Needed to copy from 2.5 ins negatives

[Geoff F]

Another of those 'nice little jobs' from the history society.

Can you do anything with these old negs?

Some were 2.5 ins square while others were 3.5 x 2.5 ins. Very roughly cut into individual images.

Not sure what the pros would do, but this is my alternative.



Then after downloading to my computer, a simple case of invert the image and do the usual edits.

ps. The light source, which is switched off here, is 3 daylight quality bulbs each with a 150 watt equivalent rating.

[deetheturk]

Why do you get all the good jobs Geoff

[charzes44]

Another of those 'nice little jobs' from the history society.

Can you do anything with these old negs?

Some were 2.5 ins square while others were 3.5 x 2.5 ins. Very roughly cut into individual images.

Not sure what the pros would do, but this is my alternative.



Then after downloading to my computer, a simple case of invert the image and do the usual edits.

ps. The light source, which is switched off here, is 3 daylight quality bulbs each with a 150 watt equivalent rating.

Hope they don't ask you to print Minox negs Geoff!

[dje]

Nice set up Geoff - I like the bits of wood and the clothes peg adds a nice touch too

Seriously though, I dare say it did the job.

Dave

[Geoff F]

Yes, I do use that light with tripods but I couldn't get one to work in that space, so I thought maybe some old fashioned wedges.

Some of the negs were badly spotted with age and of course I couldn't do much with those which were shot out of focus. But here are a couple of examples which worked reasonably well. Remember they were shot in 1949.



And one really interesting shot which has boats that can be identified by their fishing numbers.



The images could do with a bit of touching up work but at the moment I have just concentrated on capturing them.

The trouble with working free for many organisations is that the more you achieve the more you get given!

[GrahamS]

Geoff, I would suggest that you will get a better result if you use an old enlarger lens with a mount adapter. If you don't have a "proper " macro lens, an old enlarger lens will do the job. You can pick a good one up quite cheaply as well as a lens mount adapter. Most enlarger lenses are 39mm screw mount. Doing so would eliminate the distortion of the zoom lens.

[Geoff F]

I had tried a number of different lenses including a Canon 70-200. Also my insect macro lens which is a Sigma 180 mm.

But eventually used the Tamron 24-70 which I have found to be an excellent all round lens. In fact I now use it for flowers and fungi instead of the macro lens.

I did shoot Raw, which gave me better white balance control, and did a lens correction during ACR conversion.

But of course, whatever I do, will be limited by the quality of the original camera; and the skill of that user.

Incidentally, a few years ago I was converting digital prints into film slides for use in those 'old fashioned' projectors using similar 'technology'. And at my local rubbish tip there was an enlarger.

I thought about adapting it to use as a copy stand but there was a small charge so I first consulted a friend who had more experience in these matters. Then acting on his advice, I returned the following day to find it had already been purchased by someone else!

[wobert]

Geoff, nice to see your setup to copy the negs. Thanks for sharing.
I have done a similar job for a friend- 200 6x9cm mono negs.
I used a macro lens, and for the back-light I used my flash triggered remotely (Could have used a cable). The house bulb only for focusing. The box is an old wooden drawer adapted with diffusion material and the affixed post to mount the camera solidly.
This 'copy' box has been adapted in the past to copy 35mm slides, any size negs, prints and artwork.