2012

Just take it to Costco. Get their scan CD and prints. Total less than $10. Can't beat them for C-41 35mm processing.

Second choice, Walgreen's - CVS - Rite-Aid - Target.

Get in the ballpark then work on the nuances.

Chances are good your camera is OK.

--Oh. and cheap color film from the drugstore is best at this time. Kodak Gold 200 or 400 or Fujifilm 200 or 400 or any of the store brand. All are great films.

Once you get proper results you will love film photography.

cepwin · Jun 15, 2012

Oh...OK Thanks!...I'm not sure if Target still processes film in my area but I can check. CVS and Walgreen's are also convenient. I'm going to be by a CVS tomorrow and I'll see if they have the film.

Les Sarile · Jun 15, 2012

The EXIF of the images you posted lists Syntek USB Camera and you say the scanner is an "image lab scanner that is a film scanner..definitely as consumer model" but I am only familiar with Noritsu, Fuji Frontier or Agfa minilab scanners. Clearly, the scan leaves much to be desired and can likely distort the colors, contrast and quite possibly the focus.

amsp · Jun 16, 2012

Like I said, before buying drugstore film or going to costco for development, shoot at least one pro film and send it to Blue Moon or Richard Photo Lab, that way you have a quality standard to compare to if you decide to go with cheaper alternatives in the future. Also, if the photos come back still looking a bit funky you'll know that it is either the camera or user error on your part.

amsp · Jun 16, 2012

Les Sarile said:
The EXIF of the images you posted lists Syntek USB Camera and you say the scanner is an "image lab scanner that is a film scanner..definitely as consumer model" but I am only familiar with Noritsu, Fuji Frontier or Agfa minilab scanners. Clearly, the scan leaves much to be desired and can likely distort the colors, contrast and quite possibly the focus.

I tried to google "Syntek USB Camera" but couldn't find any specific product, an image search however did reveal similarly awful photos. My guess it's some low-res cheapo digital camera they use to just photograph the negative.

http://my.opera.com/theroxy2/albums/showpic.dml?album=3739802&picture=86714702#bigimg
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Chris Nielsen · Jun 16, 2012

That does sound rather dire, especially if it's a photo lab using one.

Pumalite · Jun 16, 2012

cepwin said:
I got the negatives back from the first roll of film I shot with the FG....I did a mixed workflow...getting it developed and scanning them into my computer and finishing with lightroom. The one thing I noticed is there
is a noticeable difference between film and digital results. It also looks like there was a bit of a blue cast...I need to check the white balance. My next rolls will be B+W and after I get my package from B+H I should have all
I need to process the next roll.

View attachment 52487 View attachment 52488 View attachment 52489 View attachment 52486

Get a good Scanner (not too expensive) like an Epson Perfection PHOTO 4499 and try again. Learn to set it first.

First roll from Nikon FG!

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