Minimum needed for better scanning quality?

Looking to get an idea on what would be the acceptable minimum for scanning film with a DSLR or through using a film scanner.

I moved to hybrid mode about a year ago. Printing materials are out of my reach. I have been using a Canon T5 with the 18mm to 55mm kit lens mounted on an old Bogen tripod with a Cinestill CS light pad to capture 35 and 120 negative frames. I had bought a set of extension tubes that were supposed to be for the T5 but for some reason the autofocus doesn't work and the aperture setting is inoperable, display reads f/00, so I have been doing without the extension tubes by zooming in all the way to 55mm on the kit lens.

I am on a somewhat tight budget. It would take me some time to save up and I would have to get certain pieces one-by-one. I can do it, it will just take time. I am not looking for absolute pristine quality but something that would be better than what I am, have been, dealing with. The quality I get from the T5 with the kit lens on the Bogen tripod is on the fuzzy side. The image quality is not that crisp as it could be. There is also some visible noise evident. I use an aperture of around f/8 - f/11. I have played around with shutter speeds and even auto ISO options and no matter what I use, the quality is virtually identical: fuzzy and with slight noise and I have to really work out the levels.

I have looked into film scanners and really good ones are way above my budget. The Epson V series scanners look like they may be a decent option but how bulky are these scanners and would they be able to work under Linux Mint? I know the software definitely will not. And no I will not be returning to Windows of any kind.

Any advice and suggestions that anybody would have are welcomed. Thanks

I'd prefer to use an actual macro lens, not a zoom lens which has some macro capabilities.

4season said:

I'd prefer to use an actual macro lens, not a zoom lens which has some macro capabilities.

Click to expand...

A zoom with macro mode can't get sufficient magnification to fill the frame with a 35mm negative.

First, you don't absolutely need autofocus. You can do it the old-fashion way, by eye. Second, although the extension tubes might be for the T5, are they compatible with the lens--a more important distinction. And third, that lens only focuses down to 25" or macro 1:2, a far cry from what you would need to copy a frame of 35mm film. Save your pennies for a true macro lens with the ability to go 1:1.

As others have mentioned, I’d start with a fixed focal length macro. Either one specific to your camera, or something you can get a suitable adapter for. I don’t know what’s what in the Canon world, but Nikon’s 55mm macro, with its 1:1 extension tube works well, and they are available inexpensively, especially the non-“auto indexing” versions. Vivitar and Tamron made some macros too, either would likely be less than Canon’s version.
Another option might be a bellows unit and an enlarger lens.
As mentioned, autofocus is sort of convenient, but is not essential, and often just complicates things.

Pieter12 said:

Second, although the extension tubes might be for the T5, are they compatible with the lens--a more important distinction.

Click to expand...

I had to retrieve the document when I purchased the tubes. They were bought on 01/16/2025 and received on 01/21/2025 They are stated as compatible with Canon EOS (EF and EF-S) based lenses. Brand is Fotodiox, automacro extension tubes. They were bought at Adorama.

@4season, @Chan Tran and @Pieter12: I will look into a macro lens. Any idea on focal length and a lens that isn't as costly? B&H has a Canon version but the price is way up there.

bdial said:

I don’t know what’s what in the Canon world, but Nikon’s 55mm macro, with its 1:1 extension tube works well, and they are available inexpensively, especially the non-“auto indexing” versions. Vivitar and Tamron made some macros too, either would likely be less than Canon’s version.

Click to expand...

The Canon one I saw was on the high end side for price. I forgot about Tamron. I wil llook into them and the Vivitar lines. I do recall Sigma also. Thanks

AFAIK the V series and other Epson scanners that can do transparencies do not have Linux support. But you could try researching VueScan software.

julio1fer said:

AFAIK the V series and other Epson scanners that can do transparencies do not have Linux support. But you could try researching VueScan software.

Click to expand...

Thanks for letting me know this. I will look into Vuescan.