SL Macro lens for film negatives

[msh58]

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For copying slides I use the following contraption:

• Rodenstock Apo-Rodagon D 75/4 M 1:1
• Extension ring 17 675 (DOORX)
• Thread mount lens adapter for the bellows 16590 (
• M Bellows II 16556
• Visoflex lenses to R adapter 14 167
• Appropriate R adapter on either SL or M10
• Copy stand 
• Kaiser Slimlite Plano light box (5000K)

This works very nicely. I use a paper mask with a hole for the slide / negative to avoid stray light.

This Apo-Rodagon is optimized for the 1:1 scale of reproduction, it does not work well as a general macro lens. I found it in excellent condition at $200 on eBay 3 years back so the price is not a big deal.

I have attached a few pictures of the setup.

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[bsmith]

I use a Leica SL2, Leica S 120 macro with Leica 1-1 adapter, Kaiser copy stand , Negative Supply holders and 99 CRI pro light box. Outstanding results, especially with Multishot.

I compared same color slide scanned on a Heidelberg drum scanner, Leica setup considerably better!!!  Tethered to C1, everything dead level, F8 , 100 iso ss 30-80 depending. With AN glass  mounts f5.6 

[hirohhhh]

On 2/25/2021 at 8:40 PM, bsmith said:

I use a Leica SL2, Leica S 120 macro with Leica 1-1 adapter, Kaiser copy stand , Negative Supply holders and 99 CRI pro light box. Outstanding results, especially with Multishot.

I compared same color slide scanned on a Heidelberg drum scanner, Leica setup considerably better!!!  Tethered to C1, everything dead level, F8 , 100 iso ss 30-80 depending. With AN glass  mounts f5.6 

Sounds amazing. Can you post some scan examples in 100% size? Could be a crop of detail.

[dkCambridgeshire]

On 2/24/2021 at 9:09 AM, hirohhhh said:

I got Sigma 70mm Macro lens today and it's fantastic. I mean for less than $600, I'm impressed with its macro capabilities. Can't compare with much more expensive Leica macro lenses, because I never saw it in person, but I think this is more than enough for scanning film negatives.

 

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Possible to scan / photograph negatives using optics costing much less than $600 ... the A is not sharp ... OOF section clearly visible ... your technique maybe not optimised ... subject needs to be perfectly parallel and perpendicular to the image plane 

[hirohhhh]

On 2/28/2021 at 5:29 PM, dkCambridgeshire said:

Possible to scan / photograph negatives using optics costing much less than $600 ... the A is not sharp ... OOF section clearly visible ... your technique maybe not optimised ... subject needs to be perfectly parallel and perpendicular to the image plane 

Thanks, but this was just a snapshot, as soon as I unpack the lens to test it. Didn't optimize anything at all, just put the lens and click to be amazed with the "zoom"

[Berlinman]

Am 26.2.2021 um 05:40 schrieb bsmith:

I use a Leica SL2, Leica S 120 macro with Leica 1-1 adapter, Kaiser copy stand , Negative Supply holders and 99 CRI pro light box. Outstanding results, especially with Multishot.

I compared same color slide scanned on a Heidelberg drum scanner, Leica setup considerably better!!!  Tethered to C1, everything dead level, F8 , 100 iso ss 30-80 depending. With AN glass  mounts f5.6 

Hi, I think about scanning with my SL3 and the 120mm Macro. What do you use as an 1-1 Adapter? Is that on the L- or on the S-mount ? Do you use the Leica S-Adapter L?

[FlashGordonPhotography]

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6 hours ago, Berlinman said:

Hi, I think about scanning with my SL3 and the 120mm Macro. What do you use as an 1-1 Adapter? Is that on the L- or on the S-mount ? Do you use the Leica S-Adapter L?

Unless you have everything already, I wouldn't bother with S lenses. Three years ago the Sigma 105mm macro didn't exist. Now it does. That's what I'd use.

Gordon

[Stuart Richardson]

9 hours ago, Berlinman said:

Hi, I think about scanning with my SL3 and the 120mm Macro. What do you use as an 1-1 Adapter? Is that on the L- or on the S-mount ? Do you use the Leica S-Adapter L?

I agree with Gordon. I have both the S 120 and the Sigma 105mm. The Sigma is the more practical tool for film scanning. It goes to 1 to 1 and is much smaller, lighter and cheaper. Sharpness is almost exactly the same in my experience. They have some slightly different OOF, but that is really the only thing I was able to identify, at least in this manner. The Sigma is an incredibly impressive lens, given that before the L mount APO Summicrons, the 120mm APO was the best lens I had ever used. I still think it has a bit more character in normal use, but as a tool the Sigma betters it, primarily because of the native 1 to 1. Using the S 120mm on the SL3 would require the S adapter L. It does not go to 1 to 1, as they did not make an elpro for it, I believe. Without some major heroics (like custom fabricating an S mount onto a bellows system and stopping the lens down on an S body to taking aperture, removing the lens to keep it stuck at that F stop), you are not going to get to 1 to 1 effectively. Ultimately, to fill the frame with a 35mm negative, you will need to crop a lot.

Edited October 13, 2024 by Stuart Richardson

[bags27]

I went with a used Panasonic S1R and my existing Sigma 70mm macro. I've mounted it on a ~75 lb. enlarger, with an N95 lighttable, ANR glass, etc. But the occasional lack of absolutely flat negatives drives me nuts.

[costa43]

My guess is that they will stick with 24mp and introduce the new body with the phase detect AF, which will be a fair bit better than the SL3 on current firmware. Basically the Panasonic s2 route. Can’t see Leica messing too much with this formula. 
 

 

[Berlinman]

Thank you for all the responses. Looks like I have to rethink the concept. The nice thing with the S120 was, that it is also a nice 120mm portrait-lens ... but the 90-280 isn't so bad.

[Photoworks]

I have been using the Laowa 100 x2 lens, got it used for $300  it is MF focus only, but once set it is fast to process a roll

https://www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-100mm-f-2-8-2x-macro-apo/

 

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[Pelu2010]

Hey, 

since this year I am using the Panasonic macro 100 mm 1:2.8

with extensions you can get a lager magnification if you need. 
 

And this works for prints and negatives. 
 

cheers 

[graeme_clarke]

Hello,

I've used a Leica 100 R f2.8 with success on an SL2-S for copying - without the 1:1 adapter for 6 x 6 slides and and with it for 35mm slides. I used an light box to illuminate the slide. Auto exposure and shutter released with a remote control.

I did find two issues though.  First is that the camera and lens have to be absolutely true over the top of the slide - the slightest deviation from perpendicular affects focus. It took time to set up the camera and lens on a heavy tripod. I used f8 to counter any slight bulging of the slide. I left slides in their mounts - mostly glass, some in card.  I used manual focus for each slide with the magnify facility on the camera.

Secondly, is the the issue of dust and fluff.  Slides seem to attract dust like magnets!!!!  Cleaning the top of the lightbox and especially the slides is a pain - I tried blower brushes and micro-fibre cloths and still had to "clean" the images in lightroom and photoshop as well as make other adjustments - so each took quite a bit of post processing time. 

Hope this helps and best wishes for success.

Graeme

[Stuart Richardson]

I have found that the Verslab Parallel has made my life so much easier for copy work. It is expensive, but for me it least it made sense as I do copy work as a job at times, and it just payed for itself in one or two jobs. It is meant for aligning enlargers, but it works very well for copy work too. I don't think it would be too hard to approximate for someone who is handy. If you pair it with a geared tripod head, you can be up and running for slide scanning in just a minute or two with perfect alignment. The only thing I wish it did better would be if there were some way it could work for horizontal work. I have a magnet board that I use for copy work at times, and it is a bit fiddly to get it to work against gravity. My solution has been to hold a small mirror against the wall with magnets and then hold the parallel against the hood of the camera. It's not pretty but it works.

[LocalHero1953]

I have been using the Leica Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100 and ELPRO for 35mm scanning at 1:1. It worked just fine, but as I started doing more, the benefits of AF became apparent, combined with the Valoi Easy35 device for holding/illuminating the film - no stand or tripod needed, no alignment! (Though actually I do use a tripod, to keep my hands free.)

I now use the Sigma 70 f/2.8 DG Macro Art, which also does 1:1 at 35mm. I picked this particular lens because Valoi recommended it as one of those that the Easy35 can attach to. The Easy35 comes with a number of adapters, but if you use any other lens, you'd need to check filter ring sizes so you can practically join them up.