Tuesday, Jul 20 2021
I sometimes shoot film. Always black and white which I develop myself. Once the negatives are in hand I convert them to digital for final processing. The “convert to digital” has meant using a flat bed scanner with various aids to scan the negatives. Once scanned I use my photo editor – curently Lightroom Classic with the Negative Lab Pro plug-in,i was using Capture One when this was originally written – to convert the negative to a positive and apply whatever edits I feel are necessary to make a decent image.
I’ve also used the scanner to convert boxes full of family photo negatives taken between the ’50s and ’90s. I mostly get usable results, but find that the process is quite slow.
An alternative to using a flat bed scanner is to shine a light source through the negative and take a picture of the negative with a DLSR. This can go quite fast given a good light source and a way to hold the negatives flat. You also need either a macro lens or extension tubes to use with a normal lens so you can focus at a distance where the image of the negative fills the viewfinder.
To hold the film flat I recently purchased the Essential Film Holder (EFH) which includes masks for 135 and 120 film, the two sizes I shoot. For a light source I use a Viltrox L116T LED light panel which is almost the perfect size for use with the EFH.
![Stand](./t-IMG_4541.jpg)
Stand
![Stand with light source](./t-IMG_4534.jpg)
Stand with light source
![It fits like this](./t-IMG_4543.jpg)
It fits like this
I designed and 3D printed a stand to hold the light panel stable on my desk. The panel can move toward the front as I left that end of the stand open to access the light panel power switch and intensity control. A dab of gaffers tape keeps the stand in place.
![Light source](./t-IMG_4540.jpg)
Light source
![Light source with mask](./t-IMG_4537.jpg)
Light source with mask
As noted, the light source is almost the perfect size. It is actually a touch too big. There is a light path around the EFH when it is on the panel. That unwanted light is aimed directly at the camera. I 3D printed a mask to block that light. It also helps keep the EFH centered on the light panel.
![Ready to "scan" negatives](./t-IMG_4538.jpg)
Ready to "scan" negatives
![How it looks in use](./t-IMG_4544.jpg)
How it looks in use
This is how it looks set up to scan 135 negatives. The camera is held on a Manfroto magic arm clamped to my desk. I trigger the shutter with a remote so I dont induce camera shake. The shutter is on a 2 second delay, too. Click. Line up the next frame in the holder. Click. Repeat. Blow dust off with a rocket blower as necessary.
It doesn’t take long to digitize a roll of film. Editing takes much longer.
Update: remote controlling the camera in live view over USB by Lightroom Classic is easier/faster than using a remote to trigger the shutter.
Update 2 (July 2023): I’m now using my wife’s old Canon 70D instead of my even older Canon 7D. For this use the 70D, short extension tube, and 50 mm f/1.8 is just right to digitize 6x7 120 film.
Update 3 (April 2024): Per an email request I’m adding links to the 3mf files used to print the stand and shield pictured above.