Scanning Minox negatives

[spookyphoto]

I'm curious. Is anybody using a Valoi easy 35 setup or a Negative Supply mk3 to scan Minox negatives ?

 

[armadsen]

I'm using a Negative Supply Basic 35mm Carrier with an insert that I designed myself and 3D printed. You could use it standalone too, though if you put some rubber feet on the bottom, I think. (You'd still need the light source, stand, etc. from the regular Negative Supply setup, of course.) You can find it here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7309594.

If you want one, and can't print it yourself, I'm happy to print it and send it to you for the cost of filament and shipping.

 

[spookyphoto]

I'm using a Negative Supply Basic 35mm Carrier with an insert that I designed myself and 3D printed. You could use it standalone too, though if you put some rubber feet on the bottom, I think. (You'd still need the light source, stand, etc. from the regular Negative Supply setup, of course.) You can find it here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7309594.

If you want one, and can't print it yourself, I'm happy to print it and send it to you for the cost of filament and shipping.

I've been looking at this setup which has the knob to advance the film

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1907424-REG/negative_supply_msfam_minox_subminiature_film_advance.html/?ap=y&smp=y&store=420&smpm=ba_f2_lar&msclkid=aceb6a3d4def1c81064203920d06afdf

Minox Film Scanning Cassette (for Basic Film Carrier 35 MK2 or Pro Film Carrier 35 MK2) — Negative Supply

Introducing the Negative Supply Minox Film Scanning Cassette for the Pro Film Carrier 35 MK2 and Basic Film Carrier 35 MK2 (or original Pro Film Carrier 35)! Minox is a nearly forgotten micro format but there is still a strong community behind it, and it’s additionally important for film scanning

www.negative.supply

What lens setup are you using ?

 

[armadsen]

Yes, it looks very nice. But you also need the Minox scanning cassette ($49), and the Pro Film Carrier MK2 ($399) for a total of $597. I have both the Pro Film Carrier MK1 and the Basic Film Carrier MK1 which also both have interchangeable cassettes, but Negative Supply never produced a Minox cassette for either one. I wasn't really in the mood to spend 600 bucks 2 years later just to be able to scan one other film format.

So, I decided to make my own which costs <$1 in filament, and took me a few hours to design. I chose to make my Minox cassette for the basic film carrier because it doesn't have a knob, and that part seemed a lot harder to redo for Minox, plus I don't really care about it for the relatively little Minox I shoot (compared to 35mm and 120).

 

[spookyphoto]

Yes, it looks very nice. But you also need the Minox scanning cassette ($49), and the Pro Film Carrier MK2 ($399) for a total of $597. I have both the Pro Film Carrier MK1 and the Basic Film Carrier MK1 which also both have interchangeable cassettes, but Negative Supply never produced a Minox cassette for either one. I wasn't really in the mood to spend 600 bucks 2 years later just to be able to scan one other film format.

So, I decided to make my own which costs <$1 in filament, and took me a few hours to design. I chose to make my Minox cassette for the basic film carrier because it doesn't have a knob, and that part seemed a lot harder to redo for Minox, plus I don't really care about it for the relatively little Minox I shoot (compared to 35mm and 120).

 

[spookyphoto]

What lens setup are you using ?

 

[armadsen]

I use the Laowa 65mm F2.8 2X Macro: https://www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-65mm-f-2-8-2x-ultra-macro-apo/ I previously used a Fujifilm 60mm 2.4 Macro, but it had very notable softness in the corners, even stopped down a bit, so I sold it. It also only had a 0.5x magnification ratio, so not even a true macro.

The camera is a Fujifilm X-T4 (have also used an X-Pro3 in the past, but they both have the same sensor).

 

[spookyphoto]

I use the Laowa 65mm F2.8 2X Macro: https://www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-65mm-f-2-8-2x-ultra-macro-apo/ I previously used a Fujifilm 60mm 2.4 Macro, but it had very notable softness in the corners, even stopped down a bit, so I sold it. It also only had a 0.5x magnification ratio, so not even a true macro.

The camera is a Fujifilm X-T4 (have also used an X-Pro3 in the past, but they both have the same sensor).

Can you fill the frame with that lens ?

 

[armadsen]

Yes, at least in the smaller dimension. Minox doesn't have quite the same aspect ratio as APS-C.

 

[spookyphoto]

Yes, at least in the smaller dimension. Minox doesn't have quite the same aspect ratio as APS-C.

Thanks for the help. I appreciate it.

 

[P C Headland]

I scanned mine using my Kaiser 35mm holder with a home made insert made from black card, Panasonic G9, 45mm Panasonic Leica macro lens plus extension tubes & hi res mode. That combo will fill the frame.

 

[ChrisGalway]

I'm curious. Is anybody using a Valoi easy 35 setup or a Negative Supply mk3 to scan Minox negatives ?

I use the Valoi Easy35, with the special Minox film holder, and a Fujifilm X-T30 with a TTArtisan 40mm/f/2.8 Macro lens, stopped down to f/5.6 or f/8. This setup works very well.

You've reminded me, I must take some more Minox photos, it's great fun!

 

[xkaes]

For digitizing Minox negatives on a full-frame DLSR, I use a 25mm lens designed for that amount of magnification -- 3x-5x. I like to use about 100mm of bellows extension to keep things manageable, so a 25 works well. Of course with an APS-sized sensor the amount of magnification is less, but most macro lenses are not designed for magnifications passed 1X.

 

[ChrisGalway]

For digitizing Minox negatives on a full-frame DLSR, I use a 25mm lens designed for that amount of magnification -- 3x-5x. I like to use about 100mm of bellows extension to keep things manageable, so a 25 works well. Of course with an APS-sized sensor the amount of magnification is less, but most macro lenses are not designed for magnifications passed 1X.

Am I missing something here, but digitising a Minox negative using the full frame (or either a full-frame or APS camera) seems overkill to me. Even 2000 x 1800 (4 Mpix) seems more than enough. Or am I wrong?

FYI, I digitise at 1:1 magnification on a Fuji X-T30 with macro lens, 4 micron pixels, and I think my digitised images are limited by the Minox lens/film, not by the digitising set up.

 

[armadsen]

You’re not wrong. The full sensor in any modern camera is overkill for scanning Minox. I don’t actually fill the frame when I scan, but I find it easier to get things lined up and straight if it’s not too small.

 

[loccdor]

I think I'd want about 8-12 megapixels based on these tests if using a very sharp film like Scala/HR-50/CMS 20. With other films 4-6 megapixels seems about right.

Challengers to Minox A

Three of the 20th century’s most brilliant camera engineering minds tackled the same challenge: Minox A, Mamiya super 16, and Edixa 16.

moments-of-now.com