Medium format film scanning options

[stuart b]

I was recently given a collection of old negatives which had belonged to my father. I want to scan them to preserve them and possibly to display some of them (1950s motorsport). The majority are medium format with a handful of larger format.

There is quite a large number, so although I don't envisage ever scanning medium format again, it is possibly going to be more cost effective to buy a scanner than use a service.

This is all uncharted territory for me. I think some here shoot medium format but not sure if that is straight to digital or not.

Any pointers?

Thanks
Stuart

[GetCarter]

I always used Dunns (Birmingham) to scan my medium format negs.

They were not cheap, but good.

[stuart b]

Thanks - I'll look them up. At least I can get a price and compare to scanner prices. Might just need to be more selective about which I scan and which I just preserve as best I can.

thanks
Suart

[LongQ]

Stuart,

You can find flatbed scanners on ebay for not very much money , try some scanning and if that doesn't work sell it again on eBay.

I have an Epson 4990 which works pretty well. The more recent Epson V700 or V750 have also had good reviews. The 750 allows wet scanning which may help reduce dust and scratch problems, if any, at scan time. Saves some editing afterwards. Needs some special fluids though.

One thing you could do is scan some of the better looking negatives and if the looked like they will go further than the scanner can achieve then send a selection off for professional scanning. I could do the test for you but I'm not often around Surrey these days. If you ever head towards the M1 J24 area you could bring some samples to try out. Post or courier are options if you trust them (and me!).

Depending on the subject matter you may find some useful comparisons with the standards of the day here;


www.duerdencollection.com

More from the 60s than 50s

www.photohistoric.com

www.motorsportimage.co.uk

There are some other sites interested in presenting images as part of their historic records - www.racingsportscars.com for example.

I would guess that if the film used was typical of the period and the negatives are in good condition, the scanner can do pretty much as good a job as you are likely to get. Might require a little experimentation to get the best results though. Perhaps some dedicated B&W (I assume mostly B&W nags?) processing software as well for best results. I had about half a dozen 2 1/4" square neg films to scan so justifying buying software was not really on. However I do have a couple of trial applications that might be interesting to try out with some fresh scans of my negs.

Bear in mind this can become a labour of love which is a severe drain on your time!

[stuart b]

Most helpful thanks. I have an old flatbed, but it has no film capability. I'll have a look at the ones you suggest. I'll also look at the links. I was searching around yesterday to see if I could find a suitable archive for later.

I believe some of the pictures are interesting (there's a nice pic of Neubauer (I think) on the finish line somewhere for example plus later ones of Graham Hill and Jim Clark on the back of lorries on the streets of London (I think) in some sort of parade. My Dad was a photojournalist so I think the standard is quite good. Its a bit hard to tell when just holding them up to the light.

I have no problem with the time required; if I have to scan each one individually and clean up on the PC by hand for best results that's fine with me. Its very much a labour of love as you can perhaps imagine.

Unfortunately I can't entrust them to the post. If I am heading up your way, I shall get in touch again though.

Thanks for the help and as soon as I have something, I'll post up here if I find anything interesting.

Stuart

[LongQ]

Stuart,

Some scanner review here

www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson%20V700/page_1.htm

This one links to the Epson V700 item but the site has several others reviewed and there are many interesting discussions in the forum.

People get quite involved with this looking for total perfection in theoretical terms, hence you get comments about drum scanners and then you are into the differences between flatbed wet mounting and drum scanning which, afaik, will always be wet mounting.

You dopn;t mention 35mm. Probably just as well, a whoel new can of worms to be discussed ther, possibly because the dedicated 35mm devices may give better outright results for resolution than the flatbeds - but are more expansive, often slower and more time consuming. Plus limited to 35mm! Not really an option for you.

I had a feeling you were going to say your dad was a pro in some capacity. In which case I would anticipate some very handy images. I reckon the £300 or so I spent on my Epson 4990 was a good investment even though the main part of my collection is 35mm (or prints where I can't find the negs! )

Once you can see what you you are dealing with you can decide where to go with the collection from there. The scanner will always be with a few quid if you don't need it any longer.

There are a couple of threads with some old scans on PH somewhere. I'll try to find them and and post the links here.

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.

Edited by LongQ on Monday 4th December 21:35

Edited by LongQ on Monday 4th December 21:42

[LongQ]

Just happened upon this item while searching for something else.

Thought it might be of interest.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl

[stuart b]

LongQ

Sorry I had missed your replies on this until just now. Thanks for the additional info. I have had a look through the reviews and these sound like very handy devices. I do have some 35mm but its mainly family stuff so the Epsons would I'm sure be adequate.

I'm still invetigating and will post up some results when I have them.

Thanks everyone for the help - I was completely out of touch with this tech. so it's been really useful.

Stuart