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

**deepsepia** · March 14th, 2018, 10:54 PM

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

**ConstantOgler** · March 15th, 2018, 04:23 AM

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?
_________________
PS: Maybe I should add a sample scan.

macscouse · March 15th, 2018, 09:25 AM

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

Blurk99 · March 28th, 2018, 12:45 PM

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.

March 14th, 2018, 10:54 PM	#1
deepsepia Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Upper left corner Posts: 7,200 Thanks: 47,931 Thanked 83,397 Times in 7,194 Posts	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

March 15th, 2018, 04:23 AM	#2
ConstantOgler Vintage Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Outskirts of Goosebump City, near the BusbyBerkeleyBakery Posts: 777 Thanks: 4,712 Thanked 8,842 Times in 754 Posts	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? _________________ PS: Maybe I should add a sample scan. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Please do PM me on any dead links, loading fails, or other issues with host. It will be fixed!

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March 15th, 2018, 09:25 AM	#3
macscouse Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 22 Thanks: 15 Thanked 70 Times in 14 Posts	I use an Epson 4490 .. bit old but will scan up to HUGE !! Not cheap even now at @ £120 but will do the job.

March 28th, 2018, 12:45 PM	#4
Blurk99 Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: UK Posts: 67 Thanks: 111 Thanked 617 Times in 50 Posts	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.