colt4x5 Loc: Central Connecticut

I can't find the V600 in stock anywhere — not even from Epson directly. I suspect they're getting ready to release an upgraded model.

JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC

I started digitizing my photos about two years ago. I bought a good quality scanner that was designed to scan negatives, slides and prints. Many of the slides came out unusable as digital prints for two reasons: first, the exposure was not right. In several cases, I was able to digitize old slides that simply came out way too dark with the scanner. The second reason is that slides often buckle a bit - they the film does not stay flat. The scanner could not properly attain focus. I wasted several months doing scans this way.
So I switched to doing it optically with a digital camera and Nikon’s ES-2 slide copy kit. I have “saved” slides that were almost not viewable (so very dark, especially very old ones). It does take time, but the beauty is you can choose to adjust settings as you go to make sure that literally each and every slide is properly digitized.
In case you are wondering I use the Canon ES-2 slide copy kit with an Olympus MFT camera, and a LUMIX 30mm macro MFT lens. The framing is perfect.
Good luck with your decision on how to go forward. JimR

jim in TC Loc: Traverse City, Michigan

Most of my slides were scanned with a borrowed high quality Nikon rig, but when some more turned up I found that our library had one for loan, not as "nice" but OK. See if your library has such an item. Ours was a dedicated film (and slide) scanner from Kodak (probably pretty old).

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

How do you mount the Nikon ES-2 to the Lumix 30mm Macro lens? Do you need an adapter ring?

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

If I recall, 46mm lens to 62mm filter adapter. I have that lens, but not the ES-2.

martom

After I converted most of my old slides I sold my expensive slide scanner. Now I use an old Spiratone Video Dupliscope attached to my Nikon D-80. It works very well, and I have digitized maybe 100 slides with this set-up. They are available on ebay for around $20. I also needed a M67-M52, (also marked 49mm) adapter to mount it to the camera lens.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Thanks. B&H actually has those!

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/809769-REG/Sensei_sur4662_46_62mm_Step_Up_Ring.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A6879&gclid=CjwKCAiAl9efBhAkEiwA4TorigYDvqtgVsGSY8Pbv67z-GnH1SyKk-hWOyfN6R59-eh8xLvk62XoZxoCKa0QAvD_BwE

Now I need a strong, unbiased, unarguable and substantial excuse to get that lens!

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

My solution was a device called a Repronar. This is a some what sophisticated copy box. It has a viewing base that helps with positioning and focus. I have several different enlarging lenses that allow for the basic 1 to 1 copy of transparency or negatives of a 35mm type. A camera body is mounted on the top and the copy lense if fixed below. There is a bellows in between. The exposure is made with a flash, and it does have a sync cord but I found that with a digital camera I could set the exposure for two second (bulb) and press the open flash button while keeping the room light low.

The flash is vary powerful so in the filter tray below the slide I placed several ND filters so that the optimal f for the lens was targeted. The flash is so powerful that with a milk white plex set at the stand I could copy 4X5 transparencies and negatives. Because the light source is flash the camera was set to daylight balance.

The hardest part for me was getting a mount for the digital camera body, but these are easily purchased.

Once set up it was breeze to shoot digital copies of old transparencies and negatives to the digital camera body.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Well, I use it for TONS of copy work, like prints, flat art, slides, negatives, and more. It’s a great lens for architecture, panoramic composites, full length portraits, dog and cat portraits… I’ve used my 30mm Lumix G and two 55mm Nikkors extensively since the mid-1970s.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Ah, yes, the Honeywell Repronar. It was a contemporary competitor of the Bowens Illumitran, popular about 40 to 50 years ago. If you can find one of either in working condition, it can be set up to do the job.

Steved3604

Honeywell Repronar, Bowen's illumitran, Chroma Pro -- all slide copy units. Basically all well set up an attached bellows and light source. You supply the camera and the mounting plate to sandwich the negs or hold the slides. The trick is the necessary adapter to attach the camera body to the bellows and a "good" enlarger lens to attach to the bellows. Nice if the bellows is in good shape but Silicone Black glue/tape/etc can block bellows light leaks. Good lens and good digital camera gives good digital scans if color head set up correctly and camera creates large enough file size.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

I use mine all the time, works wonderfully. I have an Polaroid MP-4 stand and I'm thinking of setting that up to do 8X10s and 4X5s as well. Just need the time, cause I have the space in my studio.

JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC

Hello Bsprague. Yes, I use an adapter ring. The LUMIX 30mm macro has a 46mm filter thread. The Nikon ES-2 comes with two adapters, and I use one of those screwed into the step up ring (I bought separately) that goes from 46mm to 58mm. I am attaching a photo. At the left side of what you see, a slide holder for two slides permits you to do two photos each round. There is another holder for negatives. If any questions, just PM me and I’ll try to help further. JimR

JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC

Trying again to attach a photo. Hello Bsprague. Yes, I use an adapter ring. The LUMIX 30mm macro has a 46mm filter thread. The Nikon ES-2 comes with two adapters, and I use one of those screwed into the step up ring (I bought separately) that goes from 46mm to 58mm. I am attaching a photo. At the left side of what you see, a slide holder for two slides permits you to do two photos each round. There is another holder for negatives. If any questions, just PM me and I’ll try to help further. JimR

mr1492 Loc: Newport News, VA

I've been scanning my old slides, negatives, and prints using my Sony a7iii. You can do a lot of the equipment DIY or purchase equipment. The bottom line is it can be done quickly, and relatively inexpensively. Plus, the camera can interface directly with Lightroom.

For a complete picture, I would recommend watching an old B&H video of Peter Krogh, a photographer from Bethesda, Maryland who gave a presentation on digitizing and managing the collection of material. It's worth your time to think about managing the collection regardless of what method you use to digitize the old material.

Here's a link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxmFjvFLPu4&t=753s