5x4 Negative

Barney

Barney

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is there any appreciable difference between scanning or photographing a 5x4 negative?
 
That rather depends on the equipment/techniques used. My scanners wouldn't do even a moderately good job, but a decent negative scanner will out perform even the best camera for this.

For my purposes photographing will probably remain adequate (though maybe via a contact print)
 
I scan my 5x4 negatives with an Epson v700. I've had it for years, long before camera scanning became popular. I've never been dissatisfied with scans of large format negs, but I admit I don't have anything to compare them with.

I carry on using the Epson because it works, and because I'd have to buy more kit (copy stand, macro lens, negative holder, etc) to do camera scanning. If the Epson breaks in future, then I'll switch to camera scanning.
 
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Whats the best thing to do when setting up?

Buy a scanner or a photo set up?
 
I would say a suitable scanner is probably easiest. The Epson V700 / V750 and V800 / V850 come with 4x5 holders and it's likely much less faff than setting up a copy stand, light source, and then taking and stitching multiple shots. But I only have experience with scanners, so I might be biased (although I do plan on attempting DSLR scanning 35mm soon).
 
Never done anything other than use an Epson flatbeds, starting before the V700 came out. Perfectly happy with the results.

I have used the Epson, a slide copier on a Sony a7rii, and a macro lens (without copy stand etc.) on 35mm Kodachromes. In my hands, the Epson results were the best.
 
I use an Epson V700, no complaints. Before that I had an earlier Epson scanner for up to to 5x4, good enough scans although 35mm wasn't that good, except in black and white. Can't imagine what advantage a camera set up might be except greater resolution (what for?), the Epson dynamic range is good enough for 5x4 I would say as well.
 
I use the Epson 3200 and it does a fine job. If I shot something that I thought needed every last pixel (say it was being printed really large) then I would just take it to a professional lab. Haven't done that yet and have printed up to A3+.

I use the V500 for my 120 film and a Nikon Coolscan V ED for 35mm.
 
moggi1964 said:
I use the Epson 3200 and it does a fine job. If I shot something that I thought needed every last pixel (say it was being printed really large) then I would just take it to a professional lab. Haven't done that yet and have printed up to A3+.

I use the V500 for my 120 film and a Nikon Coolscan V ED for 35mm.
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Hello Morris,

why not the V500 for 4x5?
 
Barney said:
Hello Morris,

why not the V500 for 4x5?
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It can't scan 4x5, only up to 120. Some people hereabouts have used it successfully by scanning the 4x5 neg in two halves and then stitching them in Photoshop.

I tried this when I had a V550, but didn't find it satisfactory.
 
Whats your workflow, most of my negatives are not worth keeping. Going forward my plan is take photos with my iphone ( using a 3d printed jig and lightbox) and have contact sheets printed online. This will show any major errors of focus, developing. Those worth more time I’ll think do I want to wet print, is it worth a lab/drum scan etc

They have now discontinued the v850, id sway towards digital camera scanning personally as ive most of what I need already

Good luck on your solution
 
thedistrictline said:
Whats your workflow
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That's a good question, and has given me food for thought.

The last year or so has seen a resurgence in my interest in film photography, I started off shooting in 135 and then incorporated 120 into my photography, currently I home develop in the bathroom and have a small film specific Reflecta scanner and been satisfied with some of the resulting images when I have gotten everything right. I was lucky enough to snag a 5x4 camera from one of the members here and so far have taken one photo and developed it at home in a paterson tank, just took the reels out and curled it round the side. Subsequently I have realized that I have limited capcity for handling the 4x5 negatives, they are flipping huge, so have refrained from making any more until I have a method and process.

I have bought an old daylight developing tank designed specifically around 5x4 negatives, which brings its own problems with developer volumes etc 1600ml. I think I have a handle on what I will be doing on the development side and now need to sort out the scanning aspect. Seeing as I have nothing ivested already I wondered which direction to take, Scan or Photograph the negatives.
 
Great, seems you know what direction you want to go, perhaps start with digital camera scanning first and see how far it takes you. If you wanna get into scanning asap then the Epson 4990I think is their earlier that does 4x5 , one on eBay here for a good price and these are generally much cheaper than the 600s and up
 
thedistrictline said:
Great, seems you know what direction you want to go, perhaps start with digital camera scanning first and see how far it takes you. If you wanna get into scanning asap then the Epson 4990I think is their earlier that does 4x5 , one on eBay here for a good price and these are generally much cheaper than the 600s and up
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Is a photo scanner the same as a film scanner? I note there are two models of 3200, photo and pro?
 
Barney said:
Is a photo scanner the same as a film scanner? I note there are two models of 3200, photo and pro?
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Usually yeah, negative scanners usually have a back light to scan all the info from the film. The person in the ebay has mislabeled their listing. If you google 4990 you'll see its described as a flatbed scanner that does negatives and prints
 
thedistrictline said:
Usually yeah, negative scanners usually have a back light to scan all the info from the film. The person in the ebay has mislabeled their listing. If you google 4990 you'll see its described as a flatbed scanner that does negatives and prints
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That looks adequate for a workflow as you suggest, checking everything out.

If everything is ok and and its one of those magical images that you absolutely must print digitally then, as advised, a pro scan would get you the best result.

Nice one.

and 8x10 capability also. (Doh why have I seen that)
 
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The only issue with using a digital camera to photograph the negative is sensor size. You will either need to have your camera further back from the negative (depending on the lens you're using) and crop as a single frame or take multiple images and combine them in Photoshop etc.

Combining multiple images will give you a higher resolution final image, just a little more work taking/combining multiple frames.
 
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My earlier scanner is a 3200, which I still have I think, stashed away at the back of a cupboard.
 
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