Hi folks
About six months ago I started out on my wet plate adventure and to this point I am loving it! After months of shooting, it has just dawned on my I have a plethora of plates I am needing to digitalise to use for projects and web based exhibition.
My only digital kit I have now is a Hasselblad H5D. I see some online who have used a flatbed scanner to digitalise there plates. and those who use digital camera rigs to use the high resolution of those sensors for the digitalisation process. I will be aiming to use the later of those two.
I’m going to construct a welded metal rig to hold the camera at a 90 degree, down facing angle toward a flat surface where the plate would be located. The distance between the flat surface and the camera will obviously be at a minimum of the camera closest focusing distance once I determine which lens would work best for this purpose. I would also like to use this to digitalise my vast polaroid collection also, so I may look at making it somewhat more adjustable also.
(Incase anyone was wondering the camera will be removable and insertable as and when I need to.)
I have a H100mm and H80mm, as well as a CF180mm with a CF/H adaptor which I would be using to photograph the plates - so obviously the focusing distance will not be to close. This is what brings me to my main concern for this setup; lighting. Do people using this method of photographing plates use macro/close up style flashes, or is it possible to simply use a couple well-diffused flashguns to get that even, crisp lighting thats essential to the ‘photographic scanning’? With the lenses I will be using, I am conscious that the minimum/maximum distance for any macro, close-up lighting may be an issue to achieve the exposure required, and thats the crucial point…
So, is my plan conceivable and going to work, or am I trying to build a boat with masonry tools, so to speak?
Look forward to hearing your information suggestions and help.
Thanks again all
Nathan
About six months ago I started out on my wet plate adventure and to this point I am loving it! After months of shooting, it has just dawned on my I have a plethora of plates I am needing to digitalise to use for projects and web based exhibition.
My only digital kit I have now is a Hasselblad H5D. I see some online who have used a flatbed scanner to digitalise there plates. and those who use digital camera rigs to use the high resolution of those sensors for the digitalisation process. I will be aiming to use the later of those two.
I’m going to construct a welded metal rig to hold the camera at a 90 degree, down facing angle toward a flat surface where the plate would be located. The distance between the flat surface and the camera will obviously be at a minimum of the camera closest focusing distance once I determine which lens would work best for this purpose. I would also like to use this to digitalise my vast polaroid collection also, so I may look at making it somewhat more adjustable also.
(Incase anyone was wondering the camera will be removable and insertable as and when I need to.)
I have a H100mm and H80mm, as well as a CF180mm with a CF/H adaptor which I would be using to photograph the plates - so obviously the focusing distance will not be to close. This is what brings me to my main concern for this setup; lighting. Do people using this method of photographing plates use macro/close up style flashes, or is it possible to simply use a couple well-diffused flashguns to get that even, crisp lighting thats essential to the ‘photographic scanning’? With the lenses I will be using, I am conscious that the minimum/maximum distance for any macro, close-up lighting may be an issue to achieve the exposure required, and thats the crucial point…
So, is my plan conceivable and going to work, or am I trying to build a boat with masonry tools, so to speak?
Look forward to hearing your information suggestions and help.
Thanks again all
Nathan
