p.2 #1 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
1bwana1 wrote:
I know. Wait untill you see my home developing and scanning setup. As always I have gone all in on film now.
As you know I don't drink alcohol, coffee, tea, caffeine beverages, smoke, or take any sort of recreational drugs. So I always thought I was immune to addiction behaviors. But, I might need a 12 step program over this Leica Monkey on my back. Hey, there may be a Country Western song in that last statement...
What kind of scanning set-up are you doing? I am in the midst of trying to decide which way to go---scanner or camera/copy stand. I want to digitize b&w and color negatives and slides fromm 20 years ago and more.
I ordered and then canceled--to give myself more time to decide-- some copy stand gear from Negative Supply; and I am looking at the Plustek 8300i AI or Plustek 135i AI scanners. I'd be interested to hear how you made your choice about this. And have you done any scanning yet? If so, what do you like and perhaps not like about your set-up?
p.2 #2 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
chiron wrote:
What kind of scanning set-up are you doing? I am in the midst of trying to decide which way to go---scanner or camera/copy stand. I want to digitize b&w and color negatives and slides fromm 20 years ago and more.
I ordered and then canceled--to give myself more time to decide-- some copy stand gear from Negative Supply; and I am looking at the Plustek 8300i AI or Plustek 135i AI scanners. I'd be interested to hear how you made your choice about this. And have you done any scanning yet? If so, what do you like and perhaps not like about your set-up?...Show more →
Scanning options are a nightmare. I've done all of the options and never been happy with the results so I settled on a Nikon Coolscan IV. The slowest option available but, hey, at least I'll never have to do manual dust removal for colour negs.
p.2 #3 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
Now it's time for the Leica tattoo.
1bwana1 wrote:
I know. Wait untill you see my home developing and scanning setup. As always I have gone all in on film now.
As you know I don't drink alcohol, coffee, tea, caffeine beverages, smoke, or take any sort of recreational drugs. So I always thought I was immune to addiction behaviors. But, I might need a 12 step program over this Leica Monkey on my back. Hey, there may be a Country Western song in that last statement...
p.2 #4 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
The M6 is my favorite Leica M film camera, too - I have the classic non-TTL version also with original box made in 1995 (purchased it in early 2016 for $1200 in EX condition). Only drawback my version comes with the original rangefinder and not the new MP rangefinder which avoids the known patch flare issue in the my rangefinder.
Even Huss didn't state it here (yet? ) but make sure your camera doesn't scratch film. Seriously !
p.2 #5 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
damonnomonon wrote:
Scanning options are a nightmare. I've done all of the options and never been happy with the results so I settled on a Nikon Coolscan IV. The slowest option available but, hey, at least I'll never have to do manual dust removal for colour negs.
For 35mm film, Valoi with a good macro lens is a great solution, with Negative Lab Pro as the conversion software.
Never used Valoi’s MF setup, as it’s too expensive for the few rolls I have.
p.2 #6 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
johnvanr wrote:
For 35mm film, Valoi with a good macro lens is a great solution, with Negative Lab Pro as the conversion software.
Never used Valoi’s MF setup, as it’s too expensive for the few rolls I have.
I had never come across the Valoi. It looks intereting. I assume your were using version 1 of the Easy35. What did you like and not like about it? Had you used other systems?
p.2 #7 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
chiron wrote:
What kind of scanning set-up are you doing? I am in the midst of trying to decide which way to go---scanner or camera/copy stand. I want to digitize b&w and color negatives and slides fromm 20 years ago and more.
I ordered and then canceled--to give myself more time to decide-- some copy stand gear from Negative Supply; and I am looking at the Plustek 8300i AI or Plustek 135i AI scanners. I'd be interested to hear how you made your choice about this. And have you done any scanning yet? If so, what do you like and perhaps not like about your set-up?...Show more →
I have tried the Valoi Easy-35 of a friend. My version 2 should be here in May. I scan with my SL3 and 50mm APO-SL with extension tube. Better files than the labs around here produce.
p.2 #9 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
I like to scan with an M11 and Laowa Macro 85mm. Bought it as a try and found it very good.
Also use the Skier Sunray Box which has 24x36 and 6x6 metal frames.
p.2 #10 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
Beautiful camera and quite practical. I went down the rabbit hole with scanning/copying. I would delay setting up a scanning/copying setup and just use the camera for awhile with commercial scans. I’ve used everything from a couple Coolscan and Plustek scanners to Valoi and Negative Supply. If 35mm is all that you will scan the Easy35 certainly is cost effective. Beyond that a well tuned Coolscan 9000ED is hard to beat and if you go the Negative Supply route I would encourage you to make sure that you have a really good copy stand. I say this because so many suggest that the 35mm format greatly limits outcome, but I have tack sharp 30”x40” Ektar 100 and Portra 160 prints and many B&W stocks improve upon this. For efficiency, you can’t beat using a tethered camera.
p.2 #11 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
retrofocus wrote.
Even Huss didn't state it here (yet? ) but make sure your camera doesn't scratch film. Seriously !
This doesn't count to my 'only one Leica film scratching comment a week' quota..
It is only the newer to new (last 5-10 years it seems) Leica film Ms that can be prone to scratch film. That seems to be when Leica forgot the basics in making a film camera.
No issues with the first gen M6, any M7 or any film M before that.
Interestingly Leica had film scratching issues with the R8 - they used a film guide ramp where the material would wear out resulting in scratching film! I'm not sure if they corrected the material by the time they made the R9 (which I have and does not scratch film). But my old beater R8 did. However it was a super easy fix for me - I just put a tiny piece of scotch tape (sellotape) on that film guide which covered any roughness et viola no more scratches!
p.2 #12 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
1bwana1 wrote:
..
As you know I don't drink alcohol, coffee, tea, caffeine beverages, smoke, or take any sort of recreational drugs. So I always thought I was immune to addiction behaviors. But, I might need a 12 step program over this Leica Monkey on my back. Hey, there may be a Country Western song in that last statement...
Same - don't drink/smoke/do drugs.
And amazingly that makes shooting film very affordable! One beer at a bar in LA is now about $10. A cocktail is $15+
One roll of Kentmere 400 (super film) is $5.99. Fuji 200 $8. Portra 400 $15.... it is cheaper for me to shoot film than go out for drinks w friends.
p.2 #14 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
1bwana1 wrote:
I know. Wait untill you see my home developing and scanning setup. As always I have gone all in on film now.
As you know I don't drink alcohol, coffee, tea, caffeine beverages, smoke, or take any sort of recreational drugs. So I always thought I was immune to addiction behaviors. But, I might need a 12 step program over this Leica Monkey on my back. Hey, there may be a Country Western song in that last statement...
On a positive note, you don't have to buy lenses for it!
p.2 #15 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
chiron wrote:
I had never come across the Valoi. It looks intereting. I assume your were using version 1 of the Easy35. What did you like and not like about it? Had you used other systems?
I have used the copy stand plus negative supply kit and still use that for medium format. The Valoi is much easier and with the additional film cleaning brush attached to it, you don’t have to worry about dust as much. The only issue is sometimes with how the film strips were cut, but that’s not really Valoi’s fault.
Years ago, I used various film scanners, but hated the slow pace and dust cleaning I had to do. For years afterward, I couldn’t care less about scanning because it was such a pain. I’m afraid I’m not a patient man when it comes to processes like that.
p.2 #16 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
johnvanr wrote:
I have used the copy stand plus negative supply kit and still use that for medium format. The Valoi is much easier and with the additional film cleaning brush attached to it, you don’t have to worry about dust as much. The only issue is sometimes with how the film strips were cut, but that’s not really Valoi’s fault.
Years ago, I used various film scanners, but hated the slow pace and dust cleaning I had to do. For years afterward, I couldn’t care less about scanning because it was such a pain. I’m afraid I’m not a patient man when it comes to processes like that....Show more →
Not disagreeing with you, but my Negative Supply setup has brushes. The only issue that I’ve had with Negative Supply is that their borderless medium format setup is very hard to feed. I contacted N.S. about this and they agreed. They said that designing a borderless feed was a tall order. The problem is, of course, the edge of the film travelling in a deeper guide track makes for easy feeding.
p.2 #17 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
bwcolor wrote:
Not disagreeing with you, but my Negative Supply setup has brushes. The only issue that I’ve had with Negative Supply is that their borderless medium format setup is very hard to feed. I contacted N.S. about this and they agreed. They said that designing a borderless feed was a tall order. The problem is, of course, the edge of the film travelling in a deeper guide track makes for easy feeding.
Trim the corners on the feed end of the negatives. It helps with the negatives binding in the feed ramp.
p.2 #18 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
johnvanr wrote:
I have used the copy stand plus negative supply kit and still use that for medium format. The Valoi is much easier and with the additional film cleaning brush attached to it, you don’t have to worry about dust as much. The only issue is sometimes with how the film strips were cut, but that’s not really Valoi’s fault.
Years ago, I used various film scanners, but hated the slow pace and dust cleaning I had to do. For years afterward, I couldn’t care less about scanning because it was such a pain. I’m afraid I’m not a patient man when it comes to processes like that....Show more →
The quality of the Valoi was equal to other methods, including the full copy stand? The parralleisn of the camera to the negative was as good?
p.2 #19 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
1bwana1 wrote:
I have tried the Valoi Easy-35 of a friend. My version 2 should be here in May. I scan with my SL3 and 50mm APO-SL with extension tube. Better files than the labs around here produce.
I'd love to see a photo of your whole set-up, tanks, cameras, Valoi and all. And the version 2 does look nicely improved.
p.2 #20 · Of course you knew it would happen eventually
bwcolor wrote:
Not disagreeing with you, but my Negative Supply setup has brushes. The only issue that I’ve had with Negative Supply is that their borderless medium format setup is very hard to feed. I contacted N.S. about this and they agreed. They said that designing a borderless feed was a tall order. The problem is, of course, the edge of the film travelling in a deeper guide track makes for easy feeding.
Oh, maybe mine had too. Haven’t used it in a while. I do remember my Valoi has them. I’m not home, so I can’t check.
) but make sure your camera doesn't scratch film. Seriously 
!