I have digitised my color slides (mostly Kodachrome 64) using a Nikon D90 w/ Sigma 70mm/2.8 macro lens. As a light source, I used a single SB400 flash unit with a SC17 cable, using the flashlight to bounce off a white surface. To minimise movement, I mounted the camera on a professional copy stand, and used a IR remote to trigger the shutter. The Sigma could be stopped down to f8 or even f11, because the flash duration is very short.

Thanks, David. I was looking for a way to spend hundreds of thousands of hours scanning. Scanning with a mobile phone might be a good idea for a first pass. Then when I need an image, I will happily put my Canon R5 and RF100mm Macro to work for those spectacular images. (I shudder to think how many photos I shot with my 4x5 Speed Graphic.)

My setup is as simple as I could make it. Valoi Easy35, a 1:1 macro lens, and a Sony A7iii. I don't do anything but 35mm, so I don't need the flexibility for the foreseeable future. Something I didn't expect: 24 megapixels is already slight overkill, even with finer-grained films like Portra.

Great video as always. I use a PF7200 to scan film and slides. I used to have a PF3600 witch I like so I bought the 7200 a while ago. I have used DSLR scanning, it is definitely faster, but I use the dedicated scanner because I find it less of a hassle. It is at my computer station, it works, it produces equivalent results to my DSLR. The trick is I do my scanning while watching TV, I can do on average three rolls a night, that is enough for my attention span. I found with the DSLR I had to continually pay attention to it. With the scanner I do not have to concern my self with exposure, focusing, or alignment, I just have to advance the film. When the scanner eventually dies I will use the the camera.

I use the Nikon ES-2 and 60mm macro lens. You don't have to point the camera down or worry about level since the copier is attached to the lens. This also lets me use a flash for the light source so I can select a flash strength for a reasonable shutter speed and aperture for depth of field. This works for both negatives and slides. The D850 even includes a mode that converts the color negative to a positive JPEG file.

I have just used some post operative recovery to take the opportunity to scan 10,000 old negatives and slides. I found the best was to use my old V750 Pro Scanner from Epson. I tried a few other techniques which just took too long or did not give me the best results. It is very much a time and motion process. I have catalogued my negatives, so for some of the real keepers I can find and quickly go back and try again. There are so many missed focus, camera shake along with the general softness that I just don't understand why folks want to go back to film. Lightroom is an absolute must and even a auto preset transforms the negatives.

Thanks for the information. I use a pro grade scanner that has auto feed for the film, though the feed isn’t always accurate. The image quality is very good.

I have thousands to do! I will definitely give these devices a shot!

I'm scanning film using an Epson flatbed, but mostly scanning prints. Pictures are about 60 years old, to put into a movie for a high school 60th year reunion. --BAK--

Very informative as always, David!

Thank You David for answering my question and giving such great advice on how to go about it. I just need the Lomography kit and tether my camera to my laptop and go from there. As always Thank you for researching what would be the best way for the best results. Thanks

I have now watched this and it is certainly a great technique and would be ideal for those shooting film today and wanting to digitize their images. Why not do the whole thing and develop the film as well! However, it is going to be very time consuming and hands on, where as with the Epson V750 technique you can load up a set of negatives and let it run after you have done a preview and chosen the ones you want to scan. I am going to get this kit and revisit some of my more important negatives. I have one film I took at a Jean-Michel Jarre in the Docklands in London in 1988 and getting the fireworks to scan correctly was really challenging, this might work better. You can also get a 110 film mask so no need to get that piece of Anti-Newton Ring Glass! I might even go and get my Dad's Canon camera he bought in the 1960's down from the loft and try some film photography; depends on the quality!

I use a strobe instead of a light pad. Use a metal reflector and sheet of white acrylic on top like a table. Then have the negative in a holder from an enlarger. Faster exposure times and not worried about camera shake.

Similar, although I use masks & an old tablet for a light source. The Lomography kit looks handy. I actually use a point & shoot with a macro setting. It's light & handy, not needed every day & the 20 Mpx sensor does a decent job. The small lens restricts the final result to about 10 Mpx effective.

Whoa...an awful lot of useful information there! I just bought a fairly expensive Macro-Adapter M from Leica without thinking my purchase through. I think your video is the culprit. "What am I going to do with this thing?" I found myself asking the day after. I'm not naturally a photographer of insects or LEGO toys. Thank you! Perhaps I can digitize my film images.

Just so that you know, the actual answer to the video title "Digitizing Film with a Macro Lens" starts at 3:54

That's pretty cool, great video and thanks for sharing. You guys always have such great content for the most part. God bless you all

God bless you

Thanks, David - this seems like a really good setup. I'm still dealing with an Epson V550 flatbed scanner, which is ok, but a slow process, and the carriers are pretty flimsy and don't do a good job of flattening out the film (particularly if it has the dreaded lengthwise curl).

Nikon D850 has a kit for film. It is easy and works perfectly.

I have hundreds of Kodachrome slides. How do I handle that?

Only caveat with the Lomography kit is that it can't scan 6x9 120 straight. It requires post-scan stitching.

What about slides. I have a lot I want to digitize.

Thankyou for this video

I would like to see some advanced level videos. Most are basic. I liked the headshots video posted a few weeks ago. This one is ok, but I would like some advanced level ones.

Great video, I have the The Canon EOS 5D Mark III and I do not know how many mm macro lens I should purchase. And should it be canon or can I use any compatible ? The second camera I have is a SONY a7000, not full frame. Also Is it worth buying a lens at x mm for that one, loosing edges ?

I'm not sure that device will work with slides. I have some ancient slides, and the slide projector doesn't work. I would love to use a variation of this technique to capture files and be able to look at them.

HI David. Where can I find the download for Analog tool box for Capture One? Thanks Rick G.

Would this work fine with a aps-c crop sensor DSLR?

HI, I have a Nikon D70 camera, that I would like use to scan my negatives. Can you recommend a lens?

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