Scan-Tech ANR glass - any experiences with them?

Jeremy Mudd · Jan 7, 2022

Good morning!

Back in November I broke one of my pieces of ANR glass for my V600 35mm film holder, and tried to order some more thru Betterscanning.net as I have had great experiences with their glass and 120 holder/glass. However, they never responded to my order, or repeated emails.

So I gave up on them and ordered some ANR glass thru Scan-Tech on 12/20 and paid via Paypal. No response from them regarding order processing, which to me was no big deal since it was the holidays. I sent them an email on Monday of this week, then tried to call mid-week with no answer. Starting to wonder if this is a thing with ANR glass suppliers. I realize they are probably a small company, but also don't want to let things slide and waste money.

Has anyone had any luck with Scan-Tech? And/Or - are there any other places to get cut ANR glass for V600 35mm holders?

Thanks a lot!

Jeremy

George Collier · Jan 7, 2022

I bought an 8x10 piece of anr glass from him a year ago or so. Talked on the toll free number, he shipped, quality good no problems. Very helpful.

Jeremy Mudd · Jan 7, 2022

George Collier said:
I bought an 8x10 piece of anr glass from him a year ago or so. Talked on the toll free number, he shipped, quality good no problems. Very helpful.

OK, thanks for that. I'm hoping they are just slow at getting caught up from the holidays.

Jeremy

Jeremy Mudd · Jan 11, 2022

If there was a toll free# on the site there isn't now, just a number with a 323 area code - that is now giving me the "This mailbox is full and not accepting messages" notification.

Anyone else have another way of contacting them? Emails are going un-answered as well.

I'm starting to feel like I should just go ahead and make a paypal dispute now. What is it with people that sell ANR glass?

Thanks,

Jeremy

shutterfinger · Jan 11, 2022

File your claim against Scan-Tech then order from http://www.fpointinc.com/glass.htm

MattKing · Jan 11, 2022

As I understand it, Focal Point is no longer in business.

shutterfinger · Jan 11, 2022

Glad I bought mine years ago. I get 404 when I click on their secure order link, thought they were still active. OH WELL!

Jeremy Mudd · Jan 12, 2022

Thanks. I got the 404 notice on Focal Point, and then sent them an email asking if they were still around. The last time the site was updated was 2012 so I'm not holding my breath on that one.

Now that I've seen Matt's comment I'm assuming they are gone, but if I do get a response I'll let you know.

I sent one final email yesterday to Scan-Tech asking them to respond in 2 days. If I don't get anything from them, then I'll file a dispute.

Which brings me back full-circle on this one.

Anyone know of any other ANR glass suppliers for film scanners? I did a Google/eBay/Amazon search a while back when I wasn't getting a response from Betterscanning, and there weren't a lot of options. Its looking like I might have to buy a much larger piece and then cut it down myself which isn't really all that appealing. I don't like cutting glass.

But beggars can't be choosers I guess.

Jeremy

bernard_L · Jan 12, 2022

Jeremy Mudd said:
Anyone know of any other ANR glass suppliers for film scanners?

As I already wrote in another thread, I use so-called anti-glare glass cut to my size at a framing supplies store.

Clean film with Giotto rocket blower
place film in holder emulsion side down
normally the upper side (shiny) will be convex (bulge upwards)
clean (window cleaning liquid, Giotto blower) anti-glare glass strip and place it above the film
the weight of the glass flattens the film
tell the s***g software that it must "mirror" the image, or do it in post (batch in image magick...)

This is it, mostly. Reminder: anti-glare glass is not anti-reflection glass (it's far cheaper), and is actually slightly frosted; no problem since it is not in the image-forming path.

The ends of the film strip may exercise their freedom to bend away from the plane of the glass.What I do (I use this for MF) is, before inserting the film, I secure these ends to the glass with small pieces of adhesive tape before flipping the glass onto the holder. This may be too delicate with 35mm film, as the inter-frame gap is small, and 1/2 or less is present at the ends.

If your framing supply store refuses to cut 35mm wide strips, buy a larger piece, train yourself to cut glass, and cut your own strips of anti-glare glass. Quite easy, once you "get" it. A firmly fixed ruler, one continuous of the diamond or carbide tip, heavy enough to score, but not too much. The glass will detach with little effort. Make sure to dull the edges with fine grain emery paper.

Jeremy Mudd · Jan 13, 2022

bernard_L said:
As I already wrote in another thread, I use so-called anti-glare glass cut to my size at a framing supplies store.

Clean film with Giotto rocket blower

place film in holder emulsion side down

normally the upper side (shiny) will be convex (bulge upwards)

clean (window cleaning liquid, Giotto blower) anti-glare glass strip and place it above the film

the weight of the glass flattens the film

tell the s***g software that it must "mirror" the image, or do it in post (batch in image magick...)

This is it, mostly. Reminder: anti-glare glass is not anti-reflection glass (it's far cheaper), and is actually slightly frosted; no problem since it is not in the image-forming path.

The ends of the film strip may exercise their freedom to bend away from the plane of the glass.What I do (I use this for MF) is, before inserting the film, I secure these ends to the glass with small pieces of adhesive tape before flipping the glass onto the holder. This may be too delicate with 35mm film, as the inter-frame gap is small, and 1/2 or less is present at the ends.

If your framing supply store refuses to cut 35mm wide strips, buy a larger piece, train yourself to cut glass, and cut your own strips of anti-glare glass. Quite easy, once you "get" it. A firmly fixed ruler, one continuous of the diamond or carbide tip, heavy enough to score, but not too much. The glass will detach with little effort. Make sure to dull the edges with fine grain emery paper.

Thanks, I read this on the other thread. I'll keep it in mind.

Jeremy

Jeremy Mudd · Jan 13, 2022

michael_r said:
Mike definitely closed Focal Point several years ago. Too bad because he was very professional. Anyway I really hope Scantech comes through for you because their AN glass is a pretty decent product.

According to this thread Betterscanning is still running as of mid December.
https://www.largeformatphotography....tterscanning-com-business-status-thread/page7

You could try Negative Supply. Perhaps they can custom cut some of their ANR product for you.

I've ordered from Betterscanning in the past and Doug makes some great products. I love the 120 holder and ANR glass I purchased from him. It appears that he picks and chooses who he replies to or takes orders from. As a past customer you'd think he'd at least respond to me but he never sent me an invoice for the order I placed in November and never answered any emails. I'd prefer to get product from him. But almost nothing angers me more than being flat-out ignored when I'm trying to give someone my money. And it burns me up that he's obviously responded to others and fullfilled orders during that time frame. It's a shatty way to do business. Repeat customers are usually at the heart of most small businesses but apparently not for him.

Thanks for the Negative Supply suggestion.

Looks like I am going to file a Paypal complaint today in regards to Scan-Tech.

Jeremy

Jeremy Mudd · Jan 13, 2022

Filed my complaint with PayPal this morning.

Found a recent thread from 7 months ago on Reddit. Looks like the owner of Scan-Tech has bigger problems than my order to worry about so I'm glad I just filed it and escalated it for a full refund. I wish him well.

Jeremy

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 13, 2022

Doesn't the "glass" have to be perfectly frosted equally across its entire surface? Otherwise, you'll get a different amount of light on different areas of the film. Is it made to these standards?

juan · Jan 13, 2022

I’ve used the anti-glare glass from local frame shops for nearly 20-years.

Jeremy Mudd · Jan 13, 2022

Alan Edward Klein said:
Doesn't the "glass" have to be perfectly frosted equally across its entire surface? Otherwise, you'll get a different amount of light on different areas of the film. Is it made to these standards?

That's why I am focusing on ANR glass and not the "anti-glare" for now. I've got experience with ANR glass and have been happy using that, so trying not to deviate from something I know works.

I've found some larger sheets of ANR ($$$) so more than likely I'm going to buy that and then do some glass-cutting (ugh).

Jeremy

Jeremy Mudd · Jan 14, 2022

Focal Point must have been a great company to deal with - Mike actually took the time to respond to my email to tell me that he was no longer in business.

Too bad I can't get people who are actually in business to reply.

Jeremy

Cinema · Apr 12, 2022

i’m just getting around to using my ANR glass from scantech. i did hear from
the owner that he was ill and it took a long time to ship out. it arrived several months ago but it took 6 months at least.

it seems like good stuff. I gather this is only suitable for scanning on a flatbed correct? i do have an epson v500 but i also camera scan, so i’m guessing placing the glass on top of the negative and shooting through it is not really recommended due to the frosting. what type of glass would one use to shoot thru for camera scanning?

instructions only recommend the ‘etched’ or more frosted side come in contact with the negative. on a flatbed, that would be the non-emulsion side. when camera scanning i always scan the emulsion side, which means the glass would have to come in contact with the emulsion.

brbo · Apr 13, 2022

Scanner or camera scanning or in enlarger, it always the same. ANR glass with frosted surface goes against the base (shiny side) of the negative, plain glass goes on emulsion side. So you shoot/project image through plain glass with emulsion facing sensor/paper.

bernard_L · Apr 13, 2022

brbo said:
So you shoot/project image through plain glass with emulsion facing sensor/paper.

... and you need to mirror the image.

Cinema · Apr 13, 2022

brbo said:
Scanner or camera scanning or in enlarger, it always the same. ANR glass with frosted surface goes against the base (shiny side) of the negative, plain glass goes on emulsion side. So you shoot/project image through plain glass with emulsion facing sensor/paper.

thanks much. i should i find plain non-reflective glass to shoot thru. i only have anr glass currently

alanrockwood · Apr 15, 2022

brbo said:
Scanner or camera scanning or in enlarger, it always the same. ANR glass with frosted surface goes against the base (shiny side) of the negative, plain glass goes on emulsion side. So you shoot/project image through plain glass with emulsion facing sensor/paper.

Wouldn't plain glass on the emulsion side produce Newton rings? If not then is it because the emulsion side is rough enough that Newton rings are not a problem?

brbo · Apr 15, 2022

alanrockwood said:
Wouldn't plain glass on the emulsion side produce Newton rings? If not then is it because the emulsion side is rough enough that Newton rings are not a problem?

Exactly.

Though, high humidity can produce Newton rings with some films even on emulsion side.

Cinema · Apr 15, 2022

right. the emulsion side is in slight relief so the surface is not really 100% pressed up flat against the glass. i think i will ask the framing shop in town for some anti reflective glass for shooting through

revisionistphoto · Jun 11, 2022

I purchased both the medium format and 35mm anr glass inserts for the Epson V600 scanner and had a horrible experience with the owner. In all fairness, he is ill and I can understand delays, but it's been nearly a year and I haven't been able to get my transaction resolved.

Of the two inserts I ordered, I only received the medium format insert; however, it was badly scratched. I contacted the seller and he asked me to send him pictures of the shipping label, as he indicates what was shipped. Sure enough, only one insert was shipped. Shortly after that, I never heard from him again, despite numerous calls across multiple months.

I decided to file a claim with my credit card company and, while he wouldn't respond to me at all, he promptly responded to the claim. Unfortunately, since he provided a tracking number that showed the package delivered, the claim was denied. (Remember, I did receive a package from him ... it just included 1 of 2 inserts, and the insert that did arrive was not usable.) I've never received another word from him. No phone calls back, no apology, no refund. Nothing.

At this point, I've completely given up. It looks like the website is no longer functional, so I don't think anyone else will end up in my situation but, if you're able to place an order, DON'T. Quality control is abysmal and communication/customer care are nonexistent. Save your money and shop elsewhere.

(I genuinely do hope the guy I spoke with is doin well and recovering.)

250swb · Jun 11, 2022

ANR glass is made by big companies dealing with the scientific and optical imaging communities, so I would beware of individuals offering ANR glass, often it can be ordinary glass that has simply been rubbed into a matt finish with carborundum paste, but that is NOT ANR glass. In the UK there is a company called Knight Optical that will sell you direct set sizes of ANR or do custom sizes, there must be a company doing the same in the USA.

Scan-Tech ANR glass - any experiences with them?

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