Scanning Medium format (120 film) negs, any ideas?
 

I bought some 2 1/4 inch medium format vintage nudes on eBay, wanted to scan them.

Has anybody got a recipe?

Back in the day there used to be service bureaus with very expensive drum scanners, but that's a thing of the past now, I think.

would appreciate any tips or tricks

Sounds like you don't have a dedicated flatbed scanner, or maybe old one w/o trans option? Many flatbeds now have trans option, tho some just for 35mm. Requires top that shines bright light, a film holder that rests on the bed, and a setting in the driver for transparent (rather than reflective) media. I haven't comp shopped in years since I am totally sold on Epson. A 1250 I had years ago had this even for 120 film. Replaced w its successor, a 600. When the 600 got balky (maybe my own careless moving), did not hesitate to get its newer version, 550. Love it. The 550 will do 35mm & 120 (holders for both) where the 600 can even do large format. This is about light mechanism in the top awa the holders. Years ago there were blogs abt DIY for shining your own light, cardboard holders, etc., now unneeded. :)

What throws many people off is dpi. They think they need 4000 dpi, & OC people will sell it to you. Drum processors, slide scanners -- epson has higher priced flatbeds, & maybe for some uses.

I go back to point I learned at scantips.com long ago. There is only so much info/detail in your original. Typical 35mm trans will give you good 8 x 10 print @ 300 dpi. You cant quadruple the info by going to 1200 dpi. It's not there. 120 film much larger, you get all the detail you need @ 300 dpi, but can do 600, 1200 or more on a flatbed, if you insist.

BTW, shouldn't this be in Help?
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PS: Maybe I should add a sample scan.

I use an Epson 4490 .. bit old but will scan up to HUGE !! Not cheap even now at @ £120 but will do the job.

as above - Epson are good transilluminating scanners (i scan my own negatives on my Epson Perfection v300, i do medium format B/W photography and self develop), the software is awful though, "vuescan" works with pretty much any scanner and provides more control

j.